March 6, 2023
My letter to my representatives on the reintroduction of Andre’s Law
Last year, New York Senator Jabari Brisport and Assemblyman Harvey Epstein introduced “Andre’s Law” to the New York legislature in order to ban the state of New York from continuing to send disabled residents to an out-of-state institution, the Judge Rotenberg Center, which is the only such facility in the nation to utilize electric shock as a form of behavioral conditioning and punishment.
Sadly, the bill died before being passed when the legislature went on recess for the year.
Andre’s Law has now been reintroduced in the New York State legislature; below is an adaption of my letter to my state Senator and Assemblyman asking for their support for the bill.
You can read more about the call to action to pass Andre’s Law here.
***
Dear [my New York state Senator/Assemblymember],
I’m an autistic resident of New York, and a voter in your district. I’m writing to you ask you to support the passage of Andre’s Law (Assembly Bill A.1166/Senate Bill S900) in order to prevent New York from sending any more of our residents with disabilities to the Judge Rotenberg Center, an abusive residential institution in Massachusetts, at state expense.
The Judge Rotenberg Center is the only residential institution in the nation to use electric shock as punishment on disabled residents, a disproportionate number of whom are people of color. While some parents view this treatment as vital for control of aggressive behavior or self-injury, former residents have testified to being shocked in response to harmless behavior such as refusing to take off a coat or “tensing” their bodies. The practices of this institution led to former resident Andre McCollins, for whom the bill is named, being shocked 31 times in a single day, leading to lasting trauma. Other reported abuses at the facility include food deprivation, restraint, and seclusion.
My fellow disabled New Yorkers, including those with the most intense behavioral support needs, deserve better than this.
Please vote in support of Andre’s Law to prevent any more New York youth with disabilities from being abused out of state at our expense.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
[My name]
Chavisory's Notebook 