Torture not Treatment - Disability Rights International

TORTURE NOT TREATMENT
Acknowledgments
Mental Disability Rights International (MDRI) is indebted to many people who gave their time
and expertise to provide information, advice and insights regarding this report on the human
rights concerns of children and adults residing at the Judge Rotenberg Center (JRC) in Canton,
Massachusetts, United States.
People who assisted in the MDRI investigation with research and invaluable background
information included people with disabilities, former students, family members of former
students, former teachers, disability advocates, government officials, civil rights and human
rights experts, legal advocates, researchers and experts in the field of child psychology and
positive behavioral supports for people with disabilities.
We are very grateful to the Yale University Allard K. Lowenstein International Human Rights
Law Clinic and its director, Jim Silk, Clinical Professor of Law and Liz Brundige,
Cover/Lowenstein Fellow in International Human Rights, and all of the Yale law students who
worked diligently on our behalf.
Matthew Engel, Senior Attorney at the Massachusetts Disability Law Center provided important
background information and context, and his assistance was tremendously helpful and
appreciated.
Ken Mollins, Jan Nisbet, Tom Harmon, Fredda Brown, Polyxane Cobb and Karen Bower –
along with many others not listed who requested anonymity – provided MDRI with historical
data, research and interviews. And we are most thankful.
We appreciate the work of Erin Jehn who wrote citations and reviewed the entire document.
Eric Mathews was invaluable with press outreach and web communication to bring attention to
these findings. Adrienne Jones provided much needed technical and moral support. And as
always, MDRI is indebted to the Board of Directors for their tireless efforts.
We would like to thank the Holthues Foundation, the Overbrook Foundation, the Ford
Foundation, the Morton K. & Jane Blaustein and Jacob & Hilda Blaustein Foundations, the van
Ameringen Foundation, the Ambrose Monell Foundation, the Open Society Institute, Sheila and
Adam Crafton, and the numerous individual donors to MDRI for funding this project.
And a special thanks to Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP.