The Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services has scheduled two public hearings on proposed regulations that would ban the practice of aversive therapy in the state. The first is Wednesday, July 20, in Worcester, and the second is Friday, July 22, in Boston. According to an official announcement, “the regulations are proposed for amendment to establish the highest practicable professional standards for use of behavior modification procedures for persons with intellectual disability in public or private facilities for the care and treatment of such persons.
To view the proposed changes, please click here. (PDF)
Wednesday, July 20, 2011, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Worcester Public Main Library
The Saxe Room
3 Salem Square
Worcester, MA 01608
Friday, July 22, 2011, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
John W. McCormack Bldg
21st Floor Conference Room
One Ashburton Place
Boston, MA 02108
Written comments may be submitted by mail to the Office of the General Counsel, Department of Developmental Services, 500 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02118, or by facsimile (617) 624-7573 until 5:00 p.m., August 1, 2011.
Copies of the proposed regulation amendments are available upon request by telephone at (617) 624-7702, or by written request made to the Office of the General Counsel. The Department may adopt a revised version of the proposed regulations taking into account relevant comments and any other practical alternatives that come to the Department’s attention.