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The Judge Rotenberg Center (JRC) is an institution in Massachusetts. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), mental health disabilities, and learning disabilities live there. Some people at the JRC are forced to wear an electric shock device. The JRC uses this device to punish the person wearing it with painful electric shocks. The JRC shocks people for small things like refusing to take off their jackets or stimming.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a federal government agency. They are in charge of making sure food and medicine are safe. They are also in charge of medical devices. That means the FDA is in charge of the electric shock devices. To ban electric shock devices, the FDA must make a rule. A rule tells people what they are allowed to do, or not allowed to do. The FDA just put out a proposed rule. A proposed rule is an idea or draft of a rule. People don't have to follow the rule yet. They only have to follow the rule if it gets passed.
The FDA is asking for public comments on the proposed rule. Public comments are a way for people to share ideas with the government. Public comments let the government know what everyday people think about a rule or law.
We must tell the FDA that we want them to pass the rule. We want the FDA to ban electric shock devices. Use this form to submit your public comment!