The Food and Drug Administration missed its self-imposed May 2026 deadline to finalize a ban on electrical stimulation devices used to manage self-injurious behavior in people with disabilities. The only institution in the United States still using this practice is the Judge Rotenberg Center in Canton, Massachusetts, where 54 of its 347 residents, including autistic individuals and those with intellectual disabilities, are subjected to shocks as behavior modification.

The devices deliver a 90-milliampere shock, roughly 30 times stronger than a police taser. Residents can wear up to five devices simultaneously, even while sleeping and showering.

A Decade of Failed Attempts

The FDA first proposed banning these devices in 2016. In March 2020, the agency finalized a ban citing evidence of psychological and physical risks including burns, tissue damage, worsening underlying symptoms, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

That rule was overturned in July 2021 when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit determined the FDA had overstepped its authority. Congress responded by explicitly granting the FDA authority to ban the devices in December 2022.

The FDA published a proposed rule in March 2024, set an October 2025 deadline, then a May 2026 deadline. Both passed without action. As of early June 2026, no federal spokesperson has responded to media requests for comment on the delay.

What Happens at the Judge Rotenberg Center

Former residents describe the experience in concrete terms. Aleyda Martinez, now 38, told reporters she was shocked for speaking Spanish and for resisting mistreatment. "I still get PTSD with certain sounds," she said.

The center's executive director, Glenda Crookes, acknowledged in a statement that the shocks are "painful" but described results as "amazing" and "miraculous." The center requires family approval and a judge's order before using the devices.

United Nations officials have called the practice "torture." The American Academy of Pediatrics has called it "punishing."

What This Means for Families

Families navigating behavioral challenges in autistic children or those with intellectual disabilities face pressure from schools and residential programs to accept aversive interventions when positive behavioral supports don't produce immediate results. The FDA's failure to act means there's no federal protection against institutions adopting similar practices.

The Judge Rotenberg Center remains the only facility currently using electric shock devices, but the absence of a ban leaves the door open. Families considering residential placement need to know what methods are used and what's explicitly prohibited.

Robyn Linscott, Director of Education and Family Policy at The Arc, called the practice "dystopian" in response to the missed deadline.

What Families Can Do Now

• Contact the FDA directly. Submit a comment on the proposed rule via regulations.gov (search for "electrical stimulation devices" or docket FDA-2016-N-1111). Demand the agency finalize the ban.
• Support the #StopTheShock campaign. The Autistic Self Advocacy Network leads advocacy efforts to end the use of shock devices at the Judge Rotenberg Center. Their action center provides templates for contacting legislators and regulatory agencies.
• Research any placement thoroughly. Before agreeing to residential or day programs, ask explicitly whether aversive interventions, including physical restraints, seclusion, or any form of punitive shock or spray, are used. Get written confirmation of prohibited practices.
• Know your rights under positive behavioral supports. Federal special education law (IDEA) requires schools to use positive behavioral interventions before considering restrictive alternatives. If a school or program suggests aversive methods, request documentation of what positive supports were tried first and for how long.

The full text of the proposed rule is available on the FDA website. The comment period closed in May 2024, but families can still contact the agency to demand action.

Advocacy organizations including ASAN, The Arc, and Autism Speaks have publicly opposed the continued use of these devices and are pressing the FDA to finalize the ban without further delay.