When Eagle visited the Judge Rotenberg Educational Center in a suburb south of Boston, with her mother in the early 2000s, the 14-year-old stepped into the brick building and caught a bizarre sight: kids wearing backpacks with wires bursting out of them.
She asked a staff member about the backpacks, and was told that it was a graduated electronic decelerator, a device capable of shocking someone’s skin.
“My fear went up through the roof. I just couldn’t believe that something like that was here,” said Eagle, who prefers to use a pseudonym to protect her identity.
This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers
Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and news alerts.
Already have an account? Log in
