The “Great” ABA Debate Rages On

Which is really annoying because basic human rights shouldn’t even be up for debate

This shouldn’t be necessary

The debate would have ended a long time ago if Neurotypical (NT) parents and clinicians were willing to actually listen to Autistics.

We’re going to need so-called allied and neuro-affirming agencies to stop trying to “meld”, “infuse”, or otherwise incorporate behaviourism practices in their (previously) person-centred programming in attempts to broaden their audience and consumer base.

Giving ABA and other behaviourism-based programs new names such as PBIS, PTBM, and any other letters of the alphabet only serves to confuse or deceive families who are trying to avoid the many harms of behaviour therapies.

It is especially dangerous when organizations who are trusted as child-centred and affirming are trying to “make friends” with behaviourists (again, this is often done to increase their market-base and reach more consumers).

However unintentional this may be, it’s a bait-and-switch tactic.

People trust the brand, the name, and the programs. Families are more likely to invest in supports under those agencies and associated services, and will do so under the false impression that they’re choosing someone who will only use person-centred approaches.

Intentional or not, this is not okay.

When they can’t see the forest for the trees

Sometimes clinicians are so deep in the woods, they have no idea they’re peddling for these commercial providers. They turn around and tell parents this is what’s “best” for their Autistic children, and parents believe them because these people — NT clinicians, not Autistics themselves — are supposed to be the experts.

After parents have pushed these “therapies” on their children for years, convincing themselves it’s what’s best, they can no longer bear to hear contradicting information. When they encounter Autistic Adults who tell them how horrible behaviour modification and ABA are, they go all “Autism Moms” on them. Because cognitive dissonance.

Yes, it would be incredibly painful to accept that something one has pushed on their child for years (albeit with the best of intentions to begin with, and in following advice from so-called “experts”) has actually been harmful…

However, it would be even more painful to continue doing so in the face of overwhelming evidence this is hurting instead of helping their child. It becomes willful ignorance when parents shut down and ignore the voices of Autistic Adults who are trying to advocate for Autistic children.

Listen up!

Because I’m only going to say this a thousand times over.

When Autistic Adults try to comunicate our concerns about ABA therapies, we are almost always shouted down by NT parents, and sometimes clinicians too. This has happened to me many times, but usually by Internet Psychologists whose credentials and expertise are questionable.

It is ableist to assume an Autistic person cannot communicate about their own experiences, and to dismiss Autistics with the undertones of “you can’t know what you’re talking about, you’re Autistic, you’re disordered”.

It’s ableist to ignore and invalidate our perspectives simply because we’re Autistic. People are missing out on important opportunities to better understand their own loved ones when they refuse to hear Autistics who are willing to help by sharing our own experiences.

Obviously everyone’s individual experiences will be different, however we will inevitably have greater knowledge and understanding based on our shared neurotype.

Presumed supremacy

Neurotypical “behaviours”, norms, and expectations are considered the default. Neuronormativity assumes that NTs are superior to others and everyone should aspire to be as NT as possible. Therefore, it’s acceptable — even “desirable” — to abuse people “for their own good”.

Apparently this comes as a surprise to some people, but most Autistics do not wish to become neurotypical. Although life can be more challenging, many of us appreciate our Autistic brains and are proud to be different.

Instead of assuming that neurotypical is the benchmark toward which everyone should strive, we can harness the strengths inherent in having a divergent neurotype, and foster those gifts rather than trying to train them out of a human being.

Alternatives to ABA

If ABA is harmful, what can we do instead?

First and foremost, love and accept your child for exactly who they are.

This can be difficult to do whole-heartedly and without reservation because we know being different makes life more difficult, and as parents, we want to prevent our children from suffering.

We’re scared our kids will be bullied, made fun of, and ostracized by their peers. We’re afraid they won’t get a proper education if they can’t sit still and “behave” in class. We’re afraid our children won’t grow up and get good jobs and become self-sufficient as adults.

We’re afraid.

Don’t make decisions out of fear of what might happen, make decisions based on what is best for the child you have right now, not the child you wish you had.

(For specific suggestions of alternative supports, I do have a page on my website outlining some options).

Good intentions aren’t good enough

Autistics who are more likely to thrive in the future have people in our lives who actively seek to understand us, not change us. People who succeed are those who have supportive family and friends growing up; loved ones who encourage their passions and celebrate their unique qualities.

When we bring children to therapies to try to train them to become as “normal” (average and neurotypical) as possible, what we’re really saying is that we want them to be different from the person they are now.

We’re giving an indirect message that we don’t fully accept everything about our child, whether we’re intending to or not.

Behaviour modification and ABA-type therapies cause children to see themselves as broken. These approaches causes children to suppress their authentic selves and enforce compliance, both of which make children more vulnerable, and are much more likely to lead to burnout and serious mental health disorders.

Our children will have enough people in their lives telling them they’re “weird” and abnormal. They’ll have plenty of people telling them they should try to be more like everyone else, try to fit in. They’ll have people telling them they’re not good enough as they are.

Please, don’t be one of those people.

They need a safe place to go to where they can let it all out, to fully be themselves without reprisal or judgement — instead, they need to be met with love and acceptance.

We all need a place where we can relax, let down our guard, and know we are loved no matter what.

Be that for your child.

© Jillian Enright, Neurodiversity MB

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Further reading:

References

Anderson, L. K. (2022). Autistic experiences of applied behavior analysis. Autism, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613221118216

Broderick, A. (2022). The Autism Industrial Complex: How branding, marketing, and capital investment turned autism into big business. Myers Education Press.

Hodgson R, Biswas M, Palmer S, Marshall D, Rodgers M, et al. (2022). Intensive behavioural interventions based on applied behaviour analysis (ABA) for young children with autism: A cost-effectiveness analysis. PLOS ONE 17(8): e0270833. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0270833

Mason, D., McConachie, H., Garland, D., Petrou, A., Rodgers, J., Parr, J.R. (2018). Predictors of quality of life for autistic adults. Autism Research, 11, 1138–1147. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.1965

McGill, O., & Robinson, A. (2021). ““Recalling hidden harms”: autistic experiences of childhood applied behavioural analysis (ABA)”. Advances in Autism, 7(4), 269–282. https://doi.org/10.1108/AIA-04-2020-0025

Sandoval-Norton, A. H., Shkedy, G., Shkedy, D. (2019). How much compliance is too much compliance: Is long-term ABA therapy abuse? Cogent Psychology, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311908.2019.1641258

Walker, N. (2021). Neuroqueer Heresies: Notes on the neurodiversity paradigm, Autistic empowerment, and postnormal possibilities. Autonomous Press.