https://theaspergian.com/2020/01/11/an-open-letter-to-the-nyt-acknowledge-the-controversy-surrounding-aba/
This is a long article, but a really good one in terms of addressing the issue of ABA. There are many reasons to be wary, not the least of which is how poorly most adult autistics who've been through it, view it. If you can't take the word of people who've been through it, particularly when you've never done it yourself, I kind of don't think you're listening. And if you're not, it might be wise to ask yourself why.
I particularly liked the section on animal training, which was a new take on the ABA debate to me. One would really hope we could break at least even with current animal training methods for working with other humans, but autistic people are apparently sub-animals as well as sub-humans... at least to some people.
The (lack of) training issue for ABA therapists was also an excellent point. I can attest to it, in fact. While the ABA clinic I worked as a secretary for years ago didn't just take whoever they wanted off the street, that was absolutely an option. It was their discretion to hire people with some background in autism and an interest in ABA or at least psychology. Even so, I wouldn't have wanted to go through that therapy, even at that facility.
Consider also the sections on eye contact and apraxia. I, personally, find eye contact unpleasant and mildly distracting. Meaning I learned to do it anyway, but never like it. Imagine it was completely destructive to your train of thought, you couldn't hold a conversation while doing it, but nobody will listen to you unless you do it. Would that really make you want to try doing it? It makes me feel terrible just thinking about it.
And apraxia, where stray electrical signals and your brain and body just do things, without your consent? That's awful to have to put up with, let alone someone else deciding you need to be punished for it.
Please give this article a read. It's very worthwhile.
This is a long article, but a really good one in terms of addressing the issue of ABA. There are many reasons to be wary, not the least of which is how poorly most adult autistics who've been through it, view it. If you can't take the word of people who've been through it, particularly when you've never done it yourself, I kind of don't think you're listening. And if you're not, it might be wise to ask yourself why.
I particularly liked the section on animal training, which was a new take on the ABA debate to me. One would really hope we could break at least even with current animal training methods for working with other humans, but autistic people are apparently sub-animals as well as sub-humans... at least to some people.
The (lack of) training issue for ABA therapists was also an excellent point. I can attest to it, in fact. While the ABA clinic I worked as a secretary for years ago didn't just take whoever they wanted off the street, that was absolutely an option. It was their discretion to hire people with some background in autism and an interest in ABA or at least psychology. Even so, I wouldn't have wanted to go through that therapy, even at that facility.
Consider also the sections on eye contact and apraxia. I, personally, find eye contact unpleasant and mildly distracting. Meaning I learned to do it anyway, but never like it. Imagine it was completely destructive to your train of thought, you couldn't hold a conversation while doing it, but nobody will listen to you unless you do it. Would that really make you want to try doing it? It makes me feel terrible just thinking about it.
And apraxia, where stray electrical signals and your brain and body just do things, without your consent? That's awful to have to put up with, let alone someone else deciding you need to be punished for it.
Please give this article a read. It's very worthwhile.
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