#applied behavior analysis

[autball]

An actually good use of the ABCs of Behavior.

[spookietrex]

My partner works for a university and I've slowly been watching them take down the DEI protections and today they changed their special education specialization to one on ABA and I lost my shit.

[awetistic-things]

awetistic things {1086}

being an autistic girl with an autistic younger brother and constantly being irritated at how unapologetically autistic he’s encouraged to be while you were taught to be not yourself, but a lady, for your entire childhood

[babyspacebatclone]

Fascinating article from a recommendation I got on another of my posts!

The author is Autistic, has a background in psychology, and as the link says is a professional dog trainer.

And she absolutely rips into ABA, right down to their code of ethics:

In fact, in a 24-page document detailing ethical codes of practice for [certified Behavioral Analysts] working with human beings, including children and disabled adults, the word “abuse” is used zero times.

The word “humane” is used zero times.

The word “positive” is used zero times.

[emphasis original]

To sum it up, as Millman so eloquently puts it:

[ABA] it is NOT “dog training” for children.

…I would never treat a dog that way.

[emphasis original]

[theconcealedweapon]

ABA should instead be called ABUSE.

I haven't decided what the letters should stand for.

[yourfourthgradepetrock]

hey! *knocks on your window at 2am, waking you up from a peaceful sleep* hello! *knockknockknock* can I-*slides open your window* have you seen don't hug me I'm scared? doesn't matter, hold on, *contorts my body ungracefully through your window, smacking my head on the frame, lands in a heap on your bedroom floor* everyone talks about--stop yelling, its okay, I go here---how many easter eggs the show has, and the complex "behind-the-scenes" lore *I am now sitting criss-cross applesauce* and how its a metaphor for xyz blah blah blah and that's fine, they're not WRONG, it's just *I pull out a container of hubby bubba bubble gum, cut myself an egregiously long strip, and begin chewing* what about the AUTISM. no one talks, genuinely, about how its so autistic, aside from the "me and the bad bitch I pulled by being autistic" memes. What about yellow guy trying constantly to conform to a society with rules and norms that are contradictory and confusing? what about red guy being awkward and outcast from his family because he acted strange in family gatherings? what about the "lessons" yellow guy has to learn being basically ABA? what about every episode ending in a horrifically overwhelming way reflective of a sensory overload/meltdown? what about--

[chronicsymptomsyndrome]

fuck ABA

that’s all thank you for listening

[neuroscotian]

The usual trigger warnings for child abuse and ableism when talking about Lovaas, now featuring, more Nazis….

"People who do not want “to know” usually find a way not to know. That has been amply shown in histories of Nazi Germany. In terms of the histories of autistic people and those who treat them, most of us have chosen not to know."

[...]

Those who work in the multibillion-dollar ABA industry will undoubtedly deny the relevance of his Nazi past. It is not far-fetched, however, to see some ideological continuity between Lovaas’s teenage years and his adulthood. Consider how Lovaas addressed parents of autistic children in his 1981 book: “No one has the right to be taken care of, no matter how retarded he is.” Children, Lovaas insisted, “have no right to act bizarrely, many professional opinions notwithstanding. On the contrary, you have a right to expect decent behavior from your children.”

[willowreach]

What to Expect in the First 90 Days of ABA Therapy .pdf

Starting ABA therapy can feel overwhelming, but with the right guidance, you’ll know exactly what to expect in the first 90 days. This FREE PDF guide will walk you through each stage, from assessment to progress tracking, so you can confidently support your child’s journey.

📥 Download “What to Expect in the First 90 Days of ABA Therapy” now!

👉 Click the link to get your free copy today!

[wingsrehabilitationcenter]

Wings rehabilitation center is a leading child development center in UAE providing speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, behavior therapy and other multidisciplinary services. We are a vibrant and holistic center committed to enriching the lives of children. Website : https://wingsrehabilitationcenter.com/

[mainenorth]

what aba would u assign to Hawkeye during the war

[dmarchives]

Currently writing what's quickly becoming a whole damn essay on ABA from my perspective as a neurodivergent practitioner. Don't know if I want all of tumblr to read it or if I'm hoping noone will, but at least it's a therapetic excercise.

[cheekycherry20]

I work in the field of aba (applied behavioral analysis) and have been for a little over a year. I started off really passionate about positively influencing the lives of children under the spectrum, because as an adult with adhd, I understood how hard it is as a kid to live in a not-so-opened minded neurotypical society.

I myself was bullied, left out, and made to feel unimportant on numerous occasions. I lacked the correct social skills, trying to mirror my peer’s behavior, yet being completely far off, and struggling to fit in for years. I’ve dealt with anxiety and depression with no outlet and proper coping mechanisms, all made worse with skewed communication skills. All of which I still struggle with today.

I started as a bt(behavior technician) and was quickly pushed into getting my license to become an rbt (registered behavior technician). On the journey to getting my license, I tried to soak up as much information as I could. It was very important to me to be a voice for the children. I had more downs then ups, as I put more pressure on myself then I should.

I wasn’t worried about running targets and gathering data. I wanted to ensure a good quality of life for my children. I’ll always call them my children, because I care for them that much. It’s almost maternal. I cry over my kids, worry about my kids, get angry at my kids. I love them more than anything in the world, I never knew I was capable of love until I got into the field.

Rbts don’t just work alone, we’re directly below bcbas (board certified behavior analyst). They make the plans for the kids, as the rbts run the sessions and gather the data bcbas need. Since the bcbas aren’t in session, it’s incredibly important that the rbt is collecting the right data and being extremely analytical over the session.

In my short time in being an rbt, I’ve been made to feel unimportant (as mentioned before) by numerous senior rbts and most importantly, bcbas. In my personal opinion, not being in a session can make it quite easy for a bcba to make the wrong decisions. In the past I’ve been quite vocal about ideas and goals that my kids can have long term, or just to push them into their next step of life. With children who are learning to functionally communicate, I step up and speak for them if I notice anything. I’m not a bcba, so technically I’m not legally allowed to run something without a bcba knowledge. But once again, my voice doesn’t matter.

As well as taking data, rbts are required to speak to parents. Not just about the child’s day, but for goals, progress, regression, and behaviors. Parent communication is very important, but parents implementing the same strategies as rbts is even more important. Some parents are amazing, but some parents drop their children off as an aba clinic is a daycare. It is far from it.

It’s very difficult watching parents drop their kids off in sick states, or seeing them come in minimal clothing in extreme cold. I’ve seen parents listen to therapist feedback and do the opposite of protocol,ensuring intense behaviors for therapist. As a parent it’s very difficult to live with the behaviors, so I undertstand how hard it may be. But as a therapist, I feel as if I’m not doing enough for my kid because they’re not making progress, because I can’t get them there alone. Parent cooperation is key.

I continue to get shot down and made to feel like I’m incompetent. I don’t know if it’s my age or minimal experience, but whatever the case may be, I no longer want to allow myself to be in spaces where I don’t feel heard. This is a really difficult thought for me to have, as I feel like I’m giving up on so many kids who just need someone to care about them. But I can acknowledge that in this field, caring isn’t always enough.

In the beginning I definitely tried my best. Advocating for my kids wasn’t the hard part, but my mental state is rapidly declining in the process. I truly still want to advocate for my kids, but when I voice my opinions I feel like what I’m saying is wrong.

I believe that stepping out of the field is my best option. To sit and watch fellow rbts and bcbas care too little or not at all for my kids has taken an incredible toll on my mental health. If you’re a parent or friend of someone interested in bringing a child into an aba clinic, please be sure you know exactly who is with them. There’s good therapists and bcbas , but there’s also a lot of people who just so happened to get their license and want a check.

[wannursyafiqah74]

(Disclaimer: I'm not professionally diagnosed as neurodivergent or mentally ill. This is just me venting about normalized ableism.)

Text is under the cut, I'm turning off reblogs for now because I'll archive this version later.

I tried finding an accessible site for therapy today. I find two sites relating to Applied Behavior Analysis (or ABA).

I think, "isn't ABA a terrible practice"?

I searched it up if it was ableist due to blurry memory, got nothing. Just supposed, sugarcoat-y, "professional" "autism support" sites talking about the problems with it.

I search the term itself on Tumblr, and it's not just ableism - people point out that it's abusive and essentially, conversion therapy.

After blocking the bad takeaways, I stop looking.

So you're telling me ableism is so normalized, "experts", who don't give a shit about the neurodiverse people affected by ABA, somehow get all the SEO?

I hate humanity.

[babyspacebatclone]

@autistic-af

I wanted to reply to your tags on that one post for the article about the (lack of) efficacy of ABA. It’s me, though, so this is going to be a wall of text and out of respect I’m not adding this to the notes of an important thread.

I believe you when you say your parents truly, and with the best compassion in the world, believed the therapy you went to as a child was “beneficial.”

Success for these kinds of treatments are measured on three different types of outcomes

Usefulness and comfort to the patient.

Usefulness and reduction of effort to the parents or other people in direct authority to patient.

Matching the expected behaviors of the surrounding culture - that is, “fits in.”

Traditionally, sadly, the primary viewpoint of ABA therapy is that achieving success in points 2 and 3 obviously means success for point 1.

I mean, obviously.

…..

Except in the wealth of experiences from other minority groups, look at (non radical) feminism and replace “parents” with “spouse” for point 2 for an easy case study.

The thing is, “fitting in” with “expected behaviors” and making life “easier” for the people in authority over you….

Doesn’t actually mean you’re living your best life.

Just that you’re not upsetting the people with power.

Now, and this is important, society as a whole lies about this.

We see this regularly, of course, and there’s never ending cycles of pushback between disenfranchised groups and the existing status quo over this.

But even seeing it play out in our own lives… If you do manage to at least break even in the status quo, it’s easy to slip into the complacency of believing the lie of “fitting in.”

That of your child who is struggling just - stops looking like they’re struggling, obviously they’re doing better.

The sad thing is, however, ABA and related philosophies sees “stops struggling” as the end goal.

It doesn’t matter why the patient has “stopped,” it just matters that it happens.

Compliancy, over actual healing.

And so, the patients are literally forced to lie for self protection.

You can’t show struggling, because you’re only going to be punished more for struggling.

You have to accept being broken, as the only alternative to being regularly hurt on top of being broke.

And parents who mean well? Parents we love, who honestly want the best for us, who we see hurting when we are hurting?????????

Well, one thing ABA teaches is how to lie about suffering.

And so, while it was happening, a child in ABA has every single reason in the universe to not tell their loving, well meaning parents that that are being made to hate themselves.

And this ends up with neurotypical people in authority - especially Applied Behavior Analysts- to think it worked.

Achieving compliance meant success, so obviously the patient is also now able to lead their best life.

Which is also why people who do mean well but have been experiencing the system from the professional end honestly believe it has been helpful, and the people complaining are either an insignificant minority or have ulterior motives.

Success was achieved. They saw it.

You have to convince them that, well….

Testimonies under torture usually can’t be trusted.

[actuallyautisticaba]

hi. i am fully aware my posting may upset, conflict, or anger people. i am posting because i want to get the word out that ABA can and will change for the better. a lot of people have had horrible experiences with ABA. i feel for you. i mourn for you. i want you to know abuse and assimilation is not what i will stand for. i will fight for advocacy and autistic voices. i am autistic and never experienced ABA as a child because i was diagnosed late. if not for my job i would have never known this part of myself.

i want to share some of my own experiences in the field, what i hope to do and advocate for once i am credentialed in the future, and open up myself to hear other people’s opinions and viewpoints to learn and grow.

1. my company is incredible. we are neuroaffirming. we are trauma informed. we fight for inclusion and acceptance. blocking stims is reason to get fired. yelling at, physically harming, or otherwise traumatizing a child is reason to be fired. there is no tolerance for harming a kid. i have seen BCBAs fight with insurance companies to give children access to life changing AAC. i have seen RBTs get down on the ground, stim with, and bond with the kids. i have had a kid cry and tell me they never felt accepted at any other school they attended and that now they wake up every day excited to come. i’ve seen kids taught self advocacy, taught how to tell people NO and have it listened to, to make people respect their bodies autonomy and consent, and learn independence. i see my kids proud of themselves. we ask before every physical prompt and do not force them to “comply”. i see smiles every day. i have memorized my kids scripts and will not force them to communicate with me in a “natural” or neurotypical way, i will sit down and learn as much as i need to to join them in THEIR world, not force them into another. the amount of research i’ve done on my little pony and thomas the train is crazy— i memorized parts of the shows in order to script alongside them and show them i care about their interests. when they stim, i stim with them, instead of telling them it’s wrong. neurodivergent as well, my workplace is inclusive to me, allowing me to wear noise cancelling headphones to prevent sensory overload, accommodate my need for extra time due to executive functioning struggles, mental health days, and more. the world of ABA is changing.

2. in the future i want to be a BCBA. i want to carry my same values into this position and my insight as a neurodivergent autistic person. i want to fight against harmful organizations like autism speaks. i want to be knowledgeable on the trauma of people who have been victimized by ABA and work to improve the field and remove the things that make it harmful. i want to boost autistic voices. in my schooling i have already done many research papers and assignments on opinions of ABA, harmful organizations, and i have taken time to research and listen to the people speaking against it. i want to teach the importance of prompt fading and the use of non-intrusive non-physical prompts. i want to teach about what autism is and that we shouldn’t be trying to cure it with ABA, because autistic people don’t want to be cured and don’t need a cure, there is nothing wrong with them as they are. we need less people in ABA trying to make autistic people fit into a mold of neurotypicalness and focus on inclusion. i think there are benefits to ABA, like reducing self-injurious or aggressive behavior to others through the teaching of communication skills (not just vocalization skills, but through PECS and AAC also) or other alternative behaviors. teaching kids skills like brushing teeth, feeding skills, self advocacy skills. there’s a lot of good i see in ABA and when i see something wrong, i have been and will continue to be the first one to advocate and fight. especially when a person may not understand what they’re doing is harmful.

in summary i want us to do better as professionals in this field. i will continue to research and listen to those who have been harmed by ABA. i will advocate and i will fight for what’s better. i will be trauma informed, i will be neuroaffirming, i will be inclusive. i will call out harmful practices. i have been and will continue to be the first one to advocate if needed. i am proud of my job, i am proud of being autistic, and i will do everything i can to lift voices that need to be heard. i want to hear what other people have to say so i can continue to learn, but also so i can validate experiences and apologize. if you’ve been hurt by ABA im sorry. i’m sorry that they did that to you. you did not deserve it. it is not your fault. there is nothing wrong with you. i am here to listen and i am here to make things change. no child should have to undergo harmful practices like what some of you have been through.

i want people to know that the professionals in ABA are trying to help and we believe in doing no harm. a lot of us want to learn. we want to make lives better. please be understanding with us while we unlearn and do everything we can to learn to do better. we are here to uplift you and will do everything in our power.