An Open Letter to the NYT: Acknowledge the Controversy Surrounding ABA with an in-depth exploration of the murky ethical issues that surround Applied Behavior Analysis.
Before I knew I was autistic, I was pushed into a position at a new job as an ABA registered behavior technician. This is my experience with the training course… or how to become an ABA therapist online in 2 days.
The New York Times dropped all journalistic standards to publish a commercial for Applied Behavior Analysis without critical review of the facts– like that it’s not a therapy, it doesn’t work, and it’s abusive to autistic people.
Autism Speaks, help clean up your mess! The time is now to demand that Autism Speaks show repentance and pay reparations for the outbreaks and deaths from formerly-eradicated diseases such as measles, pertussis, mumps, and polio.
Carol Millman’s article comparing dog training to ABA garnered the attention of many BCBAs. Dr. Thomas Zane and Katie Gorycki respond, and Carol Millman replies in line.
#ShineOnMax is the autistic community’s way of ensuring that the memory and Light of Max Benson stays ablaze for positive change in an unwelcoming world.
Whenever I had doubts, I was always immediately reassured that [insert uncomfortable situation I was in] was helping the autistic child overall.
“Of the fighters who were born with their horns and flyers born with wings, they will never be tamed things. Neurodiversity is in their genes.”
I had small children. It was a dangerous situation, and I was desperate. They said I was teaching him “learned helplessness.” Ironically, that’s exactly what they were teaching me.
Autistic people have been turned into a multi-billion dollar industry despite our ardent protests. The ABA industry leads the charge.