We need to talk about Kupferstein. Let’s preface this by saying that I fully support further research on ABA’s effects on the living beings these strategies are used on – human or otherwise. Most human services, such as medical and psychology, make sure to examine side effects on any treatment…
Tag: ABA
Well, here we are again, and I’m going to run out of catchy titles for each time ABA International manages to make an ass out of themselves. Once again, they manage to demonstrate a lack of self-awareness so astronomical, that if it had a diagnosis, they themselves would probably label…
I already did my rant deep dive on play skills. Tl;dr: Play is not play if it’s just imitating what neurotypical peers are doing. The underlying stream feeding that is pathologizing autistic behaviors and interests. Neurotypical children may have “interests” or “passions,” but autistic children have “perseverations” or “restricted interests.” …
TW: Descriptions of harmful practices. This might come as a shock, but I don’t have much of a history of behaving in ways neurotypical people would expect. I know. Take all the time you need with that. Over time, I’ve suspected this might be part of the reason I can…
TW: ableism, contingent electric skin shock (CESS) Well, it took the better part of a year, but ABAI finally released their – erm – “statement” regarding the use of Contingent Electric Skin Shock (CESS). It’s hard to call a 34-page document a “statement,” so I supposed the authors’ description of…
Recently, ABAI released a statement in response to the avalanche of criticism they’ve received for constantly increasing the Judge Rotenberg Center’s presence at the annual conference. Specifically, about their lack of action in response to the serious concerns about the JRC, and overall sketchy practices. The response itself can be…
One of the most “annoying” stereotypes about ABA is that it’s robotic. BCBAs and therapists are portrayed as unemotional beings walking around with our clipboards watching with deadpan expressions as a toddler cries. Many of us find this description deeply offensive and launch into a pedantic explanation for how inaccurate…
Spoiler alert: It’s still troubling and true. CW: Aversives, torture, child abuse on the basis of gender, sexual, and romantic orientation, suicide/suicidal ideation It seems about a month before I made this post, ABA International put out this statement on conversion therapy. Well what kind of marsupial writer would I…
Health insurance. The one thing all providers in America can agree on. I’ve yet to meet a single provider in any field that has any kind words to spare for it. In the 10+ years I’ve been in the field, I’ve watched health insurance pull our hands farther and farther…
Raise your hand if you came out of grad school thinking ABA has all the answers. Have you ever scoffed at an occupational therapist’s report, with all of its mentalistic language and “poor measurement?” What about working with speech pathologists? How often have you tried to convince families to drop…