Read on Twitter
Autistic people: "ABA is literally torture. Here are accounts of the trauma caused. Here's a study saying it doesn't even work. It violates all 4 principles of bioethics. It's conversion therapy and brainwashing."
Parents: "I need to look into this more to decide for myself."
Parents: "I need to look into this more to decide for myself."
I appreciate folks that want to do research, but at a certain point of evidence of harm, do you really need to see more? "But what if they act 'normal' after all that harm?"
The inspiration behind the tweet:
A good resource to check out since this tweet is going somewhat viral (at least by my standards):
This account also has a ton of great information and sources regarding ABA: https://twitter.com/abaukdiscussion/status/1320398230178377729?s=19
This account also has a ton of great information and sources regarding ABA: https://twitter.com/abaukdiscussion/status/1320398230178377729?s=19
"Why No Autistic Child Should Be in ABA Therapy" by Shannon Des Roches Rosa @shannonrosa
http://www.thinkingautismguide.com/2020/10/why-no-autistic-child-should-be-in-aba.html?m=1
http://www.thinkingautismguide.com/2020/10/why-no-autistic-child-should-be-in-aba.html?m=1
Argument detailing how ABA (all ABA) violates the fundamental principles of bioethics: https://twitter.com/ZeroWrites/status/1385720871910789123?s=20
"If Not ABA, Then What?" by Max Sparrow
http://www.thinkingautismguide.com/2017/04/if-not-aba-then-what.html
http://www.thinkingautismguide.com/2017/04/if-not-aba-then-what.html
An article breaking down the American Department of Defense study on ABA not being effective: https://therapistndc.org/aba-is-not-effective-so-says-the-latest-report-from-the-department-of-defense/
It's not just us Twitter autistics that oppose ABA. Autistic-led organizations oppose ABA as well. Here are the position statements of ASAN—Autistic Self Advocacy Network. You can find their take on ABA under "Autism Research and Therapies" & then "Helpful and Harmful Therapies":
https://autisticadvocacy.org/about-asan/position-statements/
I'll include the screenshot and write it out below.
I'll include the screenshot and write it out below.
Helpful and Harmful Therapies
Many therapies can be helpful for autistic people, like physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and AAC. We think these therapies should be easier for autistic people to get.
1/5
Many therapies can be helpful for autistic people, like physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and AAC. We think these therapies should be easier for autistic people to get.
1/5
But there are some therapies that focus on making autistic people seem "normal" or appear "less autistic". The most common type of this therapy is Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA). ABA uses rewards and punishments to train autistic people to act non-autistic.
2/5
2/5
ABA and other therapies with the same goals can hurt autistic people, and they don't teach us the skills we actually need to navigate the world with our disabilities. Sometimes people say they use ABA to work on other skills, like communication.
3/5
3/5
There are better ways to teach those skills. We work to make those better ways available to everyone.
ASAN doese not support any one kind of therapy for autistic people. Different things will work better for different autistic people.
4/5
ASAN doese not support any one kind of therapy for autistic people. Different things will work better for different autistic people.
4/5
The most important thing is that any therapy should help autistic people get what we want and need, not what other people think we need. Good therapies focus on helping us figure out our goals, and work with us to achieve them.
5/5
5/5
I'm only about 12 minutes into this interview (listening while replying to people), but it is very illuminating (and horrifying) about how ABA has come to dominate the autism industry. https://twitter.com/shannonrosa/status/1385747845702062086?s=20
I've tried to share many of the resources mentioned in the original tweet now that it has gone relatively viral, but I am not going to share stories of trauma from other autistics. Please feel free to share your own stories if you feel comfortable doing so. You can also DM me.
Here is a collection of shared stories. Obvious trigger warning.
"Autistic Experiences of ABA #SayNoToABA" https://twitter.com/i/events/1380616457726398466?s=09
"Autistic Experiences of ABA #SayNoToABA" https://twitter.com/i/events/1380616457726398466?s=09
