102: The Controversy of ABA: A Discussion with an ABA Practitioner

If you heard our episode from a couple of weeks ago, you know we discussed Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Today, we are looking at the controversy surrounding ABA, why many people are in favor of it, and why many people oppose it. My guest, Taylor, is a BCBA, a board-certified behavior analyst, so let’s discuss this topic and learn more from her.

Show Highlights:

• An explanation of ABA and the role of a BCBA
• The language of ABA: desired behaviors, undesired behaviors, behavior contrast, punishment, replacement behaviors, injurious behaviors, tantrum behaviors, etc.
• Taylor’s story about going to an ABA conference
• The historical harm that ABA has done to autistic children
• The dehumanizing aspects of ABA
• Is the goal of ABA to make an autistic child seem less autistic?
• Therapies covered by health insurance for an autistic child: speech, occupational, and ABA
• The side of ABa that no one talks about
• ABA: helpful, traumatizing, or distressing?
• Taylor’s path to becoming a BCBA
• An autism diagnosis does NOT mean that you need ABA.
• A look at a typical ABA session (even though each session is highly individualized to the needs of each person)
• Taylor’s top three things that can be done to better serve autistic people

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