ABA stands for Applied Behavioral Analysis. Currently, it is the go-to method for "treating"
ABA stands for Applied Behavioral Analysis. Currently, it is the go-to method for "treating"

Autism, and is strongly encouraged from a very young age to teach Autistic children
Autism, and is strongly encouraged from a very young age to teach Autistic children

socially acceptable behaviors, and to help parents to stop or prevent behaviors that
socially acceptable behaviors, and to help parents to stop or prevent behaviors that

they don't particularly enjoy. The idea behind Behavioral Analysis is to, um, take your subject,
they don't particularly enjoy. The idea behind Behavioral Analysis is to, um, take your subject,

and first you analyze what is prompting the behavior, the behavior that you don't like.
and first you analyze what is prompting the behavior, the behavior that you don't like.

So say for an Autistic child, that would be hand-flapping. And then the second step is
So say for an Autistic child, that would be hand-flapping. And then the second step is

to develop consequential strategies to prevent that behavior from occurring. So the idea
to develop consequential strategies to prevent that behavior from occurring. So the idea

is observe, and then come up with analytical and scientific strategies to make sure that
is observe, and then come up with analytical and scientific strategies to make sure that

behavior doesn't happen anymore. How you make sure that that behavior doesn't happen any
behavior doesn't happen anymore. How you make sure that that behavior doesn't happen any

more, say hand-flapping in an Autistic child, is dependent upon the concept of operant conditioning.
more, say hand-flapping in an Autistic child, is dependent upon the concept of operant conditioning.

The operant being the Autistic child, and conditioning being the use of reinforcement
The operant being the Autistic child, and conditioning being the use of reinforcement

and punishment.
and punishment.

I am strongly against the use of ABA therapy to "treat" Autistic children. The idea behind
I am strongly against the use of ABA therapy to "treat" Autistic children. The idea behind

ABA, the very core concept, is using the analysis of behavior, and you apply that analysis systematically
ABA, the very core concept, is using the analysis of behavior, and you apply that analysis systematically

to improve socially significant behavior. Some ABA therapists will, will say 'Well you
to improve socially significant behavior. Some ABA therapists will, will say 'Well you

know, everybody has consequences to their actions. There are positive outcomes and negative
know, everybody has consequences to their actions. There are positive outcomes and negative

outcomes. You can study hard for that test, and pass, or you can not study, and fail,
outcomes. You can study hard for that test, and pass, or you can not study, and fail,

and those are behaviors and choices that you have to make.' Now, the real problem that
and those are behaviors and choices that you have to make.' Now, the real problem that

occurs when you try to treat Autistic children with ABA therapy is, you know, what is socially
occurs when you try to treat Autistic children with ABA therapy is, you know, what is socially

significant behavior? And who gets to say what is socially acceptable or not? The idea
significant behavior? And who gets to say what is socially acceptable or not? The idea

that Autism needs treating at all is, is um, I think, inaccurate. The use of operant conditioning
that Autism needs treating at all is, is um, I think, inaccurate. The use of operant conditioning

on children, especially on Autistic children, is, to me, sickening; because Autistic children
on children, especially on Autistic children, is, to me, sickening; because Autistic children

don't need to be conditioned. There are somethings that Autistic children do need help with.
don't need to be conditioned. There are somethings that Autistic children do need help with.

There are many co-morbid conditions that occur alongside Autism, such as dyspraxia, sensory
There are many co-morbid conditions that occur alongside Autism, such as dyspraxia, sensory

processing disorder, social anxiety, insomnia, speech impairments. All of these things do
processing disorder, social anxiety, insomnia, speech impairments. All of these things do

need help and treatment, but what doesn't need treatment is Autistic behaviors. And
need help and treatment, but what doesn't need treatment is Autistic behaviors. And

that's entirely what ABA is about. It's right in the name, Applied Behavioral Analysis.
that's entirely what ABA is about. It's right in the name, Applied Behavioral Analysis.

ABA is all about making Autistic children look as neurotypical as possible. And for
ABA is all about making Autistic children look as neurotypical as possible. And for

what? ABA therapy is really shallow. The whole focus is on socially significant behaviors,
what? ABA therapy is really shallow. The whole focus is on socially significant behaviors,

not the well being of the Autistic child, not helping them to learn life skills that
not the well being of the Autistic child, not helping them to learn life skills that

will actually help them later on, not teaching them how to grow and thrive as an Autistic
will actually help them later on, not teaching them how to grow and thrive as an Autistic

person in a neurotypical world, but to make them look normal. So much ABA therapy focuses
person in a neurotypical world, but to make them look normal. So much ABA therapy focuses

on things like table-readiness, you know, sitting perfectly still, on not stimming,
on things like table-readiness, you know, sitting perfectly still, on not stimming,

on behaviors that are just misunderstood. And never at any point in the history of ABA
on behaviors that are just misunderstood. And never at any point in the history of ABA

did anybody think to ask an Autistic person why they stim, what is going on with them,
did anybody think to ask an Autistic person why they stim, what is going on with them,

what they would like to be learning. See ABA is all about the parents. It's all about making
what they would like to be learning. See ABA is all about the parents. It's all about making

the child look as neurotypical as possible. And, you know, now we're moving in a direction
the child look as neurotypical as possible. And, you know, now we're moving in a direction

where were understanding Autism better through asking Autistic people about it, what our
where were understanding Autism better through asking Autistic people about it, what our

experiences are and what it is like to be Autistic. Behaviorism really just relies on
experiences are and what it is like to be Autistic. Behaviorism really just relies on

the observations of neurotypical researchers and doctors. Unless you are asking them, or
the observations of neurotypical researchers and doctors. Unless you are asking them, or

asking another Autistic person, you can't know for sure why they are doing the behavior
asking another Autistic person, you can't know for sure why they are doing the behavior

that they are doing. What may seem simply bothersome or strange-looking to you, like
that they are doing. What may seem simply bothersome or strange-looking to you, like

hand-flapping, is necessary and an important self-regulation tool to Autistic children.
hand-flapping, is necessary and an important self-regulation tool to Autistic children.

Anecdotally, its quite sad, but the use of consequences and punishment and rewards for
Anecdotally, its quite sad, but the use of consequences and punishment and rewards for

"doing it right" in ABA therapy can lead to some severe mental and emotional issues for
"doing it right" in ABA therapy can lead to some severe mental and emotional issues for

children, who later become mentally and emotionally damaged Autistic adults; because what you're
children, who later become mentally and emotionally damaged Autistic adults; because what you're

teaching children through ABA therapy is that who they are is wrong and bad, the way they
teaching children through ABA therapy is that who they are is wrong and bad, the way they

move is shameful and needs to be changed. See ABA therapy doesn't focus on helping the
move is shameful and needs to be changed. See ABA therapy doesn't focus on helping the

Autistic child, working with their Autism. In ABA when you're learning skills like 'point
Autistic child, working with their Autism. In ABA when you're learning skills like 'point

to the blue card' or 'don't stim', those aren't skills that are going to help and Autistic
to the blue card' or 'don't stim', those aren't skills that are going to help and Autistic

child later on in life.
child later on in life.

An Autistic child needs to be learning about their sensory sensitivities, what sets them
An Autistic child needs to be learning about their sensory sensitivities, what sets them

off, what they can do about it. They need to be learning about neurotypical people,
off, what they can do about it. They need to be learning about neurotypical people,

their point of views, and they need to be hearing social stories to understand why neurotypical
their point of views, and they need to be hearing social stories to understand why neurotypical

people act the way that they act. They need to be mentored and engaged by adult Autistic
people act the way that they act. They need to be mentored and engaged by adult Autistic

people. Adult Autistic people are the only people who can definitively say to an Autistic
people. Adult Autistic people are the only people who can definitively say to an Autistic

child 'I know what you're going through, and you're going to be alright because I went
child 'I know what you're going through, and you're going to be alright because I went

through it'. An Autistic child needs so much. They need to be told that they have the right
through it'. An Autistic child needs so much. They need to be told that they have the right

to say no; because when you take an Autistic child, who already has trouble understanding
to say no; because when you take an Autistic child, who already has trouble understanding

the world and people's intentions, and you tell them through hours and hours of therapy
the world and people's intentions, and you tell them through hours and hours of therapy

and through use of adversives that they can't say no, that they have to obey the adults
and through use of adversives that they can't say no, that they have to obey the adults

in their life? All you're doing is breaking down their spirit and taking away their ability
in their life? All you're doing is breaking down their spirit and taking away their ability

to say no, their ability to self-advocate. It is so, so important that disabled children
to say no, their ability to self-advocate. It is so, so important that disabled children

and Autistic children and Autistic adults need to be able to say no. They need to be
and Autistic children and Autistic adults need to be able to say no. They need to be

able to have their own boundaries and express what their limits are. I'm going to link to
able to have their own boundaries and express what their limits are. I'm going to link to

some examples where ABA therapy has actually caused trauma, and Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome
some examples where ABA therapy has actually caused trauma, and Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome

in Autistic children. And this can continue far into adulthood, and it affects your ability
in Autistic children. And this can continue far into adulthood, and it affects your ability

to trust, it affects everything about your life. ABA therapy at its best is useless to
to trust, it affects everything about your life. ABA therapy at its best is useless to

the Autistic child, and caters only to the neurotypical parents' desire to have their
the Autistic child, and caters only to the neurotypical parents' desire to have their

child look more normal. And at its worst, it breaks an Autistic child's spirit, it takes
child look more normal. And at its worst, it breaks an Autistic child's spirit, it takes

away their self-direction and their sense of autonomy and self-worth, and it causes
away their self-direction and their sense of autonomy and self-worth, and it causes

trauma and PTSD. And if something is causing trauma and PTSD in children, in disabled children,
trauma and PTSD. And if something is causing trauma and PTSD in children, in disabled children,

the most vulnerable people in our society, we need to take a step back and ask: why are
the most vulnerable people in our society, we need to take a step back and ask: why are

we doing this? Why is socially acceptable behavior so important? What are Autistic people
we doing this? Why is socially acceptable behavior so important? What are Autistic people

saying about this? There is a large, large number of people in the Autistic community,
saying about this? There is a large, large number of people in the Autistic community,

Autistic adults and self-advocates, who are saying no to ABA, who are saying 'I did ABA
Autistic adults and self-advocates, who are saying no to ABA, who are saying 'I did ABA

and it was terrible'.
and it was terrible'.

As an Autistic person, I am strongly against using ABA therapy on anyone, especially on
As an Autistic person, I am strongly against using ABA therapy on anyone, especially on

Autistic children. Autistic children are so vulnerable, and they need guidance and acceptance
Autistic children. Autistic children are so vulnerable, and they need guidance and acceptance

and protection and love. They need to be taught how to advocate for themselves, how to say
and protection and love. They need to be taught how to advocate for themselves, how to say

no. They need to be accepted for exactly who they are, and not told that how they communicate
no. They need to be accepted for exactly who they are, and not told that how they communicate

and move and grow and learn is wrong. They need acceptance, not Applied Behavioral Analysis.
and move and grow and learn is wrong. They need acceptance, not Applied Behavioral Analysis.

I'm going to be linking to you some resources, um, most of them were written by Autistic
I'm going to be linking to you some resources, um, most of them were written by Autistic

people who underwent ABA, or occupational therapy, or compliance training, you know,
people who underwent ABA, or occupational therapy, or compliance training, you know,

or other forms of therapies, and some of them were written by parents of Autistic children.
or other forms of therapies, and some of them were written by parents of Autistic children.

So I really encourage anyone who's confused about ABA, or on the fence, or who just wants
So I really encourage anyone who's confused about ABA, or on the fence, or who just wants

to hear the other side of the story, you know, the Autistic side, please check out some of
to hear the other side of the story, you know, the Autistic side, please check out some of

these links. This has been my video on ABA therapy. It was just a quick overview of what
these links. This has been my video on ABA therapy. It was just a quick overview of what

ABA is and my thoughts and feelings on it. It is quite a controversial subject, but I
ABA is and my thoughts and feelings on it. It is quite a controversial subject, but I

was glad to be able to address it, and to tell, you know, the other side of the story,
was glad to be able to address it, and to tell, you know, the other side of the story,

from the voices of actual Autistic people. If you have a question that you would like
from the voices of actual Autistic people. If you have a question that you would like

answered via video, feel free to post it in the comments section, or message it to me.
answered via video, feel free to post it in the comments section, or message it to me.

And, if you like my channel, you can subscribe for more! This has been Ask An Autistic.
And, if you like my channel, you can subscribe for more! This has been Ask An Autistic.