Alternatives to ABA: If not ABA... then WHAT? - ABA for "Problem Behaviors"

Assimilation is a dangerous and cruel goal for Autistic People (especially considering how many of us will never blend in no matter how hard we try).

CONTENT WARNING: This piece discusses ABA and other Conversion Therapies. Reader discretion is advised.

NOTE: This is Part 1 of a 5 part series.

You can find Part 2 HERE.

You can find Part 3 HERE.

Here is Part 4.

Here is Part 5.

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Whenever I mention my feelings on ABA, someone always asks me for "alternatives to ABA."

However, because ABA seeks to make Autistic People "indistinguishable from their peers" (according to Lovaas, one of the founding fathers of ABA), my answer (that people don't always appreciate) is that there is no alternative to ABA because the goal of making an Autistic Person "indistinguishable from their peers" is inappropriate and impossible for many of us.

ABA treats Autistic People like a problem to solve, “building a person,” because it assumes we, Autistic People, are lacking something.

2 panel comic: first one young person with long black hair sitting in a curled up pose, frustrated and sad as a teacher scolds them. Second panel the same person has a rain cloud above them and they are thinking “i suck”. The caption on the comic reads “I was treated like the problem so I believed I was the problem” and “Nobody asked if I needed help or support to get my work done. Because I was seen as "the problem," I wasn't offered support - instead of noticing my cries for help, behavioral modification techniques were used to "extinguish" my "undesirable behaviors" (all signs I was in distress).”

Assimilation is a dangerous and cruel goal for Autistic People (especially considering how many of us will never blend in no matter how hard we try). 

The main goal of ABA as a whole (making Autistics who can pass themselves off as non-autistic people) can vary from individual one-to-one goals an Autistic People may receive in ABA. 

Such goals (according to Autism Speaks, one of the most prominent lobbying organizations for ABA) can include (but are not limited to) decreased "problem behaviors," increasing communication and language, learning (to emulate non-autistic) social skills, self-care skills, how to play "appropriately," motor skills, as well as academic skills. 

Are THESE goals the ones people are pursuing alternatives to ABA for? 

If so, I’m happy to share my thoughts (and I have a LOT of thoughts).

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Let's start with the first one: "problem behaviors." 

All humans (and other animals, ESPECIALLY those who don't speak) communicate through their body language and behaviors (even if they are completely unaware they're doing so). 

When children (regardless of NeuroType) demonstrate "disruptive" or "inappropriate behavior," it is often a sign they have unmet needs that they are trying to meet. 

Children who resort to "acting out" to meet their needs often lack the skills to tell you what they need (assuming they even know what they need).

Some children may know they need something or know something is painful, uncomfortable, or "not working" for them but may not see the solution (other than they need help or something has to change). 

With Autistic children, many of whom also struggle with communication, as well as sensory and motor control differences, this struggle to tell you what we need (and the resulting frustration from not having our needs met) can be amplified. 

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