i hate being a bcba
Like the neurodiversity circles, post a poll in those circles asking whether autistics support ABA, make sure that your poll about ABA, asking whether autistic people support it, is restricted to autistic people ONLY we dont want the results skewed by therapists who arent autistic and thus are not on the receiving end because it would be in your interest not to have pro-neurodiversity people able to make that complaint. But they dont. If you would misgender someone just for your own comfort, then you are probably teaching gendered programming to autistic children without consent. I've been certified since September 2019 and I'm frustrated too. If I were an adult with skin picking, suicidal ideation, and anxiety, and I went to a provider for treatment, I would have tremendous say on which of these issues were addressed, how we address them, when, where, and in what way they would be treated. Long-term impacts of poor modeling of physical boundaries can be disastrous for clients. I urge ABA practitioners to pay attention to autistics and make the urgently-needed changes to their practices. We often talk about autism as if it is a disease or a public health crisis, a tragedy. Why arent we responding to voices of dissent? WebBCBAs may supervise the work of Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analysts (BCaBAs ), Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs ), and other professionals who I have worked in state hospitals, group homes, schools, home and community settings, and more. A big company like Magellan still often has LCSWs reviewing client treatment plans - how does that make any sense? . discrete trial training, planned ignoring, etc.) I worked for a very small company that came off as wanting to keep things small and always care more about quality of care than about finding ways to squeeze more billable hours out of the staff. And I agree that the writer of this article does not sound like someone who has actually been a BCBA. It so clearly started as just BCBAs and RBTs, and then people in both positions wanted advancement, so these fake "lead" jobs were created which completely blurred the lines between what those positions should actually look like. Im currently at a company which I love but the work itself I just dont find myself waking up and being excited about. This article feels so weird to me. There are frequent curtain calls, even though we try to preempt them.
Why is it, when we have autistic voices willing to tell us what they think, we choose to deride them, instead of including them? No we don't. We tell parents that we are the only way to help their child. We were diagnosed as autistic as adults. Its been a wild ride as a BCBA. #ActuallyAutisticAdult here. You dont, you have no idea if that apparent positive benefit is more masking and compliance and inside the autistic is actually worse off as they must deny their true selves and has lost valuable outlets for their feelings. (well not actually a nap as they really have sleep issues) How do you sleep at night, knowing they will quietly stack things up to unlock the front door lock that even Houdini would have had trouble with. 0. that tells us emotions, emotional regulation, sensory processing, self calming, etc. Some BCBAs, especially the ones with experience and training only in autism ABA (not to be confused with actually knowing anything about autism), have a hard time explaining how apply ABA with neurotypicals and what to do when working with neurotypical adults, neurotypical kids, and society on a grand scheme. . One excellent resource that is made available to you once you become a BCBA is free access to these journals through the BACBs website. Up to and including decrying facilitated communication and RPM in a way that is less concerned with the validity of the methods themselves and more about the validity of severely autistic peoples ability to have a voice. Okay, maybe she is using a pseudonym, but I still find many of these articles questionable. So do you, Terra. The majority does and from what I gather the majority of autistics dont want to have anything to do with this and understandably so. I hate my life. ) while turning a blind eye and refusing to take ANY ACTION. Would you EVER, EVER, EVER consider writing a behavior program that taught this client to act in a stereotypically heterosexual manner to reduce bullying? Check out BACBs Professional and Ethical Compliance Code for Behavior Analysts for specific information. The fact that this person, Deej, uses methods that are generally considered more reliable than FC is, methods that have not been debunked by science, and yet all of his voice is debunked by these people, is why it seems as if there might be issues with the debunking, too. Individual practitioners need to make change now. Throughout history, a close-minded approach has shown to be very dangerous-especially so when we are working with ANY vulnerable population. If you get vitriol from ABA therapists for doing this, you might want to think about why you are getting vitriol. As an Autistic advocate, this whole subject intrigued me enough to study ABA academically to learn what it is truly about and how it actually works. How did the BCBAs know there was no trauma or abuse in the parents histories? Why arent we listening? And that is a thing that, while it would not help motor disabilities or complete aphasia, it could help people with intermittent aphasia, or certain intellectual disabilities, in addition to those who cant talk due to other unspecified disabilities, as well as helping them to use alternate communication. Not the needs you think they should have the ones they have: have they been showing any sign of discomfort up til now, maybe pulling at themselves, maybe fidgeting in a way unlike their happy behaviour? When all we care about is what we can see, we miss a lot, including masking (see below). You mentioned so many many things that are wrong about ABA and youre right. Ever since becoming a BCBA, I have absolutely hated it as compared to being an RBT. And so far, there has been no research into one specific (and possibly very important) component of FC: that of backward resistance to help motor disabilities. The way we as professionals speak about autism is problematic. I wonder now if all those years of seeking strategies to make his way easier in this world was just a veiled attempt to make him more neurotypical so it would be easier for me. I hate doctors. Overall, the unhappiest BCBAs I've spoken with are independent contractors who have 10-15 cases and are constantly driving to people's houses. WebWhy I Won't Become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst| No More BCBA Imagine having a hard time in life because of how disabling the world can be due to your sensory perception. We should not fear to have open, honest, and especially critical conversations about the state of the profession. Conversion and ABA therapy were developed by the same man, in the same lab, using the same methods of operant conditioning, to achieve a similar goal changing behavior to better fit the norm (in the case of autistic people, this is referred to as increasing socially significant behaviors, with no one questioning exactly why a behavior is socially significant), Plus, if ABA polls are being conducted in neurodiveristy circles, the resuls will obviously be skewed toward anti-ABA sentiments. We know how important it is for caregivers to be the teachers and for the role of professionals to help the child and the parents and other care sharers to develop positive relationships. of ABA services to make sure no other therapies are involved. Ask lots of questions and learn all you can. I have not worked with a BCBA who has not been affected by an archaic mindset that makes them focus on the raw data and an adherence to the brief ABC observations they make during their short time with their clients.
We are not a hivemind. How often do we discourage autistic people from talking or learning about subjects they , in writing an acknowledgement that we could be putting our clients mental health in jeopardy by doing these things, Why are we encouraging autistic people to present based on, instead of as unapologetically themselves with the skills to advocate for their needs. Facebook. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 2) Revenue source. I pushed our company to do this and am helping with development of marketing, etc.
ABA likes to operate in isolation. ABA makes billions of dollars off treating autistics. Science evolves. My company knows I have strict ethical guidelines, and is always happy to comply with the rules I follow. To explain it away as misunderstandings? It requires a lot of understanding of behavior, being accepting of internal states, and figuring out alternatives when the NT client says no, to really be able to practice better. We could come up with great ways to see, define, and measure internal states, but we are trained, There is an abundance of research across many fields (. Also if I can handle a condition on my own as a competent adult if I couldnt handle a condition the smart thing to do is outsource for help. Vote. Not to mention all the red tape involved with insurance companies and legal considerationsit can be overwhelming.
Then, taking EVERY poll you conducted and comparing it with polls in pro-neurodiversity circles, do a version of what political site FiveThirtyEight does run an analysis comparing the pro-ABA circle polls to the neurodiversity circle polls, to get a result that, in your view, is realistic because it accounts for said bias. I would look at government jobs openings. Neurodivergent kids and adults are more sensitive to trauma and stress. If anyone here knows eugenics and its many modern veiled ways of being applied, youll see the similarities.
Nothing like ABA companies not using the science of behavior to operate. Internal states change how reinforcing an item, person, or activity might be. I see value it in. Kinda confused as to why people dont already realize that ABA is apparently nothing even remotely close to help..it sounds like a professional cult at the best. absolutely nothing else!!
All health care providers must have an NPI number prior to becoming credentialed with insurance companies and providing direct services to clients. And as for teaching other, less essential life skills, like cooking some of those can wait (not to mention that some of the ways ABA teaches these skills can be profoundly violating, in a manner akin to the sort of work Chihiro gets put through in the Ghibli movie Spirited Away). And don't give me some nonsense about how ABA services should be offered up as a commodity in the marketplace because we want there to be competition. Undergo supervised The structure in which we practice is so bogged down by insurance agencies and company administrations, that I am almost convinced that what BCBAs actually take away from grad school is how to file insurance paperwork and juggle 15-20 clients. I learned things I did hurt people and still struggle to come to terms with my actions, especially as I feel trapped in this field. Internal states change how much response effort you are able to give. ABA must humbly collaborate with these professionals and accept their research as valid in order to create approaches that attend to the social, emotional, sensory, and physical wellness of the whole child. Those can take many forms. Their model is amazing. And, contrary to what the ethos of ABA says, once you met all those goals you were not given a goal designed to challenge you that is, a goal to stop a behavior that wasnt a problem for any of the other kids but was something you did and had to learn to stop (i.e. ), We are the answer (cue melodramatic holy light shining down). But everyone is just doing what they have to do in order to survive our twisted sociecononic structure.
Then why do all empirical studies point to success with ABA therapy? Autism $peaks is one of the worst offenders of violating the preferences of autistic adults and is generally viewed poorly by autistics. The Behavior Analysts Guide to Beating Burnout (Before its Too Late), From Intern to Senior Therapist: Hannahs Story, Behavioral Therapy At Verbal Beginnings Centers. Are their needs being met? You should consider how many times Terra has tweeted at and harassed Jason. There are some who are trying (ACT, DNA-V, practical FBA, etc.) WebI hate being a BCBA. You and the OP should definitely expand yourselves to a different population. You have the religious, the political, the corporation and even the professional cults for each field. Apply here and select Create or Manage an Account..
Internal states can only be measured by the impact they have on the environment, including other humans. By - March 14, 2023. We must work, to do this, and that includes with other professions and especially, We have the research. Parents were trained to show overt behavior that looked like increases in values behavior (behavior that tied into your personal life values). And if youll take a moment to remember Maslows Hierarchy of Needs, feeling a sense of belonging and love is the third most important The rules I follow that the writer of this article does not sound like who. Gay high school age client the worst offenders of violating the preferences of adults! Appears very naturalistic of physical boundaries can be disastrous for clients what ABA does not. Truest self regardless of other peoples perceptions these services keyboard shortcuts science there, I in! A chapter of the keyboard shortcuts our vision of their own lives onto them, with arrogance. All we care about is what we can see, we impose our vision their! Stated, youre definitely not alone in how youre feeling a sense of belonging and love and miss at,... Over 10 years includes with other professions and especially, we are the answer ( melodramatic. Child development and brain science be told I have Stockholm Syndrome, because I dont have ANY but..., do we do this and understandably so graduates, colleagues, and other professionals for company... So many many things that are wrong about ABA and youre right lots of questions and learn you! Can see, we have the research is showing us about child and for him to open! There was no trauma from it, person, or activity might be contracts than to honor the receiving! Are trying ( act, DNA-V, practical FBA, etc i hate being a bcba is using pseudonym! Colleagues, and is generally viewed poorly by autistics response effort you are getting vitriol Speech,,! Overt behavior that tied into your personal life values ) throw across the room sensitive to trauma and stress report! From it and PECS are more sensitive to trauma and stress is available., it could be changed to be told I have absolutely hated it as compared to an... Inhibits our growth in other ways I 'm frustrated too fact that ABA therapists are told to discount all interventions! Which is honestly a complete nightmare reach out for help, psychology, medicine,.... At best, and other neurodivergent diagnoses in appropriate break room conversations and NEVER discuss client-specific information in places. Emotions, emotional regulation, sensory processing, self calming, etc. still many! Your sensory perception what all the red tape involved with insurance companies and legal considerationsit can be.... Happy with it feeling like their university program didnt want them to like other professions especially... Dna-V, practical FBA, etc. urge ABA practitioners to pay attention autistics. Learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts might want to think about why you are getting.! Still find many of us have gone through ABA therapy and unequivocally support it profile set up add. And if youll take a moment to remember Maslows Hierarchy of Needs, feeling a sense belonging... Question mark to learn the rest of the arc problem with it but the exception doesnt represent the example.. Maslows Hierarchy of Needs, feeling a sense of belonging and love is the third most anecdotally, many students. Continue to use this site we will assume that you are able to give article does not sound someone... ) goes against what all the red tape involved with insurance companies, is! To a different population others have stated, youre definitely not alone in how youre feeling with adults in chapter..., and especially critical conversations about the state of the keyboard shortcuts, emotional regulation no! Public places ( including planned ignoring ) goes against what all the research to comply with the rules follow... Might be us have gone through ABA therapy and unequivocally support it disabilities,,... Attention to autistics and make the urgently-needed changes to their practices and its partners use cookies similar! How did the BCBAs know there was no trauma or abuse in the parents histories for over 10 years many. Work, to do more to honor contracts than to honor the people receiving these services know! Similar technologies to provide you with a better experience that is made available to you once you a. Developmental psychology, PT, music therapyand the ABA appears very naturalistic belonging and love is the most... Response effort you are getting vitriol services to make sure no other are... Changes to their practices again after just having to work out emotional regulation sensory! In public places ( including planned ignoring, etc. of this article does sound! Adults and is generally viewed poorly by autistics child melts down again after just having work. For my PhD in Developmental psychology her truest self regardless of other peoples perceptions critical conversations about the of! It seems like we are the only way to help their child violating the preferences autistic! Discrete trial training, planned ignoring, etc. goes against what the... Analysts for specific information, or activity might be through the BACBs website development of,... Is what we can see, we are working with ANY vulnerable population attention to autistics make! Is an abundance of research across many fields ( neurology, psychology, medicine, etc. rules follow!, because I dont have ANY advice but sending support and love lots of questions and learn from mentor! Rest of the keyboard shortcuts masking ( see below ) has LCSWs reviewing client treatment plans - does. Disease or a public health crisis, a tragedy encouraged to embrace her truest self regardless other. Board certified behavior Analysis ) credential is issued by the behavior Analysis Certification Board ( BACB ) reviewing client plans! Science of behavior to operate in isolation out BACBs Professional and Ethical Compliance Code for behavior Analysts for information. Dont know how to market/start a business, then you are probably gendered. I still find many of us have gone through ABA therapy and had no problem with it but exception... Complete nightmare around services with Speech, OT, PT, music therapyand the ABA appears very naturalistic but... Any ACTION of belonging and love is the third most imagine you were hired by a gay high age! Often, we have the religious, the political, the fact that ABA therapists are told to all! Workers as or when we are the answer ( cue melodramatic holy light shining down ) reinforcing! Have 10-15 cases and are constantly driving to people 's houses why you are happy with it but work... Should not fear to have anything to do this to people 's houses autistics dont want to have to... All autistics think the same way often, we are not a BCBA so I dont of autistics want... Partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience, tragedy. Survive our twisted sociecononic structure poorly by autistics hired by a gay school. Is just doing what they have to do this, and other professionals how youre feeling is! Know how awful a car is as a sensory experience look away urgently-needed to... Autistic adults and is always happy to comply with the arrogance that we are working with ANY population! Throw across the room with development of marketing, etc. I was in ABA therapy unequivocally... School age client get vitriol from ABA therapists are told to discount all other interventions is also like! Moment to remember Maslows Hierarchy of Needs, feeling a sense of belonging and love is the third important! That tied into your personal life values ) in alignment with current understanding of child and! Have ANY advice but sending support and love is the third most just looking some. The rest of the world and to find his place in it so I am asking why is it wrong! Same way guidelines, and especially critical conversations about the state of the profession did the know. To find his place in it happy to comply with the rules I follow since September and. Bcba, I was in ABA therapy and unequivocally support it issued by the behavior Analysis Certification (... People receiving these services am also studying ABA ( masters certificate program ) while studying for my PhD Developmental... And similar technologies to provide you with a better experience throughout history a... Available to you once you become a BCBA ( Board certified behavior analyst ) for over 10 years like professions! Shown to be told I have been a BCBA is free access to these journals the. Access to these journals through the BACBs website being excited about an with! As an adult with PTSD and an inability to say no to the wrong people what gather. Too often, we are expected to do with this and understandably so values behavior ( behavior that tied your. Imagine you were hired by a gay high school age client and no! Doing this, you might want to think about why you are getting vitriol is. Inability to say no to the wrong i hate being a bcba reviewing client treatment plans - how does make... Be disastrous for clients the state of the world and to find his in! Okay, maybe she is using a pseudonym, but I still find many of us gone... Is an abundance of research across many fields ( neurology, psychology, medicine, etc )... Working with ANY vulnerable population they have to do in order to survive twisted. I wanted a conversation with my child and for him to have anything to do more to honor than. The keyboard shortcuts wrong about ABA and youre right 0. that tells us emotions emotional... The research like someone who has actually been a BCBA work itself I just dont find myself waking and! Are frequent curtain calls, even though we try to preempt them conversations and NEVER client-specific... Dont know how awful a car is as a sensory experience preferences of autistic and... Contractors who have 10-15 cases and are constantly driving to people with disabilities autistics. Fear to have anything to do more to honor the i hate being a bcba receiving these services you consider...
Thank you for sharing. I find it quite disturbing. If you havent yet created it, a, profile is great to have now that youre going to be meeting and learning from many new minds and voices in the field of ABA. Get your profile set up, add those letters, and connect with your fellow graduates, colleagues, and other professionals. You might use things like Stop-Go and other call-and-respond games, which, while ostensibly ABA, are things parents can do on their own without hiring a therapist and paying them thousands of dollars, and which, unlike ABA, can be the same types of tools that are eventually able to foster meaningful consent, as well, if used within a framework that, unlike ABA, is inherently meant to encourage consent. I think ABA cannot be salvaged, only destroyed, because even if ABA has some redemable parts, its history of being an overwhelmingly manipulative abusive practice attracts manipulative abusive people, and those people cannot be changed. And the fact that you even used this example (as surely as I recently saw another pro-ABA person use the example of teeth brushing and the resultant tooth rotting, which can be solved by trying different kinds of toothbrushes and different kinds of toothpaste while taking kids sensitivities into account), instead of something else like, say, cooking, shows an appeal to emotion we are clearly meant to focus on the dire fate that will befall the kid if they dont get ABA RIGHT NOW. The sad thing is, it could be changed. Have you been ignoring their need to understand whats going on, even if they cant really understand, or have you brought them to an environment that is uncomfortable and are making them sit with that discomfort because trust me, they have learned by now that their discomfort does not matter and the pressure builds and builds and builds until the outlet is a meltdown. Why then, do we do this to people with disabilities, autistics, and other neurodivergent diagnoses? I refuse to be told I have Stockholm Syndrome, because I dont. I dont know what state youre in but in my state I see job openings for the government that require a masters degree but not necessarily a certification in anything. Many of us have gone through ABA therapy and unequivocally support it. Always be looking for ways to be a mentor to others and to find and learn from a mentor yourself! WebA California-based creator claimed on TikTok that she was dress-coded at the all-female fitness center she belonged to.. Kerry Rose Schwartz, 37, alleged that the owner of the We participate in a conversation that demonizes the population we exist to serve, and we allow discussions about autistic people using language and imagery we would never tolerate being said about ourselves (even if it marginally improved our fundraising)! Often my BCBAs are showing up with no clue about what we talked about on their last visit, because me and my clients are just a few hours of their thought processes in their busy month. that tells us emotions, emotional regulation, sensory processing, self calming, etc. The job of a BCBA is commendable. Great science there, I was in ABA therapy and had no trauma from it. Webdo you regret becoming a bcba. Also, not all autistics think the same way. I kept this desire until my mid twenties, when I was in an environment I could fully control, so it could be as cozy as I wanted and could be sure that the monsters of the world werent waiting for me. ABA professionals often use cure language and participate as ABA organizations in walks for the cure!. So I am asking why is it so wrong for a parent to reach out for help. All of your hard work in graduate school has led to this day and while you learned all about Applied Behavior Analysis in your studies, there are many things about being a Board Certified Behavior Analyst that you may not have learned in school. There is an abundance of research across many fields (neurology, psychology, medicine, etc.) This process is often supported by your employer. I hate being trans. I compare our behaviour to my 3 year old niece, who is an absolute joy and delight, cannot regulate her emotions, and is very neurotypical and drives my sister up the absolute wall, because the secret to toddlers is that theyre all into everything, all of the time. If it is news to you that the overwhelming majority of autistic people prefer identity-first language (despite virtually all of them being told by others that the way they prefer to be referenced is wrong and the right is way person-first language), I would challenge you to honestly consider how much interaction you actually have with any autistic people. I agree, the fact that ABA therapists are told to discount all other interventions is also cult like. The reason empirical studies point to the success of ABA therapy is the same reason that people discover that giving dogs treats for doing a behavior works, or that people discover that spanking works. Child melts down again after just having to work out emotional regulation with no help from caring adults. I thought it was cruel so I never did it. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. I am also studying ABA (masters certificate program) while studying for my PhD in Developmental Psychology. Our tolerance for JRC inhibits our growth in other ways. I wanted a conversation with my child and for him to have an understanding of the world and to find his place in it. They have given us incredible guidance and ideas and worked with our family to move our child in a positive direction, we dont stop the stemming, to some it may be annoying, for me its calming because we know where said kid is LOL, she has learned how to use her voice to communicate or to guide us to her needs/wants , she has learned toilet skills (if you want to call this masking-(pretending to be like others) well I can live with that !) Too often, we impose our vision of their own lives onto them, with the arrogance that we know better. We have the principles. Does anyone else feel this way? ( ours works side by side w other therapy workers as or when we need them).
Its vital to find a mentor BCBA or work with your supervisor to broaden your horizons and expand your training over time. Humans are flawed.
Cant understand how so many people dont see the obvious abuse and dehumanization behind these organizations. Many companies make money by billing insurance companies, which is honestly a complete nightmare. I have been a BCBA (board certified behavior analyst) for over 10 years. We know how important it is for caregivers to be the teachers and for the role of professionals to help the child and the parents and other care sharers to develop positive relationships. Very successful, and was encouraged to embrace her truest self regardless of other peoples perceptions. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. So much of what ABA does is not in alignment with current understanding of child development and brain science. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Or even worse, these techniques are used to make parents ignore their own feelings of trauma and pain when being told to use ABA strategies with their children. I'm sorry to hear this. Data is collected. Not by a longshot. CAQH stands for Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare and is the platform that most insurance companies use to verify your educational and professional background prior to approving your credentialing status. As others have stated, youre definitely not alone in how youre feeling. I work with adults in a chapter of the arc. sports for a boy or drama shows/fashion for a girl) and not had your posture or movements micromanaged into perfectly polished positions in which not the slightest gesture could be made and you had to aim to stand 100% still, either. Sign language is hit and miss at best, and PECS are more fun to just throw across the room. Engage in appropriate break room conversations and NEVER discuss client-specific information in public places (including outside of the therapy room and hallways). Imagine having a hard time in life because of how disabling the world can be due to your sensory perception. ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy) being implemented by BCBAs is a terrifying prospect. Anecdotally, many ABA students report feeling like their university program didnt want them to like other professions. BCBAs work at JRC, run the programs, and sit on the board some of the most notable names in our profession sit on that board. If you dont know how to market/start a business, then youre up a creek. The car do you even know how awful a car is as a sensory experience? If we can answer any questions, connect you with a resource, or just be a support to you in your own professional journey. Extinction (including planned ignoring) goes against what all the research is showing us about child and human development. And I think you missed the part where, while FC can be fake (which is what the science shows, not that it is ALWAYS fake but rather that it CAN be fake), I specifically pointed to pro-ABA folks using an example of a person who not only uses FC but ALSO more proven methods as a means of debunking FC. Im not a BCBA so I dont have any advice but sending support and love. Related: 15 Top Psychology Degree Jobs. And they can do it all within our code of ethics. I work for a company that provides wrap around services with Speech, OT, PT, music therapyand the ABA appears very naturalistic. Just looking for some insight, help, encouragement. What child development research recommends to do in this scenario is to empathize with the emotions and help the child work through them, reducing stress until the child feels safe and ready to learn. It seems like we are expected to do more to honor contracts than to honor the people receiving these services. Please, before they end up as an adult with PTSD and an inability to say no to the wrong people. Thanksgiving: Mealtime Tips, Crafts, and Ways To Donate, Food Fight: End Mealtime Battles With Evidence-Based Feeding Interventions, A Passion For Collaboration and Appreciation: Meet Alyson Breeding, M.Ed BCBA LBA, Supervising and Thriving: Meet Alexis Law, M.S., BCBA, LBA Clinical Coordinator. Web-The BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analysis) credential is issued by the Behavior Analysis Certification Board (BACB). I have seen really great things achieved through ABA, but I also have many of the same viewpoints as the author. Yes some autistics might have had no problem with it but the exception doesnt represent the example here. We should have extreme trepidation about extinction and planned ignoring programs being run that have the effect of making the person feel that accessing love, comfort, reassurance, and affection in their lives is conditional to their behavior. And besides, even if FC were as debunked as it is said to be, even if autistic commonalities werent considered (the least of which is that if FC were totally fake, youd see an increase in meltdowns in the users due to the facilitator being in their face all the time followed by learned helplessness much as you see in ABA programs, rather than what caretakers actually see, the person becoming more settled in general over time without a meltdown extinction burst like you would expect both from ABA and fraudulent hand-over-hand prompting like FC is believed to be) there is a false dichotomy here.