One thing I’m learning right now is that people who’ve never heard of ABA at all, when they are introduced to it from the perspective of an autistic ABA survivor, they’re first reaction is “that sounds terrible! I can’t believe they still do that.”
Granted I’ve only been able to talk to like two people like that from my perspective as a survivor. But. Even one person I absolutely expected to not understand, was horrified that this is still in practice.
Anyway, if your a parent in the fence or considering ABA, listen to ABA survivors. That’s the most important set of voices in this conversation.
Alright this is getting some traction. Here is as much as I'm willing to add to this thread about my own experiences for now. I still haven't fully grappled with them. But I want to add some resources.
Want to add that I love my parents and my family, they are amazing, and I'm not trying to throw anyone under the bus.
We can hurt people we love sometimes.
Anyway, resources. And, Tw for some of these.
Big TW for this one
neuroclastic.com/on-hurling-mys…
This one is more of a scientific article.
tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.10…
Last thing--It was pointed out to me (can confirm this is true) that lots of psych majors get bombarded with offers from ABA companies.
So, any other psych students that have ideas for where to get money that doesn't traumatize kiddos...feel free to chime in.
I worked in lots of homeschool and after school programs for kiddos, and also at a respite care center where I could play with kids. I know some people have supported disabled adults or worked in nursing homes.
Retail sucks, but I worked at target for a bit too.
If you are a parent ... talking to autistic adults is THE BEST thing you can do for your kiddo. #AskingAutistics is a tag if you have questions. Also a thread on "alternatives" to ABA.
And my response to another parent asking about this (pls do not harass, she's doing the right thing asking for help).
I may mute this now but if this helps anyone decide to not do ABA for their kids...I'm so thankful to you for making that choice!
If you have your kid in ABA and decide to pull them out -- also thank you. Good parents can make bad choices sometimes. I'm so glad you learned.
I want to re-iterate that my own parents and my own family is amazing, they are wonderful, and they did a lot of things right, even if this also happened. Life is ~complicated~ and we are all complicated. I am healing. And I'm thankful for the autistic community.
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