Таня Мельничук Profile picture
Aug 18, 2019 10 tweets 6 min read Read on X
@Foster_Science @anomalapropos Apraxic people sometimes take a long time to develop purposeful motor skills, and even when they can communicate independently, they may have days when they need some help.
@Foster_Science @anomalapropos This is similar to some wheelchair users who can walk, but not on all days.
@Foster_Science @anomalapropos Some of us autists who can speak also have times when speech dries up and we need to flip over to AAC. Alyssa Hillary has written and lectured on this subject.
@Foster_Science @anomalapropos We do not deny a wheelchair user the right to use their wheelchair just because they can walk at times. Similarly, it makes no sense to deny someone who can type independently the right to also have a bit of support from a facilitator.
@Foster_Science @anomalapropos Once someone has "demonstrated their intelligence", it makes no sense to then discard their perspective, as though they are "too stupid to know what's good for them".
@Foster_Science @anomalapropos In his speech to the United Nations on 2 April 2019, DJ Savarese made an appeal for multi-modal AAC.
@Foster_Science @anomalapropos Most humans are multi-modal communicators. We use real-time speech, gestures, text messages, voice messages.

Non-speakers too often require multiple modes for different situations.
@Foster_Science @anomalapropos Thus someone who CAN type independently may choose support because it makes them faster and takes away some of the strain.
@Foster_Science @anomalapropos To expect apraxic individuals to first lose their apraxia before they are allowed to communicate is ludicrous. That's like telling an accident victim that they deserve no crutches or physiotherapy. They must just walk normally, unaided.
@Foster_Science @anomalapropos And if you grant them the crutches and they never get to the point where they can walk without them for more than a few metres, shall we deny them the crutches just because one or two individuals have abused crutches and faked disability?

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More from @ekverstania

Oct 25
Man, this is an interesting exchange. Many people are disadvantaged in this kind of situation: most of us don't have the full set of weapons and skills—body language, posture, tone, eye contact, reading the other guy's responses, quick thinking. This guy has… a lot.
The argument wasn't won entirely on logic and words. The squeaky guy was discombobulated and allowed himself to be overpowered. The use of the chair was masterful. This whole scene could be analysed by students in a drama class.
Squeaky was like, “OK, I am not getting a chance to come in with a considered response, so let me just allow this person to go off on a tirade and end up looking stupid”—except his tactic backfired, as the big guy ended up spouting a whole lot of good points—
Read 57 tweets
Apr 20
What these people are advocating is child abuse. I know the way they put it doesn't sound bad, but this is about a very controlled, clinically callous form of manipulation. I'll drop some more links below so you can understand the context.
What they're advocating is based on the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA). Here's what that's about:

autisticstrategies.net/nonspeaking-au…
Someone who refers to behaviour as 'attention-seeking' is highly likely to negatively judge people who need, deserve and ask for attention—like this:
Read 9 tweets
Feb 17
[THREAD]
Why is it so hard for people in the field of ABA to improve the field, even with the support of autistic activists? One of the reasons is this:
Powerful people in the industry will try to destroy you for listening to autistic people, for trying to do a job compassionately, and for calling out the abuse.
I'm going to ask Jennilee Sunshine, a BCBA, whether I might tell her story here verbatim. It's already public on Facebook.
Read 57 tweets
Nov 17, 2023
Vladimir Putin's standard modus operandi is to make agreements and then demonstrate his power by breaking them with impunity.
Any suggestion that Ukraine should negotiate a settlement with Russia is borne either out of ignorance of this long track record, or out of ill logic, naïvete and stupidity (like, "I know, but I'm sure it won't happen again") or straight-up support for Russia.
Ukraine must WIN this war. Its allies are wasting time, money and lives, and strategic opportunities by holding back the support that's needed for victory. Ukraine has more than proven itself to be deserving.
Read 17 tweets
Jul 13, 2023
[THREAD] Request to
#BCBA
#BehaviorTwitter #BehaviorAnalyst #BehaviorAnalysis

Content warning: ABA, child abuse

The following account was posted in an ABA survivor group. I have permission to share it to ask what this person can do to stop the abuse.

1/x
"I have step kids that are currently in the custody of their maternal grandparents. Dcf is involved and put the youngest in ABA (I have no say in her care as of now, and neither do her parents)."

2/x
"When I was over at their house most recently, I heard her crying and went to go see what was going on, her ABA therapists pulled me aside and told me we were now ignoring her when she cries until she calms herself down and uses a happy voice."

3/x
Read 8 tweets

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