, 8 tweets, 2 min read Read on Twitter
1/ Even if you're 100% certain your child's #ABA therapist/school is great and treats your child well, please consider if your kid is *actually learning skills*. We have a new student at my school who came from an ABA school. He will not sit for circle time or to do work because
2/ he has been trained to sit in return for food. We expect that kids will at least try to sit down for some of the lesson. They're rewarded in the sense that they can have choosing time or a favourite activity after doing work, which is what actual life is like.
3/ I know that when I finish work, I can go home and play The Sims, or watch TV, and cuddle my cat. They know when they finish work they can play a game or go for a run around the playground or lie down on the floor if that's what they want to do.
4/ They learn to sit and pay attention because the activities are (hopefully) interesting enough to be worth it, and when it's done they can do what they prefer. They're not dogs learning to sit for a treat. So this kid? Will not sit and attend because he hasn't actually learnt
5/ that skill. He's only learnt to do what he's told in exchange for food. As soon as that reinforcement is gone, so is the 'skill'. ABA does not believe that autistic people can learn to do things because the things are worth it. It only teaches us to obey in exchange for
6/ immediate rewards. How does that develop independence? Us #ActuallyAutistic people can absolutely learn to do stuff we don't super like, like every other person can. We can learn the self-regulation needed to do necessary things, like everyone else can.
7/ I am autistic, and while I don't need as much support as my students do, I've still had to learn this skill. Would I prefer to be playing games at home? Yes. Do I know I can't buy games unless I work for money? Also yes! (I also love my job).
8/ If you want your child to learn actual skills, don't do ABA. Is my main point. Teach them that sometimes you have to sit and do work before you can play, like you teach neurotypical kids. It works, trust me.
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