Thread by @GymRobcom

1/ ABA hasn’t been mentioned a lot in the Oireachtas. A few TD’s mentioned it last year in support of behavioural therapists.

How many of the TD’s that raised ABA or behavioural analysis in the Oireachtas actually knew what it was?

#AutismAcceptance
#ActuallyAustistic

2/ @RBoydBarrett on 19 May 2021 raised whether behaviour analysis professionals could secure permanent positions so they may continue “supporting the education in special schools of children with autism”.

3/ @ReadaCronin on 5th May 2021 raised a similar question stating that behavioural analysts make “such a critical contribution to special education”

4/ @CathMurphyTD raises the same question twice 28th April and 18th May 2021 asking for behaviour analysts to be retained in their entirety.

5/ @BernardDurkanTD on 11th May 2021 raised the same issue, as does @lawlessj on 28th April 2021.

6/ Most worryingly and this is going back to 16th April 2019 the then minister of Education stated, “My department supports the use of ABA”.

7/ ABA is a deeply concerning conversion therapy for autistic people. The vast majority of the autistic community are strongly against it.
Here’s 2 polls of several others out there. The @AutisticNW poll had 11,212 respondents.

8/ It breaches articles of the UNCRPD and basic human rights. It strips the person of their autonomy, their identity, and invalidates their experiences.

Dog trainers have said it’s too inhumane to use on animals.

neuroclastic.com/is-aba-really-…

9/ Here is @KearnsGillian from @NeuroPrideIRL raising some concerns of ABA at the disability matters committee in 2021.

data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/…

10/ While I understand TD’s raised the above in good faith, can you please in future consult #ActuallyAutistic people.

Can you make it a priority that each of your parties are going to actively talk to #ActuallyAutistic people that aren’t linked to charities or parent groups.

11/ An international ABA conference is taking place in Dublin this year and it’s a huge concern that we’re hosting an international conference on conversion therapy.

If we want to be serious about implementing the UNCRPD in Ireland, how can we also be hosting this?

12/ I’m happy to engage and talk with any TD’s/parties that want to learn more and support #ActuallyAutistic people

Also there’s only 3 more days of #AutismAcceptanceMonth it would be great to see more TD’s learn/speak out against ABA and similar methods in that time