Thread by @becca_garside

⚠ #TRIGGERWARNING #ABA ⚠
I am raising my head above the parapet and posting about something which causes me great concern on many fronts, as a:
🧠#neurodivergent individual
👩‍🎓#Neurodiversity-advocating Professional
👩‍👧‍👦Mother of 2 neurodivergent #children living in Leicestershire

It seems that, for a number of years, the LA has been at the forefront of an initiative to find: "Cost-effective models for delivering behaviour analysis teaching in UK schools and local authorities"
LINK: lnkd.in/eGbMBCm7

Integrating ABA into #maintained & #academy, #mainstream & #SpecialSchool for "affordable" "positive outcomes". It concludes, "School-based models, such as Leicestershire's, provide a sustainable model which can be used with a large number of children for...little extra cost."

And the Leicestershire #AutismOutreach & Learning Support Teams Working Practice Document (2020/21) confirms this: "In April 2015, Leicestershire became one of the first local authorities to look to formalize...implementation of ABA... into...schools" - lnkd.in/eP9p_W_f

It seems this may even be supported by the #AutismEducationTrust too: lnkd.in/ejzXkHFR

I fear this is a move to ingrain an integrated model of ABA across #education in the UK with Leicestershire at it's epicentre.

#Parents are not given objective information or an #Autistic viewpoint on ABA and it is rooted in the Lovaas Model of trying to "train" Autistic children to behave in #neurotypical ways.

It doesn't afford children #autonomy and seeks instead to "treat" their neurodivergent traits and make them appear and function more neurotypically.

Surely parents & children should be educated about this? Surely they should be consulted & enabled to make an #InformedDecision?

I know the swirl of controversy that surrounds the discussion of ABA but I know I wouldn't want it for me and I know I won't be having it for my children.

I don't know where to start but I am hoping one of my connections/their connections will have an idea... 🤞

@neuroteachers @NeuroRebel @autistamatic @PeterWharmby2 @ReachoutASC @meleapress @WeUnstitution