Personally, I see both sides to this issue.
I feel that if a parent wants to try ABA therapy because of their own desires, and not because of any societal or medical pressures to fit in or to do what they expect, and if they want to try so because their child is either nonverbal, lower functioning or with many behavioral issues, and if that Autistic seems not resistent to such, and that caregiver thinks the ABA may result in a happier, more functional or more comfortable child, then that should not be critiqued.
From what I understand by my readings, often ABA is hard to define as it may involve many different approaches, so that is cause for concern. Also, from what I read, ABA is often less accepted by those who are higher functioning. Temple Grandin, who I admit though I do not agree with everything she states, because of her generalizations and views about work which differ from mine as I feel each case is unique, believes ABA therapy is more for the 4-5 year olds, or those with language difficulties. She feels those who are older with milder Aspergers and have less difficulties may not be helped by such or may often less consider such.
My critiques about ABA is not about whether it can help some on the Autism Spectrum or not, as for who am I say it has not helped some as each condition and situation case could be different, and with more receptiveness there, but my concern is how little communication from the doctor/therapist seems to be done with the caregiver and one with condition, and with often less honesty, and with less flexibility shown for each situation. Those providers came across to us that this was the only real treatment option, and suggested through their verbal refusal to tell us much and from their ommissions, or verbal statements, it was the right and only moral or ethical approach to take, making us feel pressure to try such. To not try so, would have made us feel guilty, and we should not have felt that from them. Other suggestions we brought up were shot down.
It was only after our specific experiences whereby each child tried ABA therapy and it resulted in setbacks after giving it over three months of attempts for each, did we reevaluate things. Had the therapist and doctor explaned the pros and cons of that therapy, and admitted the wrongs, rigidity or mistakes that happened during the process when we brought them to their attention, perhaps we could have felt differently about things, but after further research and analysis, we felt we were taking the wrong approach, and decided whatever needed to be done, if anything, we could do it ourselves, as we knew our child and situation the best ourselves.
I mean, if the specific therapists we saw truly cared about our children, and to help as quickly as possibly, then why did they not ask us numerous questions about each child first, and ask us our feelings about various issues and ABA, before devising a plan that involved no parental input whatsoever? Why, in our case, did they only talk about the positives of ABA, and why not recommend other services for cases like ours where it did not seem a fit? Why were they hesitant to give us parents in advance "their ABA tips" so as we could try or implement it at home, instead of having things drag out in their setting? Not all parents are idiots. And not all situations can tolerate dragged out therapy, when other minute by minute needs need to be met, without weekly changes in schedules that therapy requires, that involves setbacks, less other child needs met, and more meltdowns, which can defeat the purpose of such, and which of course the therapist may seem unconcerned about extra stress there, as it will lead to more money for them, or for their organization, if we try to get resolved those issues attributed to services with them.
The answer obviously is money. Of course service providers have a right to make money, but truth is such medical providers can sometimes take advantage of caregivers and those with conditions, as there is much money to be made off of those with special needs. Those providers will not give the full truth, about how setbacks could occur, or no benefits. They want to imply only good will occur, and imply that the parent "is being responsible and trying to make things better for the one with Autism." For those cases that succeed, I am really happy for them. But, for those cases that fail, and make things worse, or results in wasted time or efforts, I feel bad about that.
Again, I do not discount that some situations could be bettered by ABA, if done in a different way than in our case, and if communication and truths were there saying that ABA is not for all and may not help many, and if they analyzed each case separately and tailored accordingly, but we started to see through their real desires for our situation, when they did not want to talk to us, be honest to us, and when they thought they had all the right answers and questioned our concerns. In our case, they never asked what our oldest liked or wanted. They assumed things, and assumed he was not only not smarter and able than he was, but assumed he wanted to be like everyone else, and assuming he could tolerate years of dragged out boring attempts.
There are probably many ABA therapists in this world who could do things differently and more properly than the two ABA specialists our children had seen, as some posts show, but I sincerely doubt that most employers of therapists are not thinking about money first, and they may show little concern if their attempts to change the one on the spectrum will work or not, as they secretly likely know some things cannot or perhaps should not be changed, and as they are getting paid in the process.
I guess what I am sayIng is: I think the truth is ABA may be ok for some limited cases where the therapist and doctor are really honest, unbiased, and communicative, and if they are truly putting the one with Autism first, in an individualized plan, and truly helping with some functionality that can be helped in a reasonable period of time without additional suffering of that recipient. But, ABA should not be seen as a solution to many on the Spectrum, as it is not. It can cause setback in others who attempt such, and be not a fit if the conditions are not ideal. It would need a truly caring and competent therapist, and not one with a rigid protocol or company agenda. It would require proper communication and
full honesty, for that family to know if it should be tried or not.
I feel that if a parent wants to try ABA therapy because of their own desires, and not because of any societal or medical pressures to fit in or to do what they expect, and if they want to try so because their child is either nonverbal, lower functioning or with many behavioral issues, and if that Autistic seems not resistent to such, and that caregiver thinks the ABA may result in a happier, more functional or more comfortable child, then that should not be critiqued.
From what I understand by my readings, often ABA is hard to define as it may involve many different approaches, so that is cause for concern. Also, from what I read, ABA is often less accepted by those who are higher functioning. Temple Grandin, who I admit though I do not agree with everything she states, because of her generalizations and views about work which differ from mine as I feel each case is unique, believes ABA therapy is more for the 4-5 year olds, or those with language difficulties. She feels those who are older with milder Aspergers and have less difficulties may not be helped by such or may often less consider such.
My critiques about ABA is not about whether it can help some on the Autism Spectrum or not, as for who am I say it has not helped some as each condition and situation case could be different, and with more receptiveness there, but my concern is how little communication from the doctor/therapist seems to be done with the caregiver and one with condition, and with often less honesty, and with less flexibility shown for each situation. Those providers came across to us that this was the only real treatment option, and suggested through their verbal refusal to tell us much and from their ommissions, or verbal statements, it was the right and only moral or ethical approach to take, making us feel pressure to try such. To not try so, would have made us feel guilty, and we should not have felt that from them. Other suggestions we brought up were shot down.
It was only after our specific experiences whereby each child tried ABA therapy and it resulted in setbacks after giving it over three months of attempts for each, did we reevaluate things. Had the therapist and doctor explaned the pros and cons of that therapy, and admitted the wrongs, rigidity or mistakes that happened during the process when we brought them to their attention, perhaps we could have felt differently about things, but after further research and analysis, we felt we were taking the wrong approach, and decided whatever needed to be done, if anything, we could do it ourselves, as we knew our child and situation the best ourselves.
I mean, if the specific therapists we saw truly cared about our children, and to help as quickly as possibly, then why did they not ask us numerous questions about each child first, and ask us our feelings about various issues and ABA, before devising a plan that involved no parental input whatsoever? Why, in our case, did they only talk about the positives of ABA, and why not recommend other services for cases like ours where it did not seem a fit? Why were they hesitant to give us parents in advance "their ABA tips" so as we could try or implement it at home, instead of having things drag out in their setting? Not all parents are idiots. And not all situations can tolerate dragged out therapy, when other minute by minute needs need to be met, without weekly changes in schedules that therapy requires, that involves setbacks, less other child needs met, and more meltdowns, which can defeat the purpose of such, and which of course the therapist may seem unconcerned about extra stress there, as it will lead to more money for them, or for their organization, if we try to get resolved those issues attributed to services with them.
The answer obviously is money. Of course service providers have a right to make money, but truth is such medical providers can sometimes take advantage of caregivers and those with conditions, as there is much money to be made off of those with special needs. Those providers will not give the full truth, about how setbacks could occur, or no benefits. They want to imply only good will occur, and imply that the parent "is being responsible and trying to make things better for the one with Autism." For those cases that succeed, I am really happy for them. But, for those cases that fail, and make things worse, or results in wasted time or efforts, I feel bad about that.
Again, I do not discount that some situations could be bettered by ABA, if done in a different way than in our case, and if communication and truths were there saying that ABA is not for all and may not help many, and if they analyzed each case separately and tailored accordingly, but we started to see through their real desires for our situation, when they did not want to talk to us, be honest to us, and when they thought they had all the right answers and questioned our concerns. In our case, they never asked what our oldest liked or wanted. They assumed things, and assumed he was not only not smarter and able than he was, but assumed he wanted to be like everyone else, and assuming he could tolerate years of dragged out boring attempts.
There are probably many ABA therapists in this world who could do things differently and more properly than the two ABA specialists our children had seen, as some posts show, but I sincerely doubt that most employers of therapists are not thinking about money first, and they may show little concern if their attempts to change the one on the spectrum will work or not, as they secretly likely know some things cannot or perhaps should not be changed, and as they are getting paid in the process.
I guess what I am sayIng is: I think the truth is ABA may be ok for some limited cases where the therapist and doctor are really honest, unbiased, and communicative, and if they are truly putting the one with Autism first, in an individualized plan, and truly helping with some functionality that can be helped in a reasonable period of time without additional suffering of that recipient. But, ABA should not be seen as a solution to many on the Spectrum, as it is not. It can cause setback in others who attempt such, and be not a fit if the conditions are not ideal. It would need a truly caring and competent therapist, and not one with a rigid protocol or company agenda. It would require proper communication and
full honesty, for that family to know if it should be tried or not.
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