Ontario Gov't reverses Autism Program changes

[Isadoorian]

Ontario government to reverse direction on autism program and provide families with needs-based support - The Globe and Mail

 

[George Newman]

This appears to be great news for families whose adolescent children display autism traits and need support, yes?

 

[Autistamatic]

You'd think so, but given that the primary form of therapy funded by the Canadian government is ABA it amounts to an announcement of needs based funding for abuse of autistic children.

Not where I'd want my tax dollars spent were I a citizen.

 

[George Newman]

Don’t hate me for asking this, Autistamatic but for the benefit of all the new participants and members to Autismforums.com.......

What are the specifics that renders ABA treatment unsound?

You have made a great point here and it is important that everyone understand.

Thank you in advance for the reply or links to the details. I missed the ABA piece completely.

 

[Fino]

From what I remember, ABA uses negative reinforcement to remove undesirable behaviors, such as stimming.

 

[Autistamatic]

I'll go through my folders to get some links.

In essence ABA or "Applied Behaviour Analysis" is the practice of altering someone's behaviour without consideration for WHY they behave the way they do.
It was originally conceived by Ivar Lovaas as a method of "converting" gay people to straight people using a combination of punishment (including electro shocks) , reward and coercion. He was widely discredited so turned his hand to autistic children. He is famous for the following quotes:

Autistic children are severely disturbed. People seem to be no more than objects to them

The baton of ABA was later picked up by B.F. Skinner who tried to sanitise it, but to this day it remains a harmful practice when applied to autistic children. A huge proportion have grown up with PTSD as a result of their experiences with ABA despite it's pretensions of being kinder than before.

Even if the electro shocks and harsher punishments are gone, it remains a method of making an autistic child behave unnaturally at the cost of their well well being. Stimming is not allowed, echolalia is corrected, eye contact is forced, ordered play is broken up and only "imaginative play" permitted. Everything that makes the child autistic is drummed out of them to please their parents who want "normal" kids. Of course they grow up traumatised and if they are lucky they will re-engage with their true nature. Or they may be unlucky and remain a confused mess, their autistic nature suppressed by the fear instilled in them as innocents.

Links to follow later.

 

[Fino]

We basically said the same thing.

 

[Rectify]

Thank you for the explanation of ABA. I'd actually wondered if that was what I did to one of my children here in Australia (which I would be upset about - but I knew so little back then). But, it sounds very different. My child went to classes to learn about understanding peoples facial expressions, how to greet and say goodbye to people etc. But there was never anything about stimming or any negative repercussions.

 

[Autistamatic]

It's worth noting that there are a few practitioners who claim to perform ABA but actually do some good work. They have to publicly state they DO work with ABA to get funding though. This is true across the western world. Finding the good guys is not easy though.

 

[Joshua the Writer]

I don't want ABA to be funded at all. I want a new type of therapy to be developed. One that's less likely to, ya' know, have a tendency to give patients PTSD. I've never been through ABA therapy, itself, which I am thankful for. However, my 4th and 5th grade teachers did teach me not to stim in any way, including bouncing my leg up and down (mostly caused by my ADHD, as well, even my family members display this, even though they are not confirmed to have ADD or ASD). However, I did suffer a form of abuse from my social skills teachers, which was them locking me in a small closet that they re-purposed into a "safe room" of sorts whenever I started acting up in any way. They didn't even explain what I did wrong, they just unceremoniously made me enter the tiny anxiety trap and lock the door. The only time they didn't lock the door is if a fire drill was planned. Even then, they put something heavy on the other side so I wouldn't escape.

Since I don't have PTSD, I guess I am still lucky that I didn't go through ABA therapy.

 

[Autistamatic]

Below is a list of links relating to ABA. I didn't compile this list but the source is linked here

Part 1

Resources for therapists/professionals:

If you want me to believe you’re a good behaviourist
http://realsocialskills.org/post/99822366632/if-you-want-me-to-believe-youre-a-good
ABA and Autism – the thorny problem of control and consent (this is very good and very thorough, a must read)
http://smallbutkindamighty.com/2015/06/16/aba-and-autism-the-thorny-problem-of-control-and-consent/
Appearing to enjoy behaviour modification is not meaningful
http://realsocialskills.org/post/124333076514/appearing-to-enjoy-behavior-modificiation-is-not
ABA therapy is not like typical parenting (this one is relevant to “life skills” acquisition)
http://realsocialskills.org/post/120453082402/aba-therapy-is-not-like-typical-parenting
Resources other than ABA
http://realsocialskills.org/post/126754414929/resources-other-than-aba
How to Tell if an Autism ABA Therapy Is Harmful
http://www.wikihow.com/Tell-if-an-Autism-ABA-Therapy-Is-Harmful

THE MISBEHAVIOUR OF BEHAVIOURISTS: Ethical Challenges to the Autism-ABA Industry
http://www.sentex.net/~nexus23/naa_aba.html
“After you hit a child, you can’t just get up and leave him; you are hooked to that kid" O. Ivar Lovaas Interview With Paul Chance, Psychology Today, 1974
http://neurodiversity.com/library_chance_1974.html

A note to what feels like every ABA therapist ever
a note to (what feels like) every ABA therapist ever

 

[Autistamatic]

Part 2

Writings on ABA by a/Autistic people:

My Thoughts on ABA
http://autismwomensnetwork.org/my-thoughts-on-aba/
A Challenge to Autism Professionals
http://idoinautismland.blogspot.ca/2014/02/a-challenge-to-autism-professionals.html
No You Don’t
http://unstrangemind.wordpress.com/2013/01/27/no-you-dont/
Breaking Down ABA
https://restlesshands42.wordpress.com/2014/11/22/breaking-down-aba-again-part-2-goals-and-underlying-philosophy/
ABA teaches kids how NOT to communicate
Tumblr
I wish behaviourists understood
Tumblr
Why I oppose ABA as a method of instruction
http://realsocialskills.org/post/110819268573/why-i-oppose-aba-as-a-method-of-instruction

ABA 101
Hello, just wanting a quick For-Dummies answer here. I've read some of the posts on your blog enough to know ABA is bad and torture etc. but we had a speaker who was an ABA (which made me double take when I heard), the thing is he just talked about stuff they do such as teaching kids to substitute odd behaviours with better ones, e.g. kids who love "nappy-content painting" are taught to use playdo or use prompt cards to get baths, and things like that, I didn't really understand why it's bad?

Writings on the connection between ABA and trauma/PTSD:

An open letter to families considering intensive behaviour therapy for their child with autism
http://www.astraeasweb.net/politics/aba.html (part one)
http://www.astraeasweb.net/politics/aba2.html (part two)
Trauma & Autism
http://emmashopebook.com/2013/06/25/trauma-autism/
The truth about ABA
http://autismmythbusters.com/parents/therapy/the-truth-about-aba/

Writings on ABA by professionals/therapists/ex-ABA therapists:

What ABA is like: The point of view of a former therapist
What ABA is like: The point of view of a former therapist
“I’m sorry, but that’s not earning your token…”
http://ink-and-daggers.tumblr.com/post/112076858794/im-sorry-but-thats-not-earning-your-token
Dr. Mona Delahooke’s entire ABA tag:
http://www.thevisibleparent.com/tag/aba/
Why I Left ABA
https://sociallyanxiousadvocate.wordpress.com/2015/05/22/why-i-left-aba/

Writings from the parents of a/Autistic children:

Would You Accept This Behavior Towards a Non-Autistic Child?
http://www.speakforyourself.org/2014/02/22/accept-behavior-towards-non-autistic-child/
Tackling That Troublesome Issue of ABA and Ethics
http://emmashopebook.com/2012/10/10/tackling-that-troublesome-issue-of-aba-and-ethics/
More On ABA
http://emmashopebook.com/2013/11/05/more-on-aba/
The cost of compliance in unreasonable
http://loveexplosions.net/2013/01/30/the-cost-of-compliance-is-unreasonable/
The Influence of Others
http://emmashopebook.com/2013/04/10/the-influence-of-others/
Changing the child vs. helping the child
http://lifehiswayblog.wordpress.com/2013/04/12/changing-the-child-vs-helping-the-child/

 

[George Newman]

Autistamatic this is a significant and comprehensive amount of reference material.

It can be a one-stop-shop for someone wanting to gain an understanding of ABA practices.

I am going to send this information to the reporter for the Canadian paper asking for a deeper dive into how the redirected funds are being applied.

Of course this is all centered on providing a resource of data that people can work through so they can form their position regarding ABA independently.

Parents and caregivers MUST educate themselves. It’s important to understand what program is being followed to treat us or our loved ones.

Thank you, Autistamatic!

 

[Autistamatic]

You're welcome George. I'll stress that I didn't personally compile that list, but I have a few more up to date links I can post from home to add to it.