runicbasso:voltron-da-eclair:voltron-da-eclair:ink-and-daggers:“I’m sorry, but that’s not earn
runicbasso:voltron-da-eclair:voltron-da-eclair:ink-and-daggers:“I’m sorry, but that’s not earning your token…” I have been working with the autistic demographic for the better part of the last decade. When I first started in this field, I was a “behavioral tutor” at a popular treatment center. Their programs were based in Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA.ABA is regarded as THE autism intervention. It is often the only thing covered by insurance, state-mandated therapy programs, and other service providers. But what does it consist of? The drawing above is what my work looked like for several years. Children were supposed to sit for thirty minute sessions, up to six a day, and work on a specific program, such as color identification or event sequencing. Children were rewarded when they worked… with tokens, tickles, stickers, candy, etc. Kids on “higher levels” had to wait longer for this “positive reinforcement.” Children were given a “discrete trial” and were expected to not only perform the task in a timely manner, but “sit with hands and feet down and a quiet voice” for three seconds. Children who failed to perform to these precise standards did not earn reinforcement… no exceptions. When children consistently failed to perform or acted out, they were often punished. Punishments, or “aversive consequences” as they are called in the industry, could get creative. At this treatment center, we screamed “NO!” at children, sprayed water in their face, made them stand up and sit down repeatedly, put them in time outs, and used what are euphemistically called “taste aversions.” A taste aversion is what is pictured here. Vinegar was the most common, though we also used wasabi, cayenne pepper, and whatever else was found to be effective. I was told this was the only evidence based intervention available, and without it children would suffer more. I was told the brutality was necessary. Not until finding the adult autistic community did I learn this was not true. Sometimes when I talk to others in the field about this, I’m told it’s “not real ABA.” That is a bold pack of outrageous lies. Don’t believe people who tell you this. It’s real. I participated in it. People have trauma because of it. Please stand up against these types of compliance-based interventions. Learn more about applied behavior analysis here… http://www.sentex.net/~nexus23/naa_aba.htmlhttp://www.speakforyourself.org/2014/02/22/accept-behavior-towards-non-autistic-child/https://restlesshands42.wordpress.com/2014/11/12/breaking-down-aba-again-part-1-ethics-standards-and-side-effects/Forgot to mention, three seconds of mandatory post-performance eye contact was also part of “basic attending.”https://juststimming.wordpress.com/2011/10/05/quiet-hands/http://autismmythbusters.com/parents/therapy/the-truth-about-aba/https://unstrangemind.wordpress.com/2014/10/07/aba/This is sanctioned fucking abuse. How the fuck is this ever considered ok. -- source link
#aba#autism#ableism#mistreatment#child abuse#abuse#intervention#prejudice