Applied Behaviour Analysis is often called ABA.
The list below is things that are true for 'pure ABA'. There could be some ABA teams who don't believe some of these things. But this list is what they're supposed to believe.
ABA teams believe that autistic people don't know how to behave.
ABA teams believe that autistic people can't learn by themselves.
ABA teams believe that autistic people don't need the same rights as other people.
ABA teams believe that autistic people can have their things taken away from them, to make them behave better.
ABA teams believe that autistic people can be bribed with sweets and biscuits all day, for hours and hours, to make them behave better.
ABA teams believe autistic people must not flap, or rock, or do any other stims, because it stops us learning stuff. Well, maybe we can flap a bit - but only a tiny bit.
ABA teams believe that autistic people must make eye contact. Even if it hurts us.
ABA teams believe that autistic people must want the same things as everyone else.
Some ABA teams believe that Mr Lovaas was a great man. He used to beat children and give them electric shocks. I don't think he was a great man. I think he was a bully.
ABA teams believe they don't need to ask autistic people for their views.
ABA teams believe it's not important if autistic people feel sad or angry about having ABA.
Some people in Universities think ABA may cause trauma, in some people.
Lots of University people have tried to test ABA to find out if it actually works. They can't find any good evidence to show that it works. It seems most autistic children just grow up and learn stuff, like other children.
ABA teams are often very rude about other therapists, like speech therapists, or occupational therapists. That's not OK.
I don't like ABA.
Most autistic people don't like ABA. It has got stuck in the 1980s. This isn't 1980.
There are better ways. Autistic people deserve respect. Trust. Caring. Being involved. Being partners, not experiments.
