Abstract
For over 50 years, intervention methods informed by the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA) have been empirically researched and clinically implemented for autistics/individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Despite the plethora of evidence for the effectiveness of ABA-based interventions, some autism rights and neurodiversity activists have expressed concerns with ABA-based interventions. Concerns have included discontent with historical events and possible harm from the procedures and goals targeted. The purpose of this manuscript is to examine some expressed concerns about ABA-based intervention and suggest productive ways of moving forward to provide the best outcomes for autistics/individuals diagnosed with ASD. The authors represent stakeholders from multiple sectors including board certified behavior analysts, licensed psychologists, parents, and autistics/individuals diagnosed with ASD.
Highlights
Wolf and colleagues (1964) provided one of the first empirical evaluations of the application of behavior analytic principles to address the behavior of autistics/individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder1 (ASD)
This substantial body of literature has led to the methods informed by applied behavior analysis (ABA) being considered evidence-based practices (National Autism Center, 2015), ABA-based interventions being widely recognized as the most effective interventions for autistics/individuals diagnosed with ASD (Smith, 2012), and endorsements from multiple organizations (e.g., Autism Speaks, The Association for Behavior Analysis International, the United States Surgeon General, National Institute of Mental Health, the American Psychological Association)
Given the expressed concerns about ABA-based interventions from some autism rights and neurodiversity activists, a closer examination of the some of the more commonly expressed concerns among consumers and advocates seems warranted. The purpose of this manuscript is two-fold: 1) examine commonly expressed concerns from some autism rights and neurodiversity activists about the application of ABA-based interventions for autistics/individuals diagnosed with ASD, and 2) recommend possible pathways for behavior analysts to continually improve and progress ABA-based interventions, and, in turn, help improve the lives of autistics/ individuals diagnosed with ASD and their families
Summary
One of the three branches of the science of behavior analysis. ABA, as a science, is a systematic approach to understanding behavior of social interest. ABA is the application of behavior analytic principals to improve socially important behaviors. Any activity of an organism does across space and time that can be counted A schedule of reinforcement that involves discontinuing the reinforcement for a previously reinforced behavior that results in a decrease in the frequency of the behavior across time Any context in which a response is followed by an event (i.e., stimulus change) that results in a decrease in the probability of similar responses in similar situations. N/A When getting a ticket for speeding decreasing the likelihood of speeding in the future, we would say that speeding tickets are aversive Walking, hitting, brushing teeth, thinking, talking, etc When a teacher withholds attention following a child’s tantrums that previously produced the teacher’s attention When saying “No” following a student responding “four” to the question “What is 1 plus 1?” decreases the probability of responding “four” to the same question in the future When providing access to a preferred TV show following completing homework increases the probability of homework completion in the future
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