In autism world, as I like to call it, there is a lot of discussion and disagreement about many things. Identity first language versus Person first language. Whether or not Autism Speaks should be supported or banned. Light it up blue or go red instead. Puzzle Piece symbol or Infinity symbol.
One of these things that cannot be agreed upon is therapy in general, but specifically Applied Behavior Analysis therapy, or ABA for short. Most of the Autistic Adults will tell you that it is abusive and should not be used. Most parents of autistic children today will tell you that it is life-changing for their children. Both are true, but how can I say that? And mind you, my master’s degree is in Applied behavioral analysis.
To understand anyone’s point of view, we need to see it from where they stand, and learn about its history. I say this because the ABA of today is worlds apart from where it started. So, yes, I say that today’s ABA is safe, and yes, years and years’ ago ABA was abusive.
Autism was officially discovered by Leo Kanner in Baltimore in 1943, while Hans Asperger discovered it in Germany. However, since the Nazis were in power, and tended to put disabled people in gas chambers, Asperger did not divulge that he discovered the whole spectrum. Instead, he publicly focused on the “little professors” who had amazing intelligence and talents. Kanner’s version of autism dominated the world’s understanding of autism for decades.
Kanner believed autism was an early form of schizophrenia, and that these children needed to be institutionalized. Autistics were a sad waste of space, to some of these early experts, and could not be taught anything. Autistics were thought to be the result of obsessed and cold parents, and the “treatment” for autism was Freudian psychoanalysis for the parents, to find out why they did this to their child. The advice for the parents was to institutionalize and forget they exist.
Next came a psychologist, Dr. Rimland, who was also a father of an autistic child, who asserted that his child was not a result of refrigerator parents, that it was something that his child had been born with, but also that autistics could be taught and nurtured. Enter Dr. Lovaas, the pioneer of applied behavior analysis with children with autism.
Unfortunately, since the prevailing philosophy of the time was not humane treatment for the disabled, and instead encouraged confinement for autistics, all methods to teach them were considered valuable and valid. It was not considered a violation of human rights or basic ethics to use painful and torturous methods of punishment. Dr. Loovas would deny food and water for 8 hours. His team would use electric shock. His team would use physical violence and pain to shape the behavior they wanted.
And the initial aim of Dr. Lovaas and his team was not just to teach autistic child life skills, but to provide a behavioral cure for autism. To make those autistic markers disappear. To make that autistic child normal again. Indistinguishable from their neurotypical peers. It was their belief that a child could not learn if that child stimmed.
Fortunately, understanding of and research for autism has changed substantially over recent years. Refrigerator parents and electric shock have been deserted. Human rights for disabled and differently abled people have been recognized and respected.
ABA today is more about encouraging an autistic person to thrive in a world not designed for them than to punishment the autism away. My son learned to communicate because of his hours in ABA therapy. My son is no less autistic, nor would I ever want him to be. What I do want for him is to live his best life, to feel accomplished, to feel loved, to feel safe, to learn and blossom. He learned to communicate because of his many hours in ABA. He learned to play in ABA. He learned how to make choices and express himself because of ABA.
ABA has given him the personal attention to learn and grow and flourish in a way that best suits him. His stims are not silenced. His coping mechanisms are fostered and furthered. His skills are nurtured and encouraged. His ABA therapist, just like his special education teachers, his speech therapist, and his occupational therapist, help him navigate his environment, and ease his anxiety.
So, yes, ABA in its early years was abusive, but ABA has progressed and improved over the decades. Much like the knowledge of autism. Continually expanding and evolving. Just like my son. Growing and flourishing.
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