Is ABA Therapy Harmful? Autistic BCBA Speaks About ABA Controversy

Dr. Mary Barbera discusses why ABA is so controversial with an Autistic BCBA. Is ABA therapy harmful? Find out in this week's autism video blog.

I get this question all the time and today I am going to tackle this question from a different perspective. I recently interviewed Armando Bernal, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of three, and he was pretty significantly impaired. Now he's an autistic adult who is also a board certified behavior analyst. And we talk all about the ABA controversy.

Armando used to feel a little ashamed of autism, but then he made a shift and started disclosing it to people. “I wish I could go back and say, Hey, I had autism. But in the nineties and early two thousands, that wasn't the case. That wasn't something that you really wanted to disclose unless you wanted to be looked upon differently.”

It wasn’t until after he graduated college that he realized he needed to be more accepting of his autism and who he was. By listening to the parents of the children he was teaching in special education, he started to understand that his own experiences better helped him serve the kids. And that’s still true to this day.

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Dr. Mary Barbera. I fell into the autism world as an autism mom in 1999 when her first-born son, Lucas, was diagnosed with autism. Since then, she became a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst and best-selling author of The Verbal Behavior Approach. Since 2015, she’s created 3 autism online courses based on applied behavior analysis for professionals and "gung-ho" parents. Whether you’re looking for autism parenting strategies, working with development delays in children, or in search of autism help for professionals, I can encourage you to subscribe to the channel and join me on my journey. I’ll be providing weekly autism resources that you don’t want to miss.

[flyintheointment]

He didnt receive ABA treatment…interview ppl that had the treatment…it would be more helpful

[DONTWANTCHANNE]

a big part of the problem is BAD ABA done by poorly trained aides. and failing to still be child focused. for example, I was working on joint attention with toy cars. a week into the program, the 2.5 year old suddenly became distressed. it wasn't non compliance he was legit upset. I tried it a couple more times on different days and got the same reaction. Bad ABA would insist on mastering the program. but that is counter productive to force a child to play with a toy he hates. Instead I used incidental learning to prompt appropriate communication to say 'no' when offered the toy with the Sd 'do you want this?' we chose a toy he liked for joint attention/reciprocal play....there is no NEED to know how to play cars...so it would be ridiculous to force it just to force behavior compliance

[leannestrong]

I have an Autism Spectrum diagnosis, and let me just say that I'm glad (but very surprised) that I never received any ABA. The horrible, sad truth is that even those who don't or didn't receive any ABA might (or might have) receive(d) the same message at from our teachers, parents/guardians, or others in our lives around whom we are supposed to feel totally comfortable just being our own authentic selves. Even if it isn't or wasn't meant this way, the message we receive(d) is (or was) that we are not ok to just be our own authentic selves. We are taught to suppress our true emotions, and to act as though we view people's intentions, and the vibes they give us as totally normal and acceptable, even though deep down, we have that 'gut feeling, ' but we aren't allowed to trust it. We are taught not to state any personal boundaries or preferences, so as not to upset too many neurotypicals. We are also taught to tolerate certain types of sensory input, so as not to make too many neurotypicals uncomfortable or suspicious.

The worst part is that we don't even expect DOGS to communicate or behave in ways that are more appealing to humans. Yes, we do train dogs to respond to commands such as, "sit, " "stay, " "lay down, " "leave it, " "drop it, " and, "quiet, " and then only offer the dog a treat or other desired item once it complies with the command. However, we don't expect dogs to learn to tolerate being petted, or at the very least, teach try to teach them to verbally say, "please don't pet me."

[blackmound]

Growing up I’ve dealt with ADHD/anxiety. I always thought “no that’s dumb just focus” or “I don’t need any special help I’m normal” but as an adult I’m finally seeking help for those conditions and my life has so far been so much better. It really hit me when he said “I needed to be who I am to better serve the kids I see now”

[KMWeir]

Thank you for this. My 5 year old granddaughter just started ABA therapy and a friend had me concerned about it. I’m hoping to meet the therapist soon myself. My granddaughter is in a difficult environment that I hope she will soon be out of. She’s a very good girl. Very musically talented. She struggles with screaming and also some aggression. It hurts me that she cannot communicate better. I hope that is something the ABA helps. She also had a school teacher hold her down. It took months for us to learn why she hated school so much because she couldn’t tell us. We did everything we could including putting her into music therapy & signing up for ABA. The ABA had a long wait list. She was able to tell us when she came home with bruises down the backs of her calves to her feet. Thank goodness she got into ABA right after. Perhaps the police report helped push her up the list. And the investigation into the school. Hayden was being held down when she screamed.

[Stalemarshmallow]

I think neurotypical people take their abilities for granted and don’t realize autistic people just need some extra help with skills. So I feel that’s where a lot of the ignorance comes from.

[reneedubuc]

I found this helpful. Mary, I would love it if you had more resources for adults with autism. I wasn’t diagnosed until 22 years old, so I received very little support as a child

[thatdailymama]

As a mom going through the diagnostic process with my daughter I am very confused and stressed about ABA. I find it really hard to find information that shows the whole picture

[jewelhoward]

My son is about to start but I asked the lady could I stay there when my son go because it’s so far. She said I can sit in the waiting room. Why parents can’t sit in the room where he’s getting his aba at? What they don’t want me to see? I thought she would let me sit back there

[Jade.]

I think that ASD people should be in the field. I am neurotypical and tried to go into it and its really frustrating. I have no connection to it and I am not sure why people keep asking me things over and over. I think that many people in this field need to just support eachother and not try to get people to be like them or expect so much from others. I am so frustrated because I try to help and they get so mad. Im sorry. good luck

[queen_of_wands_astro]

I am an autistic rBT and going back to school to become a BCBA. I wasn’t sure how to feel about going into the field knowing that it is controversial in the autistic community. This really encouraged me. Thank you!

[quentinplayezgamez]

coming from an autistic person who went through the treatment, The issue lies with the mental aspect of what is done. ABA takes the human right to say no, I have had teachers get upset because I watched a horror movie at home (this was in high school) which isn't any of their business. Even other ABA therapists thought she was crazy for getting upset over me watching a horror movie at home, which tells me it was just a bad therapist and not aba as a whole. But still it can be very hard to find a good ABA therapist so its not worth it in my eyes.

[rickwrites]

Wait so he wasn't put through ABA? Do people who are have good things to say about it?

[JustJane-coor]

It's all about how it's administered. It's hard for parents to know what to do when there are also charlatans promoting "brain balance" methodology that cons parents into thinking that their child's autism will be "cured." I have a relative who is using this method (paid $12K so far) and her son is becoming more entrenched in self-stimulation and less reachable by any proven methods of education or therapies. What's happening to students who have no ability to self-regulate and do not follow rules when they reach a special education programs is that they're often just left alone as they age because they're so physically combative, teachers fear--or have experienced-- injury attempting to do simple things --like walk a student with ASD to lunch or help them to the restroom. Parents report that they go out of the way to avoid their teenage children who are combative and noncompliant with cares. This leads to a adult who cannot function without the help of others and may not accept that help when it's given. Structure is important. We all are taught rules and compliance so we don't hurt each other or ourselves or walk around in soiled clothing and refuse to let others help us. I've seen this. I wish it weren't true. My students who went through ABA are thriving. It's all about the administration.

[Island_boyjason]

What a wonderful video, this is the hope I needed thank u so much

[elizabethhouseman]

Wow, I really appreciate this perspective! I am graduating with my Bachelor's in Psychology this semester and am SO on the fence about a career in ABA. Thanks for this video!

[veronicaacevedo]

I live in Puerto Rico, and I'm struggling to find professionals for ABA Therapy for my 4 year old son, because we're short of professionales here in the island. Where i can find online courses for parents, specially in spanish language so we can help our son in our home? my son cant waste more time.

Actually my son is receiving dysphagia, occupational, speech and phsycological therapy and is in a classroom specially for autism. But was referred to evaluation and aba therapy and we still don't have a solution.

Thank You.

Anxious and desperate mom

[ummekulsum]

ABA wasn’t any help for my two ASD kids as they had sensory issues that overrode any ABA tactics. Weirdly I didn’t need ABA at all when they were regulated. But I know kids who received tremendous benefit from it. So long story short for some kids and with the right therapist ABA works. Not sure why there is so controversy surrounding it.

[janette]

ABA Therapy caused psychological trauma to my child, the therapist was really strict with my 4 year old boy. I canceled the therapy. I got tired to switch so many times agencies.

[SCP_Foundation_Spokesperson]

Hi Mary, thank you so much for making this video. It's great to hear Armando's story.