ABA
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Applied Behavior Analysis or ABA for short is a controversial intervention that is mainly used for autistic people. It is considered evidence-based and the gold standard treatment for autism, despite the deep harm it has done to many people. There has been a lot of opposition to ABA dating back several decades, both from autistic people, especially autistic people who have been through it, and parents who witnessed their kids' mistreatment. This section comes with an obvious content note for, among many other things, abuse, restraint, seclusion, gaslighting, and the use of aversives.
This website has a ton of links to explanations of why ABA is harmful, including personal accounts and editorials.
The Misbehaviour of Behaviourists and the Schafer Report
In the year 2004, an autistic researcher based in Canada named Michelle Dawson published an essay known as "The Misbehaviour of Behaviourists". Dawson's essay drew much criticism from ABA practitioners, including from an issue of the Schafer report. Many autistic people, including user on Autistics.org, came to her defense. Dawson later acted as an intervener for the Auton v. British Columbia case, which was related to insurance coverage of ABA.
Many autistic people, including user on Autistics.org, came to her defense. You can find them below:
Another Parent’s Take on ABA and its “Defense” by Phil Schwarz
In Response to Lenny Schafer by Larry Foard
Response to a Mother’s Response by Connie Baker
Past, Present, and Future-Mel Baggs
Analysis of the Schafer Report by Moggy Mania
Lenny Schafer's Inquisition: A Response by Kathleen Seidel
Misbehavior of Behaviorists comments
Autism parents discuss SCC "Auton" Decision, 20 Nov 2004
Conuly LiveJournal entry April 8th, 2004
ABA Proponents Attack Autistics: Showing Their True Character
Personal Accounts of ABA
Everything I Needed to Know about Life I Learned from a Behavioral Therapist by Camille
My Thoughts on ABA by Amy Sequenzia
What is ABA and My Experience by Aviva Seigler aka Fierce Autie
(Note: This is not specifically about ABA but is rather about tactics often used in ABA making its way into other practices)
Personal stories from those formerly enrolled in ABA
Why No Autistic Child Should Be in ABA Therapy
Teach Social Skills As Values, Not Like Computer Programs by Finn Gardiner
Critiques of ABA
Thinking Person's Guide to Autism ABA tag
Does Lovaas Style ABA makes (sic) the child "a subject"? by gottaluvem
Who YOU calling a lab rat? by unknown
The stuff you gotta know to teach autistic kids
Applied Behavior Analysis is abusive to Native children by Jules Edwards
My Position on ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) by Frank Klein
Practical Problems with ABA Programs by Frank Klein
Cure, Recovery, Prevention of Autism? An essay by Phil Schwarz
'Cause I wanna know what ethics y'all are f***king sideways by Night Storm
Nice Lady Therapist by Rabbi Ruti Regan
The Culture of Coercion- Ralph Smith
The autistic community is having a reckoning with ABA. We should listen
Autism Diva: Lovaas, ABA: The bad old days
Is One Style of Early Behavioral Treatment for Autism 'Scientifically Proven'?
People Like Me is a short documentary about some of the problems with ABA. It was directed by Marrok Sedgwick. It primarily features non-speaking and semi-speaking autistic people.
CardGate and International Day of Protest Against ABA
International Day of Protest of ABA is observed every year on August 31st. It was first observed in 2018, one year after the CardGate scandal. Autistics United Canada is the main organization behind this event.