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
@@monterrosasremodeling2339 one of my other favorite stories was a 4 year old..he could actually be quite the comedian even though he was just starting to be verbal. One day, he launched into a tirade against me. It was hard to sit there and keep a straight face. He WAS COMMUNICATING! It was complete jargon, I have no idea what he actually said, but I got the message, he wanted a break. This child was dual diagnosed with autism and a physical disability that necessitated a wheelchair and had limited arm use so he couldn't be significantly physically non compliant. Strict ABA would have stopped him and forced compliance...but he was communicating. I had the classroom teacher and aides watching this play out, trying not to laugh......After a minute or so, he calmed down...I said I understood he wanted a break. I explained we needed to work on numbers (I had 3 activities planned, but wanted to reward the communication), and then we would take a break. I quickly did an easy program with him, then moved him to the floor to have break time/sensory play/brushing. transitioning to different activities can be time consuming (ie wheelchair to stander to floor chair, etc) so its not an option to do frequently, but under the circumstances, I it was more important to reward the communication than to continue the discrete trial programs (without letting the tirade immediately get him out of work). This kid was pretty smart. I realized he was reading at 4 and pulling pranks on me
@@monterrosasremodeling2339 one thing that annoyed me was a poorly trained home therapist. The Sd was 'point to window' the child TOUCHED window and was marked wrong...confusing the kid..the one step commands touch/point to should be worked on separately.
@@monterrosasremodeling2339 another time I had a very shy 2.5 year old. I could relate as I was like him when i was little. I was slowing establishing rapport with him, but my supervisor (who only had a high school diploma while I had a college degree and extensive training in a school) came in and insisted on physically forcing compliance..so now he barely knows me, she is a stranger and she is physically forcing him to sit and comply. He had an asthma attack and parents stopped services altogether.
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”
He did mention that ABA therapy wasn't known or wide spread during the 90's & 00's. So using a little "context clues" perhaps he was growing up during that time frame, if so then I see why he didn't get aba therapy. I was raised in the 90's graduated 2003 never heard of autism or aba therapy back then, I'm sure alot of autistic people didn't experience it either. Ya'll are quick to judge because you're probably against it anyways, who cares if he didn't do aba at least he is educated and trained now. He can still make a difference in the lives of children.
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.
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.
@@amazinggrace9114ok so heres the thing with ABA, as an autistic person. First off, it dehumanizes us. Like wtf we're human too we dont need to be treated bc we exist. Also, most therapists are untrained and the "good" ones just use practices they use in DOG TRAINING. If you send your child to ABA its like forcing them to mask who they are (which is wrong) also, no cures needed, just teach them coping mechanisms like stimming.
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
Jewel, the reason they won’t let you back there is not because they don’t want you to see what’s going with YOUR child, but rather because it’s a HIPPA violation for you to be present if OTHER children are present. It’s considered a medical service, so HIPPA confidentiality rules apply. It would be the same as you sitting in on a random kids medical appointment with their pediatrician
My point is that they’re not trying to be secretive or hold services without parents present for malicious reasons. They’re protecting themselves from a lawsuit for breaking HIPPA privacy laws, which is illegal.
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
Who gets so mad ????? I think I am ASD and have 3 or 4 interviews today and tomorrow. I hope to find this video again and update if it makes it any easier (or not) being asd ans working in this field 😬
Hello! I have ASD and work in ABA. The job is definitely not for everyone (rightfully so), and I’ve had my own frustrations in field. I feel that having ASD myself has helped me empathize with my clients a lot more. I was mistreated by teachers due to my behaviors in school, so I aim to make sure that other children don’t experience that while also learning to advocate for themselves in a healthy manner.
Going into ABA therapy work as an autistic person. In south Texas, there's a lot of Spanish speaking immigrants I want to help. Seems like the controversy stems at hurting the child rather than positively enforcing the intended social approach. Sensitive waters that I want to tread because parents are going to send their children to these places regardless and if I can be there to be of GOOD USE! Put me in, I used to teach Title 1 schools as well, in SpEd classes too.
@@laneycosme6288 wow good luck! That’s great! I hope to see you in my online courses for professionals too! There are free workshops on my website www.marybarbera.com/workshops
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.
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.
Umme Kulsum, Not one controversial issue has been mentioned in this video, so I'll share a few and I would like you to validate how it's acceptable. The American Psychological Association discovered publication bias and published an article in January 2021 by Psychological Belletin. Abstract The “replication crisis” describes recent difficulties in replicating studies in various scientific fields, most notably psychology. The available evidence primarily documents replication failures for group research designs. However, we argue that contingencies of publication bias that led to the “replication crisis” also operate on applied behavior analysis (ABA) researchers who use single-case research designs (SCRD). This bias strongly favors publication of SCRD studies that show strong experimental effect, and disfavors publication of studies that show less robust effect. The resulting research literature may unjustifiably inflate confidence about intervention effects, limit researchers’ ability to delineate intervention boundary conditions, and diminish the credibility of our science. To counter problems of publication bias in ABA, we recommend that journals that publish SCRD research establish journal standards for publication of noneffect studies; that our research community adopt open sharing of SCRD protocols and data; and that members of our community routinely publish systematic literature reviews that include gray (i.e., unpublished) research. Conclusion The ABA community is not immune from the pitfalls of publication bias commonly associated with group comparison research. Contingencies of reinforcement that contribute to the file drawer effect among researchers in all disciplines also operate on applied behavior analysts. There is evidence that researcher bias may be endemic within our current scientific and publication practices, which negatively affect the scientific integrity of our field as a whole. We have offered modest and preliminary suggestions for researchers and the research community to guard against publication bias with the intention of stimulating the ABA community to adopt, improve, or expand upon them. Discounting or ignoring the problem likely will diminish the credibility of our findings among our scientific colleagues, negatively affect consumers of our services, and undermine public confidence in behavior analytic treatments. Conversely, addressing publication bias and related issues likely will advance scientific knowledge about behavior, improve consumer outcomes associated with behavioral treatments, and promote public confidence in the technology of behavior. (Tincani, 2019) Published online 2019 Mar 18 How is it acceptable to practice things based on bias publications? The National Autistic Society says; ABA is now one of the most researched of all autism approaches, but there are significant limitations and gaps in the research, particularly about long-term effects. People’s views about ABA are strongly polarised. Some point out that ABA has developed considerably, can help people develop vital life skills and help them stay safe. Others fundamentally opposed and report being traumatised by its use. It is also clear that there is significant variation in the quality of training, practice and formal guidance. As with any support, these things are vital. We do not support any intervention that follows one-size-fits-all approaches, or that goes against the principles we outlined at the top of this page, and we believe that some ABA interventions used today are not sufficiently person-centred and are too intensive. Why do you think there is so many gaps in the research? And how is it acceptable to do something when you don't even think of what the long term effects are? We know one of our unknowns is the long term effects of COVID-19, and the medical system sees that as something important to consider. It's comical that those of you who claim you care don't have the same concerns about long term effects of what you do to children.
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
Ultimately, whatever therapy you do, the most important part is being highly involved and ensuring you are comfortable with everything that happens. Listen to my podcast about how to choose a right provider here marybarbera.com/tameika-meadows-finding-good-aba-therapy/ You also may want to sign up for my free workshop as then you can learn how to help her and advocate for better services www.marybarbera.com/workshops
@@marybarbera As a college student who is learning this with a fresh mind please do not do this to your child. it is really abusive if you are not careful about who the therapist is. The same principles used in ABA are used in gay conversion therapy. All you are doing is teaching your child to hide who they are.
@@emmacarter3294 occupational therapy and ABA are two completely different fields. OT does not address severe and harmful behaviors exhibited by autistic individuals
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.
I'm so sorry to hear that this happened...if you're looking for an infinitely more positive approach, my online courses can help you teach him yourself from the comfort of your own home. For more information, join me for a free workshop here: www.marybarbera.com/workshops.
Is there proof it was caused by ABA therapy, or was it a bad practitioner? Or could the trauma be from other events in the environment, such as what is going on in the home?
I am autistic and wished that I had some kind of ABA therapy growing up. Not to teach me to mask my symptoms but to push me enough to get out of comfort zone and become the person I was meant to be. I believe that bad ABA experiences come from bad untrained ABA therapists that push too much and cause the child the go into sensory overload. There needs to be a balance of pushing but not too much. And ABA therapists definitely need to NOT try to get rid of autistic stimming because that is the way that an autistic child coops with sensory overload. If the ABA therapists are seeing stimming then it probably means that one they pushed too much or two the child was already in sensory overload to begin. So I believe ABA therapy itself isn’t harmful but the way that the therapist administers can be very harmful and unethical. ABA therapy has to always be individualized and child led. Sorry for your bad experience though. These kind of experiences that I hear is why I want to go into the special needs field so that they can get good high quality care. ❤❤❤
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!
@Accra Terminal agency just shut up about reversing Autsism and maybe embrace your child's neurodiversity, your child will eventually hate you and will choose neurodiversity over you.
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
I heard that they use electric shot therapy for autistic children in ABA. Is this true because I just enrolled my 2 years old. This is really scares me to death if this is true. Please let me know if this is correct? Thank you 🙏
Hello! I’m an RBT. I just began working for a company, and we do not use punishment in any way. Especially shocking children, that’s terrible. If you’re nervous, you could ask to observe sessions and see what you think, or if the RBT is a good fit for you and your child or not. Being comfortable is very important to help building a relationship between family, RBT, and your child ☺️
Always feel free to speak your mind about anything. What you like, what you don’t like, asking questions to understand ABA better. The parents should be involved and aware, because you’re the ones around your children most of the time. We want to to carry out what you learn when we’re not here
ok so it's just the Judge Rotenburg Centre who do that. BUT aba is still highly abusive and problematic. I don't know if they adressed this in the video. as I am just about to watch this. but there is a video by Paige Layle. you can watch it here th-cam.com/video/94sy4YrUGRk/w-d-xo.html (also I don't know if the link will work so just select the link and right click then click "go to th-cam.com/video/94sy4YrUGRk/w-d-xo.html") this video explains it very well, directly from an autistic adult's perspective.
@@dolphone6748 I agree that some ABA companies do not properly train their employees. It can absolutely be problematic and harmful if the child’s personal goals are not kept in mind, as well as their interests. That doesn’t mean all are. People use ABA in their daily lives - it’s all about behavioral learning. It can be used in sports and athletic training and in everyone’s personal lives. It’s all about learning behaviors, sometimes as simple as learning how to use a spoon or count numbers, skills that we’ve all learned. I do a lot of play with my clients, allow them to choose where they want to sit or be, allow them multiple toys they love as reinforcers (they can play with anything they want), and I try to make the setting as naturalistic as possible. I allow my kids to stim as much as they want, which is important. There are so many things I’ve learned as a new RBT. not all of us are bad ☺️
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
I understand where you're coming from. I'd love it if you joined my online course, as you will definitely feel supported and helped there. For more info, join a free workshop here: www.marybarbera.com/workshops
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!
Do NOT support this abusive dehumanizing pseudoscience. People who don't talk and think like you deserve to be treated with the same dignity and respect you expect to be treated with. This "therapy" is degrading ineffective and abusive.
I am a physician. IMHO, ABA will be of lees significance in the future. DIR is much less expensive with equivalent outcomes. When I have been to an ABA conference I am the only Doctor there. When I go to a DIR conference there are many Physicians and PhD’s. The science behind DIR is much richer and proven.
Please discuss ABA as administered by people with only a high school diploma who have simply passed a 40 hour certification. This guy is great, but has a Masters degree.
Honestly i just went through the 40hrs of training with no degree- and this comment lacks nuance. Of course kids need quality practitioners for aba to be effective. I can understand the perspective you've taken, but please consider that people have to start somewhere. It takes hard work to grasp everything enough to pass the exam. As well, proper aba has an interal hierarchical structure that supports the newer lower level associates/technicians. Im going to provide my kids with the highest quality service i can possibly provide with explicit detail on ethics and life-skill acquisition. I can only imagine your words come from a place of experience, that i cant speak for. I honor your words and desire to share. But i do implore you to consider that even the most qualified person in the field right now had to start somewhere. It is a difficult field, the stakes are high, and you are right- people should be qualified- but how else do you actually get there other than hands on experience under the guidance of someone who knows what they are doing on a deeper level. That person is not me yet, but it will be in time.
ABA can be done by anybody. Practitioners teach parents how to run the interventions in the home setting. It's not rocket science, but higher level degrees are required for the constructing of interventions, assessments, and the such
The programs are literally written step by step.. As the therapist all you’re doing is following instructions written BY the people with the degrees so that is why
@@revishon I did appreciate your comment. A lot of therapists have been in the field many years. Becoming a BCBA (masters) puts you in a position of not having as much direct one on one time with a child. Which of course is because you’re spending time doing assessments, writing programs, graphing, etc which is the most essential part. Some people stay in that spot though (therapist role) simply because they appreciate and love that direct one on one time with a child. Moving up in the field takes away that time that some of us appreciate the most.
I’ve seen more harm done by people with degrees and egos coming than folks with a high school diploma in ABA. Force feeding children, restraining them to sit in a chair…. The list goes on.
Thank you this is great! I was autistic as a child and have been afraid of how to approach helping parents, and speaking my thoughts, because I have been afraid of having everything I say discounted and tainted if I mention that I have first hand experience with Autism, and also at the same time, I've been afraid of discounted and beaten at by the Autistic community. I'm glad to see some middle ground, some space in-between here, that embraces healing is possible
Your experience is valid. The autistic community is exacting in language use and hates the words "recovered" or "cured." The protective nature is a common feature in Disability Culture - Autistic Culture and Deaf Culture have many values in common. Perhaps saying you "moved off the spectrum" or "no longer meet the diagnostic criteria for autism" to lead the conversation.
@@PeteS_1994 Everyone is wired differently. Those with Autism have different wiring, but the Autism itself isn't in the wiring. The nerves start to develop a few weeks into gestation. No one can go against their wiring for too long... yet Autism is not in the wiring, it's a state. Autism is an unnatural state of being, and no one needs to have it. In my opinion.
@@wickjezek5093 or saying 'can now successfully mask so profoundly that mainstream normative culture no longer finds any of my behaviours and natural self problematic' is another way of putting it. Because I too learned how to 'successfully mask' my natural state into a permanent state of internal distress but hey, it kept all the NTs happy! Bleh.
I have worked in ABA for 5 years now and am planning on becoming a BCBA. I didn't know the controversy until a couple years in. Thank you so much for your view on this. It makes me feel more confident in my decision
Because your client's thoughts, feelings, and preferences for therapy are intentionally left out of the process. ABA measures its core constructs (e.g., 'social validity') primarily through the observation of non-client stakeholders such as teachers and parents. That's by design. If ABA therapists knew how much pain they often cause to autistic people, many would choose not to be part of a highly profitable business. And we can't have that, can we?
This channel has helped me tremendously! Thank you for what you do for this community.... my son has benefited from ABA tremendously!! He is more verbal, can handle his emotions, has learned so much skills. Thank you for what you ALL do !!
@@voiceofreason2691 is it? Can you cite your sources? That is a pretty large accusation. I'll take your silence as "No, I don't have any proof other than what I regurgitate on biased forums"
Nope! ABA strategies, especially the ones presented in my online courses, are beneficial to any developing child! Visit a free workshop for more information: www.marybarbera.com/workshops
This video spoke volumes to me. Thank you for what you're doing. My wife and I have had MANY conversations about whether ABA was the best thing for our 5 year old son with Autism. The therapists comments were just what I needed to hear.
As a mom who also had to think of this as well, the best you can do is try... it was the best thing we did for our son...he is thriving right now. Tantrums down to hardly any, learning new ways of doing things and speaking. Understanding emotions his and others... my son wasn't diagnosed until he was 5..he is now 6...we started ABA in February of this year.
Do not put your son into ABA, if you already have then take him out, ABA is abusive and anyone that supports it is misinformed, the only thing that ABA teaches your child is that he will have to mask his Autisim.
@@ddoll128 See the results in 20 years time, be prepared for disappointment as your son will not be motivated to live an independent life by you destroying his intrinsic motivation with extrinsic motivators. Who's going to reinforce the behaviour in adulthood? ABA itself by its own principles claims behaviours only occur if they're reinforced. Anyone who does ABA is more than clearly uneducated and do not care about the children, ABA workers are more like scientologists, not scientists.
I cant believe that buttoned clothing is an Sd of mine, I am able to tell myself the buttons aren’t evil but until middle school the sight of buttoned shirts was something that made me mad lol
I used DIR and verbal ABA with my son as recommended by the founder of Floortime, Stanley Greenspan, MD. The combination was successful and significantly more cost effective. We provided 15 hours of Floortime at home and 10 hours of verbal ABA. This needs to be the future of treatment of autism, mixing the scientifically proven therapies adjusted to each child. This is the future-providing quality treatment at much less cost.
@@pardonmyfrench4760 It is a common error to believe Floortime has “less empirical evidence”. Evidence is not judged by quantity but by quality. The floortime evidence has the same quality data.
Did Helen’s teacher train her to be compliant like a dog? No, she worked to understand helen and found a way to reach her and teach her while being respectful of her differences. Big difference between that and ABA!
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
Thank you so much for watching and for sharing your insight here!
Can you share more of your personal insights and experiences?
@@monterrosasremodeling2339 one of my other favorite stories was a 4 year old..he could actually be quite the comedian even though he was just starting to be verbal. One day, he launched into a tirade against me. It was hard to sit there and keep a straight face. He WAS COMMUNICATING! It was complete jargon, I have no idea what he actually said, but I got the message, he wanted a break. This child was dual diagnosed with autism and a physical disability that necessitated a wheelchair and had limited arm use so he couldn't be significantly physically non compliant. Strict ABA would have stopped him and forced compliance...but he was communicating. I had the classroom teacher and aides watching this play out, trying not to laugh......After a minute or so, he calmed down...I said I understood he wanted a break. I explained we needed to work on numbers (I had 3 activities planned, but wanted to reward the communication), and then we would take a break. I quickly did an easy program with him, then moved him to the floor to have break time/sensory play/brushing. transitioning to different activities can be time consuming (ie wheelchair to stander to floor chair, etc) so its not an option to do frequently, but under the circumstances, I it was more important to reward the communication than to continue the discrete trial programs (without letting the tirade immediately get him out of work). This kid was pretty smart. I realized he was reading at 4 and pulling pranks on me
@@monterrosasremodeling2339 one thing that annoyed me was a poorly trained home therapist. The Sd was 'point to window' the child TOUCHED window and was marked wrong...confusing the kid..the one step commands touch/point to should be worked on separately.
@@monterrosasremodeling2339 another time I had a very shy 2.5 year old. I could relate as I was like him when i was little. I was slowing establishing rapport with him, but my supervisor (who only had a high school diploma while I had a college degree and extensive training in a school) came in and insisted on physically forcing compliance..so now he barely knows me, she is a stranger and she is physically forcing him to sit and comply. He had an asthma attack and parents stopped services altogether.
compassion over compliance
This is my favorite ABA quote!
@@erinlopez-brooks6807 ABA is all about compliance. making you mask and act neurotypical
Yes!!!
@@tieflingcorpse9817 agreed, sadly.
@@tieflingcorpse9817no that’s called conformity. Teaching a person to make safe decisions when asked is compliance.
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”
❤🙌
He didnt receive ABA treatment…interview ppl that had the treatment…it would be more helpful
Yeah big white washing exercise going on here
Yea, she says that he was significantly disabled but none of that was fixed by ABA.
Exactly. Before watching the video, I assumed he'd been through it.
JJ Jameson, you are on to something! I thought he was going to say ABA helped him...
He did mention that ABA therapy wasn't known or wide spread during the 90's & 00's. So using a little "context clues" perhaps he was growing up during that time frame, if so then I see why he didn't get aba therapy. I was raised in the 90's graduated 2003 never heard of autism or aba therapy back then, I'm sure alot of autistic people didn't experience it either. Ya'll are quick to judge because you're probably against it anyways, who cares if he didn't do aba at least he is educated and trained now. He can still make a difference in the lives of children.
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.
💯
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.
Free workshop to start helping your grandchild: bit.ly/3GZjn7m
Unfortunately ABA damage doesn’t leave visible bruises. She needs to be treated, but not be anyone using ABA methods.
@@adamruddle6558what’s wrong with ABA therapy and what do you suggest instead
@@amazinggrace9114ok so heres the thing with ABA, as an autistic person. First off, it dehumanizes us. Like wtf we're human too we dont need to be treated bc we exist. Also, most therapists are untrained and the "good" ones just use practices they use in DOG TRAINING. If you send your child to ABA its like forcing them to mask who they are (which is wrong) also, no cures needed, just teach them coping mechanisms like stimming.
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
Yes, I agree with you that I would also want to see! You can call around to other providers who are interested in your collaboration.
Jewel, the reason they won’t let you back there is not because they don’t want you to see what’s going with YOUR child, but rather because it’s a HIPPA violation for you to be present if OTHER children are present. It’s considered a medical service, so HIPPA confidentiality rules apply. It would be the same as you sitting in on a random kids medical appointment with their pediatrician
@@Kennylovessandwiches Your point?
My point is that they’re not trying to be secretive or hold services without parents present for malicious reasons. They’re protecting themselves from a lawsuit for breaking HIPPA privacy laws, which is illegal.
@@Kennylovessandwiches Explain that better, please.
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
Who gets so mad ?????
I think I am ASD and have 3 or 4 interviews today and tomorrow. I hope to find this video again and update if it makes it any easier (or not) being asd ans working in this field 😬
Hello! I have ASD and work in ABA. The job is definitely not for everyone (rightfully so), and I’ve had my own frustrations in field. I feel that having ASD myself has helped me empathize with my clients a lot more. I was mistreated by teachers due to my behaviors in school, so I aim to make sure that other children don’t experience that while also learning to advocate for themselves in a healthy manner.
Going into ABA therapy work as an autistic person. In south Texas, there's a lot of Spanish speaking immigrants I want to help. Seems like the controversy stems at hurting the child rather than positively enforcing the intended social approach. Sensitive waters that I want to tread because parents are going to send their children to these places regardless and if I can be there to be of GOOD USE! Put me in, I used to teach Title 1 schools as well, in SpEd classes too.
@@laneycosme6288 wow good luck! That’s great! I hope to see you in my online courses for professionals too! There are free workshops on my website www.marybarbera.com/workshops
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.
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.
Umme Kulsum,
Not one controversial issue has been mentioned in this video, so I'll share a few and I would like you to validate how it's acceptable.
The American Psychological Association discovered publication bias and published an article in January 2021 by Psychological Belletin.
Abstract
The “replication crisis” describes recent difficulties in replicating studies in various scientific fields, most notably psychology. The available evidence primarily documents replication failures for group research designs. However, we argue that contingencies of publication bias that led to the “replication crisis” also operate on applied behavior analysis (ABA) researchers who use single-case research designs (SCRD). This bias strongly favors publication of SCRD studies that show strong experimental effect, and disfavors publication of studies that show less robust effect. The resulting research literature may unjustifiably inflate confidence about intervention effects, limit researchers’ ability to delineate intervention boundary conditions, and diminish the credibility of our science. To counter problems of publication bias in ABA, we recommend that journals that publish SCRD research establish journal standards for publication of noneffect studies; that our research community adopt open sharing of SCRD protocols and data; and that members of our community routinely publish systematic literature reviews that include gray (i.e., unpublished) research.
Conclusion
The ABA community is not immune from the pitfalls of publication bias commonly associated with group comparison research. Contingencies of reinforcement that contribute to the file drawer effect among researchers in all disciplines also operate on applied behavior analysts. There is evidence that researcher bias may be endemic within our current scientific and publication practices, which negatively affect the scientific integrity of our field as a whole. We have offered modest and preliminary suggestions for researchers and the research community to guard against publication bias with the intention of stimulating the ABA community to adopt, improve, or expand upon them. Discounting or ignoring the problem likely will diminish the credibility of our findings among our scientific colleagues, negatively affect consumers of our services, and undermine public confidence in behavior analytic treatments. Conversely, addressing publication bias and related issues likely will advance scientific knowledge about behavior, improve consumer outcomes associated with behavioral treatments, and promote public confidence in the technology of behavior.
(Tincani, 2019)
Published online 2019 Mar 18
How is it acceptable to practice things based on bias publications?
The National Autistic Society says;
ABA is now one of the most researched of all autism approaches, but there are significant limitations and gaps in the research, particularly about long-term effects.
People’s views about ABA are strongly polarised. Some point out that ABA has developed considerably, can help people develop vital life skills and help them stay safe. Others fundamentally opposed and report being traumatised by its use. It is also clear that there is significant variation in the quality of training, practice and formal guidance. As with any support, these things are vital.
We do not support any intervention that follows one-size-fits-all approaches, or that goes against the principles we outlined at the top of this page, and we believe that some ABA interventions used today are not sufficiently person-centred and are too intensive.
Why do you think there is so many gaps in the research?
And how is it acceptable to do something when you don't even think of what the long term effects are?
We know one of our unknowns is the long term effects of COVID-19, and the medical system sees that as something important to consider.
It's comical that those of you who claim you care don't have the same concerns about long term effects of what you do to children.
Read the Leaf et al. 2021 article.
@@IcanSeeMyselfOutThanksHow many times are you gonna spam that?
Its just like any other treatment or therapy... its not one size fits all.
@@madisonmahlendorf2272 It still has problems.
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
Ultimately, whatever therapy you do, the most important part is being highly involved and ensuring you are comfortable with everything that happens. Listen to my podcast about how to choose a right provider here marybarbera.com/tameika-meadows-finding-good-aba-therapy/
You also may want to sign up for my free workshop as then you can learn how to help her and advocate for better services www.marybarbera.com/workshops
Occupational therapy is a great resource
I would research multiple perspectives from autistic adults.
@@marybarbera As a college student who is learning this with a fresh mind please do not do this to your child. it is really abusive if you are not careful about who the therapist is. The same principles used in ABA are used in gay conversion therapy. All you are doing is teaching your child to hide who they are.
@@emmacarter3294 occupational therapy and ABA are two completely different fields. OT does not address severe and harmful behaviors exhibited by autistic individuals
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.
I'm so sorry to hear that this happened...if you're looking for an infinitely more positive approach, my online courses can help you teach him yourself from the comfort of your own home. For more information, join me for a free workshop here: www.marybarbera.com/workshops.
Is there proof it was caused by ABA therapy, or was it a bad practitioner? Or could the trauma be from other events in the environment, such as what is going on in the home?
I am autistic and wished that I had some kind of ABA therapy growing up. Not to teach me to mask my symptoms but to push me enough to get out of comfort zone and become the person I was meant to be.
I believe that bad ABA experiences come from bad untrained ABA therapists that push too much and cause the child the go into sensory overload. There needs to be a balance of pushing but not too much.
And ABA therapists definitely need to NOT try to get rid of autistic stimming because that is the way that an autistic child coops with sensory overload. If the ABA therapists are seeing stimming then it probably means that one they pushed too much or two the child was already in sensory overload to begin. So I believe ABA therapy itself isn’t harmful but the way that the therapist administers can be very harmful and unethical.
ABA therapy has to always be individualized and child led.
Sorry for your bad experience though. These kind of experiences that I hear is why I want to go into the special needs field so that they can get good high quality care. ❤❤❤
@@wyattandrachelmortensen You get it. Thank you for your honest and informed post.
So sorry to hear that 😢
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!
Thank you for watching and I'm so happy this was helpful to you!
Don't even consider ABA, there are other forms of therapy that you can go into that are good and you can still help out autistic people.
Occupational therapy and speech language are far more efficacious than ABA.
@@Wellworm fr
@Accra Terminal agency just shut up about reversing Autsism and maybe embrace your child's neurodiversity, your child will eventually hate you and will choose neurodiversity over you.
Wait so he wasn't put through ABA? Do people who are have good things to say about it?
a wonderful clip, and a wonderful conversation. thanks for posting!
Glad you enjoyed it!
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
Thanks for the support!
I am an autistic, my son who has Autism ABA has a safer body, He is allowed to stem.
I heard that they use electric shot therapy for autistic children in ABA. Is this true because I just enrolled my 2 years old. This is really scares me to death if this is true. Please let me know if this is correct? Thank you 🙏
Hello! I’m an RBT. I just began working for a company, and we do not use punishment in any way. Especially shocking children, that’s terrible. If you’re nervous, you could ask to observe sessions and see what you think, or if the RBT is a good fit for you and your child or not. Being comfortable is very important to help building a relationship between family, RBT, and your child ☺️
Always feel free to speak your mind about anything. What you like, what you don’t like, asking questions to understand ABA better. The parents should be involved and aware, because you’re the ones around your children most of the time. We want to to carry out what you learn when we’re not here
@@haleyconway7425 Thank you so much for taking the time to explain theses things. Really appreciate it 🙏
ok so it's just the Judge Rotenburg Centre who do that. BUT aba is still highly abusive and problematic. I don't know if they adressed this in the video. as I am just about to watch this. but there is a video by Paige Layle. you can watch it here th-cam.com/video/94sy4YrUGRk/w-d-xo.html (also I don't know if the link will work so just select the link and right click then click "go to th-cam.com/video/94sy4YrUGRk/w-d-xo.html") this video explains it very well, directly from an autistic adult's perspective.
@@dolphone6748 I agree that some ABA companies do not properly train their employees. It can absolutely be problematic and harmful if the child’s personal goals are not kept in mind, as well as their interests. That doesn’t mean all are. People use ABA in their daily lives - it’s all about behavioral learning. It can be used in sports and athletic training and in everyone’s personal lives. It’s all about learning behaviors, sometimes as simple as learning how to use a spoon or count numbers, skills that we’ve all learned. I do a lot of play with my clients, allow them to choose where they want to sit or be, allow them multiple toys they love as reinforcers (they can play with anything they want), and I try to make the setting as naturalistic as possible. I allow my kids to stim as much as they want, which is important. There are so many things I’ve learned as a new RBT. not all of us are bad ☺️
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
I understand where you're coming from. I'd love it if you joined my online course, as you will definitely feel supported and helped there. For more info, join a free workshop here: www.marybarbera.com/workshops
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!
Congratulations on your upcoming graduation! Thank you for watching and I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Do NOT support this abusive dehumanizing pseudoscience.
People who don't talk and think like you deserve to be treated with the same dignity and respect you expect to be treated with. This "therapy" is degrading ineffective and abusive.
Autistic people should be allowed to say no. Especially to this creep.
Here's hoping you didn't......
I am a physician. IMHO, ABA will be of lees significance in the future. DIR is much less expensive with equivalent outcomes. When I have been to an ABA conference I am the only Doctor there. When I go to a DIR conference there are many Physicians and PhD’s. The science behind DIR is much richer and proven.
Please discuss ABA as administered by people with only a high school diploma who have simply passed a 40 hour certification. This guy is great, but has a Masters degree.
Honestly i just went through the 40hrs of training with no degree- and this comment lacks nuance. Of course kids need quality practitioners for aba to be effective. I can understand the perspective you've taken, but please consider that people have to start somewhere. It takes hard work to grasp everything enough to pass the exam. As well, proper aba has an interal hierarchical structure that supports the newer lower level associates/technicians. Im going to provide my kids with the highest quality service i can possibly provide with explicit detail on ethics and life-skill acquisition. I can only imagine your words come from a place of experience, that i cant speak for. I honor your words and desire to share. But i do implore you to consider that even the most qualified person in the field right now had to start somewhere. It is a difficult field, the stakes are high, and you are right- people should be qualified- but how else do you actually get there other than hands on experience under the guidance of someone who knows what they are doing on a deeper level. That person is not me yet, but it will be in time.
ABA can be done by anybody. Practitioners teach parents how to run the interventions in the home setting. It's not rocket science, but higher level degrees are required for the constructing of interventions, assessments, and the such
The programs are literally written step by step.. As the therapist all you’re doing is following instructions written BY the people with the degrees so that is why
@@revishon
I did appreciate your comment.
A lot of therapists have been in the field many years. Becoming a BCBA (masters) puts you in a position of not having as much direct one on one time with a child.
Which of course is because you’re spending time doing assessments, writing programs, graphing, etc which is the most essential part.
Some people stay in that spot though (therapist role) simply because they appreciate and love that direct one on one time with a child.
Moving up in the field takes away that time that some of us appreciate the most.
I’ve seen more harm done by people with degrees and egos coming than folks with a high school diploma in ABA. Force feeding children, restraining them to sit in a chair…. The list goes on.
It would be better if she interviewed someone who recieved aba
Listen to my podcasts to hear interviews with them: marybarbera.com/turn-autism-around-podcast/
Thank you this is great! I was autistic as a child and have been afraid of how to approach helping parents, and speaking my thoughts, because I have been afraid of having everything I say discounted and tainted if I mention that I have first hand experience with Autism, and also at the same time, I've been afraid of discounted and beaten at by the Autistic community. I'm glad to see some middle ground, some space in-between here, that embraces healing is possible
Your experience is valid. The autistic community is exacting in language use and hates the words "recovered" or "cured." The protective nature is a common feature in Disability Culture - Autistic Culture and Deaf Culture have many values in common.
Perhaps saying you "moved off the spectrum" or "no longer meet the diagnostic criteria for autism" to lead the conversation.
Isn’t autism different brain wiring. You can’t stop being autistic. You either are or aren’t. That’s what I understand.
@@PeteS_1994 Everyone is wired differently. Those with Autism have different wiring, but the Autism itself isn't in the wiring. The nerves start to develop a few weeks into gestation. No one can go against their wiring for too long... yet Autism is not in the wiring, it's a state. Autism is an unnatural state of being, and no one needs to have it. In my opinion.
@@wickjezek5093 or saying 'can now successfully mask so profoundly that mainstream normative culture no longer finds any of my behaviours and natural self problematic' is another way of putting it. Because I too learned how to 'successfully mask' my natural state into a permanent state of internal distress but hey, it kept all the NTs happy! Bleh.
@@loveyourmotherland Your opinion doesn't match the facts.
Thank you for this interview!!!!
I'm so happy you liked it! If you're ever looking for more resources, visit MaryBarbera.com/links-yt
I have worked in ABA for 5 years now and am planning on becoming a BCBA. I didn't know the controversy until a couple years in. Thank you so much for your view on this. It makes me feel more confident in my decision
thanks for watching
Because your client's thoughts, feelings, and preferences for therapy are intentionally left out of the process. ABA measures its core constructs (e.g., 'social validity') primarily through the observation of non-client stakeholders such as teachers and parents. That's by design. If ABA therapists knew how much pain they often cause to autistic people, many would choose not to be part of a highly profitable business. And we can't have that, can we?
Get a different career that doesn't involve abusing kids.
This channel has helped me tremendously! Thank you for what you do for this community.... my son has benefited from ABA tremendously!! He is more verbal, can handle his emotions, has learned so much skills. Thank you for what you ALL do !!
Wonderful! thanks for sharing! I appreciate you watching.
What are you talking about it probably ruined his lifr
@@ig-101magnaguard7 ruined his life how?
@@jmiss7701 Because ABA, most of the time, is abusive
@@voiceofreason2691 is it? Can you cite your sources? That is a pretty large accusation. I'll take your silence as "No, I don't have any proof other than what I regurgitate on biased forums"
As an educator working with children on the spectrum a video like this is so inspiring. I am so glad that I found this channel.
Wow, thank you!
Does ABA only for autism diagnose?
Nope! ABA strategies, especially the ones presented in my online courses, are beneficial to any developing child! Visit a free workshop for more information: www.marybarbera.com/workshops
This video spoke volumes to me. Thank you for what you're doing. My wife and I have had MANY conversations about whether ABA was the best thing for our 5 year old son with Autism. The therapists comments were just what I needed to hear.
As a mom who also had to think of this as well, the best you can do is try... it was the best thing we did for our son...he is thriving right now. Tantrums down to hardly any, learning new ways of doing things and speaking. Understanding emotions his and others... my son wasn't diagnosed until he was 5..he is now 6...we started ABA in February of this year.
Thanks for sharing. Being highly involved and ensuring that you are comfortable with what is happening is the most important!
Do not put your son into ABA, if you already have then take him out, ABA is abusive and anyone that supports it is misinformed, the only thing that ABA teaches your child is that he will have to mask his Autisim.
@@ddoll128
See the results in 20 years time, be prepared for disappointment as your son will not be motivated to live an independent life by you destroying his intrinsic motivation with extrinsic motivators.
Who's going to reinforce the behaviour in adulthood? ABA itself by its own principles claims behaviours only occur if they're reinforced. Anyone who does ABA is more than clearly uneducated and do not care about the children, ABA workers are more like scientologists, not scientists.
@Lucas Milito Why are you pushing herbs to help eye contact. If someone doesn't want to make eye contact leave them alone.
Hi Mary, thank you so much for making this video. It's great to hear Armando's story.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I cant believe that buttoned clothing is an Sd of mine, I am able to tell myself the buttons aren’t evil but until middle school the sight of buttoned shirts was something that made me mad lol
Thank you for sharing
I used DIR and verbal ABA with my son as recommended by the founder of Floortime, Stanley Greenspan, MD. The combination was successful and significantly more cost effective. We provided 15 hours of Floortime at home and 10 hours of verbal ABA. This needs to be the future of treatment of autism, mixing the scientifically proven therapies adjusted to each child. This is the future-providing quality treatment at much less cost.
Thank you for sharing.
Who provides DIR am interested. Thank you
I love this. Although Floortime does not have as much empirical evidence as ABA, I think it is up and coming. The combination sounds wonderful
@@pardonmyfrench4760 It is a common error to believe Floortime has “less empirical evidence”. Evidence is not judged by quantity but by quality. The floortime evidence has the same quality data.
@@pardonmyfrench4760How can you say there's no evidence?
What a wonderful video, this is the hope I needed thank u so much
You are so welcome!
Where would Helen Keller be without the teacher that never gave up on her
Did Helen’s teacher train her to be compliant like a dog? No, she worked to understand helen and found a way to reach her and teach her while being respectful of her differences. Big difference between that and ABA!
@@lauriecfano oof. Sorry you don't understand the science of behavior
@@IcanSeeMyselfOutThanks How many times are you gonna spam that comment?
@@IcanSeeMyselfOutThanks You don’t treat people like animal to teach them behavior
@@frillylily8005 Ignore that black circle user. He's been caught trolling a lot of people already.
100% USELESS video. Blah blah blah, but you don't actually show what ABA for Autism IS. Just blathering to talk it up or whatever. WHO CARES?!
great job 🙂 ... :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
Thank you! Cheers!
I'm just starting my ABA career
Best of luck!