This person had ABA as a child, and he's doing just fine, thank you
Do you need a counter to the negative reports about applied behavior analysis and autism?
Many advocates for individuals with applied behavior analysis scoff at first-person accounts by people who say that they have autism and they had unpleasant experiences with ABA. Having been stung by individuals who opined that ABA addressed inappropriate goals, used aversive procedures, was culturally insensitive, deprecated autonomy, and caused trauma (Anderson, 2022; Gardiner, 2017; Neurolaunch, 2024; Winter, 2024), advocates for ABA may reject case studies, interviews, and first-person accounts.
Doing so risks learning more about concerns about ABA and, therefore, being able to shape applications of it in ways that can enhance its social validity. And, to some people’s possible surprise, some first person accounts may be more laudatory than damning.
Such is the situation with an interview by Charlie Hui and David Celiberti of the Association for Autism Treatment. In “Been There, Succeeded at That: An Interview with Eli Allen Sharing His Experiences with ABA as a Child “ that appeared in Science in Autism Treatment in 2024.
Here’s the set up for the interview:
For many individuals with autism, the help and support they receive as a child vastly shapes their future. For 30-year-old teacher’s aide Eli Allen, he was fortunate to have a family who were staunch advocates and helped him access quality early, intensive Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy following his diagnosis. Raised in Oyster Bay Cove, New York, he currently resides in Florida.
Eli’s journey is a testament to the profound impact that early intervention and persistence can have on the lives of individuals with autism. His experiences highlight the importance of advocacy, family involvement, and evidence-based practices in fostering communication, agency, and independence. We are deeply grateful to share Eli’s journey along with his unique insights and perspectives. His story not only inspires hope but also underscores the critical need for continued support and resources for individuals with autism and their families not just upon diagnosis but throughout their lives.
I think that advocates, individuals with autism, parents (who often must also be advocates), administrators, teachers, psychologists, and many other readers of Special Education Today will gain from reading this interview with Eli. Of course, you can read the entire interview for free at Been There, Succeeded at That: An Interview with Eli Allen Sharing His Experiences with ABA as a Child.1
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References
Anderson, L. (2022). Autistic experience of applied behavior analysis. Autism, 27(3), 737-750. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613221118216
Gardiner, F. (2017). First-hand perspectives on behavioral interventions for autistic people and people with other developmental disabilities. Autistic Self-Advocacy Network. https://autisticadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/First-Hand-Perspectives-on-Behavioral-Interventions-for-Autistic-People-and-People-with-other-Developmental-Disabilities.pdf
Hui, C., & Celiberti, D. (2024). Been there, succeeded at that: An interview with Eli Allen sharing his early experiences with ABA. Science in Autism Treatment, 21(11).
Neurolaunch. (2024). ABA therapy from an autistic perspective: A critical examination. [Blog post 11 August 2024]. https://neurolaunch.com/aba-therapy-from-an-autistic-perspective/
Winter, J. (2024). The argument over a long-standing autism intervention: Applied behavior analysis therapy has a troubling history, and even many supporters say it was used too widely in the past. But has criticism of the practice gone too far? The New Yorker, 12 February 2024. https://www.newyorker.com/science/annals-of-medicine/the-argument-over-a-long-standing-autism-intervention
Footnote
Once you’re read the interview, keep on scrolling toward the bottom where you’ll be rewarded with links to other similar interviews about people’s experiences. You may want to bookmark these so that you can share them with others when you are confronted by people who’re read the negative stories about ABA.
I currently have an adult UG teacher candidate with Autism that has shared their negative perspective on ABA and has been reluctant to embrace Systematic Instruction (the name of the course I'm teaching) because of its foundation in ABA. It opened a space for discussion in the class, and it was a lively exchange. It seems the candidate didn't actually experience anything negative first-hand but had heard from- heard from- and heard from to come to their conclusions.
Interesting how good things are slow to grow and be shared, while any hint of a negative experience spreads like wildfire. As we move into applying what we are learning in SI to field experiences with students, I'm seeing a change in this candidate's perception of ABA. Once the candidate sees first-hand the benefits and progress of their students, and the data comes in from progress monitoring, I believe we can put out some of those 'fires.' :)
This piece reminds me that I want to point out to the candidate that they are where they are now, because of the early ABA therapy they received.