I’ve been in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) since 2011 and the field is changing, but not enough to support actual neurodivergent-affirming and trauma-based strategies. As an industry, we need to understand our impact and listen to those that have received ABA first hand. Only then, can we move forward and change for the better.

People that are opposed to ABA but only say “ABA is bad” do nothing to actually help change the industry. If we can pinpoint the specific issues, then things can change.

After I was diagnosed with ADHD in my mid-30s, I was finally able to release the judgment, stress, and anxiety I had been accumulating about things I ‘should’ be able to do, things that I had tried to do forever but just could not accomplish, and the things that I was inconsistent with.

One of these situations was brushing my teeth in the morning. I have always struggled with deciding whether to brush my teeth before or after coffee—if I brush before, my coffee tastes bad, and if I wait until after my coffee, I will often forget to do it due to the ADHD and then move on to whatever is next. I beat myself up for years over this, as it seemed so easy for everyone else. After self-diagnosis and then following up with an actual diagnosis, it all made sense: the sensory issues, not being able to stick to a schedule or routine, not wanting to get up once I sat down, just forgetting to do things for myself, the executive function issues with planning and competing tasks, among other things.

After almost 15 years in ABA, I have encountered a few clients who did not respond to “traditional ABA” - prompting, clear directions, etc. These clients exhibited a heightened reaction to seemingly simple requests from others - extreme refusal, inconsistent triggers, potential for aggression or other potentially harmful or destructive behaviors. They learned quickly, but what they grasped the fastest was how to say or do things to trigger others, make them uncomfortable, or to make the interaction so difficult that the other person would back down from the request. Although they had a relatively large vocabulary, they did not use it to request the things they needed or wanted, what they were thinking or how they felt. The behaviors were always intense but not always consistent with triggers or what they looked like. The behaviors were always intense but not consistently linked to specific triggers or appearances. In fact, issues such as school refusal, reluctance to complete grooming or medical needs, and difficulties in interactions with others often worsened over time. These behaviors frequently caused other family members to tread carefully, never knowing what might trigger one of these behavioral episodes, which could last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours.

The number on everyone's mind is “40”. Based on a study by Lovas (get article/reference), the ABA gold standard was 40 hours per week. I have even received a Doctor’s prescription that specified this number without direct support as to why it was recommended, and without the doctor having a background or understanding of ABA. 

After years in this field, it would be a very rare occasion that I would actually recommend this in a home-based or center-based program, especially if the child is in school or another service. 

While not surprising at this point, I often find myself caught off guard when a parent is resistant to their child using headphones in situations where they feel overwhelmed. I'm not even suggesting that they wear them for any specific amount of time; rather, just having the headphones available if the child needs them raises objections. Frequently, parents are concerned about how the child will "look" with headphones on or worry that the child will become dependent on them. This perception is often far from the truth. By providing such accommodations, it is possible for your child to engage in and enjoy an activity rather than internalizing and trying not to cry when the class becomes loud during a game. 

Hand flapping, turning in circles, body rocking, singing, and other actions are often misunderstood. For years, these behaviors, and others like them, have been discouraged in some situations. These actions help individuals by expressing their excitement, directing excess energy, and blocking out aversive stimuli in their environment. In short, these behaviors serve to meet their needs. If we do not allow stimming, it can lead to other problems, such as becoming so focused on suppressing these behaviors that individuals fail to pay attention to what is actually happening around them, or experiencing a buildup of energy that eventually explodes at another time.