I think another question is whether "autism" any longer corresponds to any real identifiable syndrome or condition at all. If you have ever entered this world of autism diagnosis you will find a world of incredibly vague/abstract lists of symptoms, absolutely no physically or biologically grounded means of diagnosis, and extremely subjective interview tests administered by social workers who make judgement calls. I truly don't know what autism is supposed to mean beyond your kid (generally your boy) is weird or difficult. I'm sure ABA as a basically Skinnerian form of indoctrination or training can affect behavior in some way for anyone though.
I've been increasingly curious about what ABA looks like on the ground. I work in a related field, and the solicitations for "Registered Behavior Technicians" are wall-to-wall, far outstripping related roles. The requirements to become an RBT in my state are almost trivial (High school grad, 40 hrs training) especially when measured against the nature and intensity of the therapeutic work expected, and the vulnerability of the population. Having a little familiarity with the concepts behind ABA myself, and knowing how easily behaviorist training can go off the rails in any context, the competency of some RBTs I know is a matter of concern. Undertrained and underprepared people receiving certifications isn't unique to ABA, but ABA does seem like a modality where the skill of the 'practitioner' is paramount, especially in avoiding harm. The horror stories do not surprise me at all.
I think another question is whether "autism" any longer corresponds to any real identifiable syndrome or condition at all. If you have ever entered this world of autism diagnosis you will find a world of incredibly vague/abstract lists of symptoms, absolutely no physically or biologically grounded means of diagnosis, and extremely subjective interview tests administered by social workers who make judgement calls. I truly don't know what autism is supposed to mean beyond your kid (generally your boy) is weird or difficult. I'm sure ABA as a basically Skinnerian form of indoctrination or training can affect behavior in some way for anyone though.
I've been increasingly curious about what ABA looks like on the ground. I work in a related field, and the solicitations for "Registered Behavior Technicians" are wall-to-wall, far outstripping related roles. The requirements to become an RBT in my state are almost trivial (High school grad, 40 hrs training) especially when measured against the nature and intensity of the therapeutic work expected, and the vulnerability of the population. Having a little familiarity with the concepts behind ABA myself, and knowing how easily behaviorist training can go off the rails in any context, the competency of some RBTs I know is a matter of concern. Undertrained and underprepared people receiving certifications isn't unique to ABA, but ABA does seem like a modality where the skill of the 'practitioner' is paramount, especially in avoiding harm. The horror stories do not surprise me at all.