ABA - Negative information.....

[yakkiyakkiyogi]

Hi all. This is my first post so apologies for any silly mistakes etc although I've been reading posts on SN silently for over a year.

Just as a background, DS who is 3 has now got a dx of ASD just this month. Thats all I was told and still await the long detailed report the paediatrician said he'll send out soon. Have known for a year almost that a dx of this kind will be given as the traits were quite obvious. Been to the intial signposting event by ASD Outreach too but all my info is from extensively reading books and credible websites or forums like this. I've been reading a lot about ABA, its benefits and the struggles of getting it free of cost from LAs and was starting to consider how I can go about it and was planning to ask his EP when she visits for an observation at home next week. However, I've come across a negative article about it and that too by an ABA therapist. Also seen videos from an ASD person's perspective calling it amounting to "child abuse". So now I'm super confused. Links to article and video below:

sociallyanxiousadvocate.wordpress.com/2015/05/22/why-i-left-aba/

It'll be very useful to read opinions from you all as you have been facing this for much longer than I have. Thanks :)

Of course free speech is fine Yakki, but I draw a line when someone tells me I am effectively denying my son's true self or compares ABA to vile 'cures' for homosexuality. You would draw a line too I suspect. Have been doing ABA for 9 years, it has greatly improved my son's quality of life. I could give you loads of links to good stories re ABA, and indeed to proper scientific reviews. But it is very much up to you, of course.

I am not looking for ABA to cure my boy - that's just silly. It simply helps him learn new skills. Am not really up for a bunfight though, do it it don't do it , up to you

I was in no shape or form commenting on anyone's choice of intervention with their child or experience with ABA socalled....I was just commenting on what I had read. I wouldn't be so quick to take something personally.

I think the question is though, what skills are being taught. I have no doubt that some therapists are very easy going and do a good job but not all therapists are the same and not all parents want the same thing.

Aba is very big in America because it's pretty much the only therapy that has legal backing in requests from medical insurance companies.

Also set against the background of certain charities telling the public that their children have been stolen by the evil of autism, that their marriages will break down and that it's some how understandable when a parent murders their autistic child because they are such a burden.

Against all that many parents seek a 'cure' doing really quite horrible things and many more seek to normalise their child. Some quite openly, some don't realise they are doing it. Aba isn't one thing with one therapist. Getting the wrong one with the wrong ideas can be devastating to a child and their parents may not realise.

Yes some children are far more profoundly affected by autism than others but it doesn't mean that ANY therapy is ok as long as it looks like it's getting results.

If aba works for your child and is done in a caring way, that's your choice. However, that is not always the case.

Gosh the OP sure is posting a lot of anti ABA links for someone who is supposedly considering it.

This is my impression too. OP you may have convinced yourself by now that ABA is not for you. Lots of parents here have results with other therapies, perhaps start a new thread asking parents what works for them? I'm sure you'll find something that will suit your DS. Probably a better strategy than concentrating on one therapy you appear to mistrust.

Again, I have not ruled out ABA at all. I don't get convinced so fast anyways and intend to research further. If I had posted links only praising ABA, I wonder if I would have then been considered as convinced for ABA.

For the record, I am neither pro nor anti ABA.

I am looking to find out more about any and every intervention available. This was just my first thread ever of many more to come. Feeling a bit nervous about starting other threads now lol

Yakki I think that is a sensible approach. Aba is a bit Marmite. I doubt you'd have bother with much else.

The opposite of ABA is ABA because it's a palindrome