Applied behavior analysis faces a reckoning. The Autistic self-advocacy community, joined by allied professionals and researchers, has levied sustained criticisms against the field's historical practices, and these criticisms carry substantial weight.
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Join Free →Extensive criticisms and concerns have been levied against applied behavior analysis by Autistic and Neurodivergent individuals and groups, as well as other community members. These largely criticize the extent to which behavior analysts have respected the dignity and autonomy of Neurodivergent or disabled clients during service delivery and, as a result, the unintended harm that may have resulted. Ableism, or the belief and resulting actions that suggest individuals within disabilities are valued less than those without disabilities, may be reflected within applications of behavior analysis, and may place non-disabled norms as the standard pursued within service delivery. Despite this, behavior analysts and our field can continue to be responsive to these concerns by engaging in neurodiversity-affirming approaches, which at their core reflect ethical behavior analysis. Various calls to action will be offered regarding social validity, dignity and autonomy, and identity and language. Case examples aligned to these areas will be presented for discussion.
| Certification Body | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|
| BACB® | 2 | Ethics |
| COA | 2 | — |
Dr. Lauren Lestremau Allen (she/her) is a Licensed Psychologist (NY, MD), Licensed Behavior Analyst (NY), Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral, and a Nationally Certified School Psychologist. Dr. Allen is an Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator in the SUNY Empire State University Applied Behavior Analysis Master of Science program and the Assistant Director of the SUNY Empire Center for Autism Advocacy: Research, Education, and Supports (CAARES), both of which prioritize compassionate, value-driven care, and client self-advocacy and autonomy. Dr. Allen is a former program director and continues on the Program Services team at the Ivymount School, a K-12 special education school in Maryland, where she served K-12 students with disabilities and their families. Dr. Allen has also supported Autistic, Neurodivergent, and disabled clients and their families and teams across home, clinic, and outpatient hospital settings. Dr. Allen is on the New York State Association for Behavior Analysis board, acting as the Chair of the Student Activities Committee, and is a Hub Team member with ECHO Autism: Education. Dr. Allen is committed to high quality service and support delivery for Autistic individuals and individuals with developmental disabilities and is passionate about training professionals to provide affirming and client-centered care.
Dig into the research behind this topic — plain-English summaries written for BCBAs.
239 research articles with practitioner takeaways
231 research articles with practitioner takeaways
225 research articles with practitioner takeaways
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All behavior-analytic intervention is individualized. The information on this page is for educational purposes and does not constitute clinical advice. Treatment decisions should be informed by the best available published research, individualized assessment, and obtained with the informed consent of the client or their legal guardian. Behavior analysts are responsible for practicing within the boundaries of their competence and adhering to the BACB Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts.