The concerns raised by autism rights advocates and neurodiversity proponents about ABA represent one of the most significant challenges to the field's identity and practice in its history. These concerns are not peripheral to behavior analysis — they are central to how the field defines its purpose, selects its methods, chooses its goals, and evaluates its success.
Provider: Autism Partnership Foundation
Take This Course →Including ethics, supervision, and topics like this one. New live CEU every Wednesday.
Join Free →For over 50 years, intervention methods informed by the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA) have been empirically researched and clinically implemented with autistics/individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Recently, some autism rights and neurodiversity activists that have expressed concerns with ABA-based interventions. Some of these concerns have included discontent with historical events and reports of harm stemming from the procedures used and goals targeted. The purpose of this panel is to provide a thoughtful discussion about the concerns about ABA-based intervention and ways to move forward.
| Certification Body | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|
| BACB | 1 | General |
Side-by-side comparison with a clinical decision framework
Research-backed educational guide for behavior analysts
Research-backed answers to common clinical questions
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.