I almost missed it - ten years ago today...

[karalianne]

Ten years ago today, I embarked upon this strange and wonderful journey. It was the day I started my training in Lovaas-style Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA). I was one member of a five-person team of therapists who would be coming in to the family's home to work with their three-year old son. He would be scheduled for over 40 hours per week, so

Comments

[indy_md]

that's really interesting, thanks for sharing. but may i ask what you think the world *should* do with autistic children? leave them in their own bubble unable to communicate effectively with parents, siblings and peers?

[karalianne]

Teach them. But not to pretend they're normal. Autistic people need to learn to deal with the world, not pretend they have no differences. In order of importance:

1. Communication (Effective, functional)
2. Sensory Processing Differences (Arousing, coping, calming)
3. Physical Health (Medical, dental, psychological)
4. Life Skills (Hygiene, cooking, cleaning, money)
5. Academics (Reading, writing, arithmetic)
6. Behaviour Management (May not be necessary, if the rest is done well)

ABA is about teaching autistic children to pretend they're normal. It's putting sub-par glossy paint over wood that really just needs a sanding and a coat of varnish. Eventually it bubbles and peels or chips away, and the end result is uglier than it was to start with.

(Also: why do so many people think that the alternative to teaching autistic children to pretend to be normal, or the alternative to ABA, is to not teach them anything at all?)

[indy_md]

well all i know about ABA is what you wrote in your original post but from reading that it seemed like a pretty good program. i was just wondering what you had in mind for an alternative and why you think ABA isn't good. now i know! i didn't really have any contradictory opinions, i just wanted to know more about why you feel the way you feel. your post didn't go into that.

[karalianne]

Other options include play therapy, natural teaching, and so on.

ABA is incredibly intensive and unnatural. Here's a bit more information for you, since you seem interested. :)

Imagine doing that stuff for 40 hours per week, two hours at a time, when you're three years old (or younger; I once worked with a two-year old).

Doing the programs doesn't usually take long, but they can be incredibly boring.

Here's how a drill (one sitting of a program) goes, when a new item is being introduced. We'll do Receptive Labels. For fun, this kid is a fast learner.

Therapist sitting on one side of the table, student on the other. There is a toy car on the table. Therapist holds out one hand, palm up.

Therapist: Give car.

Therapist uses free hand to take student's hand, places student's hand on car, picks up car, and places car in open hand.

Therapist: Good job! That's the car!

Therapist gives student a candy and replaces the car on the table. When student is finished eating the candy, therapist holds out one hand, palm up.

Therapist: Give