An activism email on the use of abusive ABA practices

I have sent an email to my local MPs. The following is a lightly edited extract from that, which I consider self explanatory. 

Dear Members of Parliament,

I am sure you are aware of the appalling abuse of an autistic boy by what is referred to as "ABA" (example report at https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-25/autism-therapy-program-abuse-ndis-four-corners/102896354).

What may not be known is that the person responsible for ABA - Ivar Lovaas - is also responsible for the now widely banned conversion practices used to abuse LGBTQIASB+ people - see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ole_Ivar_Lovaas#Criticism.

This raises a number of points.

Firstly, in the same way that conversion practices against LGBTQIASB+ people are not described as therapies because they are anything but (and conspiracy fantasies are fantasies, not theories), so too is it important, in my opinion, not to use the word therapy in connection with ABA.

Secondly, in a similar way to the basic concept of conversion therapy being wrong as it wrongly assumes that there is something "wrong" with LGBTQIASB+ people, ABA is also wrong in assuming that differences are flaws. I came across an excellent YouTube video on this at https://youtu.be/ugQEiZG19Rs?si=YCwcRRaUaZSLNu8L.

The third point is that there are constructive alternatives to ABA, as outlined by a YouTuber who states he is US doctor (who is autistic - website at https://neurodivergentdoctor.com/) at https://youtu.be/K1gN3eDH1m8?si=fuyIJCItWFcMl7E-. 

The behaviour reported, in my opinion, has clear parallels to anti-LGBTQIASB+ "conversion" practices. As with those it should be banned and better alternatives promoted.

 

Assumptions / basis 

In writing this, I have assumed / started from the following: 

• this blog states quite clearly that it is about political and human rights matters, including lived experience of problems, and thus I will assume readers are reasonable people who have noted the content warning in the post header;

Possible flaws 

Where I can, I will try to highlight possible flaws / issues you should consider:

• there may be flawed logical arguments in the above: to find out more about such flaws and thinking generally, I recommend Brendan  Myers’ free online course “Clear and Present Thinking”; 
  
• I could be wrong - so keep your thinking caps on, and make up your own minds for yourself.
  

 

If they are of any use of interest, the activism information links from my former news posts are available in this post. 

 

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