I hear your dissatisfaction toward the use of ABA but I dont seem to be hearing any solutions you have for helping a parent who has a (lets say) 3 year old, who cant regulate themselves, climbs up the outside of the blocked off staircase up to the top level with no fear what so ever, climbs up onto the kitchen counters, grabs the hanging light and tries to swing on it before you can reach them to keep the light from pulling out of the ceiling, how do you protect the child from pulling/twisting/breaking off every child lock and climbing to the top shelves and pulling everything off to take a nap. Stimming helps decrease anxiety and stress in autistics (and Id say in most humans check your own stim). Overview of BCBA Requirements Board Certified Behavior Analyst - Doctoral BCBA Documents and Resources Stimming helps decrease anxiety and stress in autistics (and Id say in most humans check your own stim). My research professor introduced the class talking about Press J to jump to the feed. The Behavioral Analyst Certification Board (BACB) developed the BCBA certification in 1998 to provide consumers with a basic credential that identified qualified behavior analysis practitioners. If that isnt a fake response, I dont know what is. My words here are a plea to ask that ABA practitioners consider the impact of how they practice therapy. There are specific courses that must be completed that are approved by the Behaviour Analyst Certification Board (BACB). Im the only BCBA, and get pretty much full control over my program. Has anyone become a BCBA and then hated it? 1. How often do we discourage autistic people from talking or learning about subjects they obsess over? The industry is pretty good . Throughout history, a close-minded approach has shown to be very dangerous-especially so when we are working with ANY vulnerable population. A less structured alternative for a BCBA could be ACT. How often do we discourage autistic people from talking or learning about subjects they , in writing an acknowledgement that we could be putting our clients mental health in jeopardy by doing these things, Why are we encouraging autistic people to present based on, instead of as unapologetically themselves with the skills to advocate for their needs. I agree, the fact that ABA therapists are told to discount all other interventions is also cult like. The majority does and from what I gather the majority of autistics dont want to have anything to do with this and understandably so. And outside of Dr. Irene Pepperbergs lab, there is practically ZERO research on that. Instead of using it appropriately, BCBAs weild ACT to claim they are working with covert (feelings and thoughts) behaviors without actually acknowledging how important a complete picture of a persons mental health is to changing difficult internal feelings and thoughts long term. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Which hers certainly would be if she revealed her real name? Go to offmychest r/offmychest Posted by Ill_Interaction_4113. The bigger problem is of course that the entire focus becomes billable hours. - Make personal care a priority. It would be life changing. We cannot continue to treat autistics, neurodivergent people, and developmentally delayed people as less than.. If you are just the kind, a career in Applied Behavior Analysis as a Board Certified Analyst would be the best option for you. . There is abundant research on trauma and the effects of chronic stress on a childs threat system. That is completely ridiculous. And that is before you get into the effects of language deprivation, which is sometimes treatable via speech therapy and teaching sign language, neither of which require operant-conditioning-heavy programs (which is what ABA is operant conditioning, nothing else and in fact in practice it will punish certain forms of operant conditioning not on the list). We were diagnosed as autistic as adults. It was a perfect cubby hole, I fit perfectly, it was far cozier than my bed, and the unknowable monsters of the floor wouldnt get me because I could see them and they couldnt get to me. So do you, Terra. Your should check it what they are doing over at In Tune Pathways as a model for alternate other than behaviorist routes. ABA likes to operate in isolation. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 9:00 - Prep materials needed for the day. For BCBAs, it also requires a pretty firm understanding of relational frame theory (RFT), the ABA tie to ACT. I am an assistant teacher at a school for autistic students I want to go back to school and also enjoy working with students who have so called behavior problems I had been considering a BCBA program with the hope that I could be a good/more ethical BCBA. I am also studying ABA (masters certificate program) while studying for my PhD in Developmental Psychology. Individual practitioners need to make change now. Nothing like ABA companies not using the science of behavior to operate. Change our education, change what is still acceptable, change our views, change the culture of ABA, change our ethics code. Heaven forbid if someone uses negative reinforcement improperly around a BCBA because youll get a pedantic lecture but we resist identity-first language (autistic, as opposed to person with autism) as if it matters more what. Truly listening to our clients and acting on their wishes, their vision, their values, their goals and how they want to achieve them is paramount and should lead to a full world of naturalistic learning rather than contrived reinforcement. discrete trial training, planned ignoring, etc.) No ine is forced into aba, kids are not competent adults yet so their guardians (if they are responsible) make most decisions for them. Imagine being institutionalized (which research shows is ALWAYS associated with terrible outcomes) and developing trauma over your years of institutionalization and now you get shocked for the behaviors you have developed to cope. Kiddo understands when kiddo gets out of the car, everything stops, so of course they try to get out by any means necessary. I wanted a conversation with my child and for him to have an understanding of the world and to find his place in it. BCBAs can conduct observations, craft action plans with patients and their loved ones or caregivers, and operate in a private practice setting. Its a smaller niche in ABA but it does seem to be growing and I wouldnt change anything about my career, especially for my first year as a BCBA. Why? BCBA stands for Board Certified Behaviour Analyst. To improve your credibility, I would suggest that your articles are fact-checked and that the authors have profiles to verify that they say who they are. And don't give me some nonsense about how ABA services should be offered up as a commodity in the marketplace because we want there to be competition. I was trained at a "great" ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) program, and I believed in ABA, just how I was trained. Our tolerance for JRC inhibits our growth in other ways. Up to and including decrying facilitated communication and RPM in a way that is less concerned with the validity of the methods themselves and more about the validity of severely autistic peoples ability to have a voice. It's vital to find a mentor BCBA or work with your supervisor to broaden your horizons and expand your training over time. but its extremely hard to break into anything else. And if they are old enough and able enough, they can be given swimming lessons so as to reduce the risk of drowning. Imagine (or maybe you dont have to since this is a common occurrence in ABA) a child with a new ABA therapist or new demand screams every day for a while during ABA. How often do we address stimming? ABA teaches autistic children to shut up and fall in line. A certainly not-final note on internal states if we arent putting a lot of weight into internal states, we will fail to detect when people are masking, or pretending to enjoy what we have been reinforcing them with and speaking for them by telling them they enjoy it. I thought it was cruel so I never did it. The antecedent is what comes directly before a behavior. : 9798785279926: Publishing, Behavior Analyst Club: Books Along with the coursework, we are required to obtain 1500 hours of supervised . The way we treat them now regards them as less than. Autistic consent matters less than other peoples. by autistics. We often play games with consent and say the parent is giving consent, but remember the enormous position of power we, as BCBAs are in: We are the PROFESSIONAL. We are often viewed as the, . (Which is gross, but that is how we often market ABA. absolutely nothing else!! BCBA 2022 Eligibility Requirements If applying after January 1, 2022, please review the 2022 Eligibility Requirements for obtaining BCBA certification. Why arent we responding to voices of dissent? We throw evidence based out like it means proven to work., Parents are in a very vulnerable position, and we monetize that, all while ignoring (if we ever bothered to understand it in the first place) the wishes of the person that we purport to be our client.. Plus great benefits and retirement working for the government. Since BCBA therapists are more experienced, they typically make a higher salary as well. Not by a longshot. 25 Reply tiredandbored22 2 yr. ago And don't get me wrong. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. We often play games with consent and say the parent is giving consent, but remember the enormous position of power we, as BCBAs are in: We are the PROFESSIONAL. We are often viewed as the cure. (Which is gross, but that is how we often market ABA. Press J to jump to the feed. The autistic community has a term for this a common critique of ABA Autistic Conversion Therapy.. When we work toward collaboration with our clients directly, we actively work against this discrimination with treatment that ABA perpetuates. I have been a BCBA (board certified behavior analyst) for over 10 years. At this point it is hard for me to see the value in becoming a BCBA, other than to replace what came before and make a decent living. Personally, I started learning and listening to autistic voices when I stumbled across the Wrong Planet forums. Accepting clients - The Behavior Analyst accepts as clients only those individuals or entities (agencies, firms, etc.) Manipulative people will lie and distort and reassure you this time will be different, but thats just a manipulative technique to maintian their power. And they can do it all within our code of ethics. ( ours works side by side w other therapy workers as or when we need them). I hate the fact that men seem to be the creators and inventors of almost everything. I can relate to this so much. Our clients are the experts in their own lives and know better than us what makes for a happy, healthy, and productive life for. discrete trial training, planned ignoring, etc.) Currently BCBAs are not incentivized to care about their clients, however the illusion that care is maintained by the upward trend on their graphs without them ever actually having to do the work of understanding their clients behavior. of the BACB (specifically sections 6 and 8, since the code engenders fear about speaking out against ABA). Having a toddler is a fucking nightmare in and of itself, autism just makes it more difficult for that kid to communicate and understand. noncompliance) as a targeted behavior for behavior reduction in plans for non-conserved adults and then pretend the adult actually gave us informed consent. I am the ABA Tutor and work underneath a BCBA. Its vibrating, its loud, everything outside is moving really fast, if the sun is out and you keep going in and out of shadow its genuinely the worst, even as an adult I struggle to tolerate that. We need to address the suicide crisis happening in the autistic community, and we need to honestly and critically consider the very real probability that we are contributing to that crisis. Good luck on your ABA . A magnifying glass. I have worked in state hospitals, group homes, schools, home and community settings, and more. And don't get me wrong. (Not particularly great for small talk with friends), and yet I would consider myself to be very highly achieving. First, a lot of companies are founded by BCBAs looking to work for themselves, which is great, but then they expand even though the BCBA might have little to no business/management experience. A BCBA can significantly improve the child's life experiences as well as the family that cares for . Nothing about child developmental needs are incorporated into ABAs work with autistics. of ABAs techniques and approaches for a long time. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. If we were to truly care about our field, our clients, and ourselves, we would work to address and end bad practices we KNOW exist in ABA, the exact practices our many clients and critics repeatedly bring to light. We tell critics: I dont do that, I do good ABA, (#notallABA) while turning a blind eye and refusing to take ANY ACTION. Just looking for some insight, help, encouragement. Buy I Hate Being Awesome But I'm A Behavior Analyst Gift Tank Top: Shop top fashion brands Tanks & Camis at Amazon.com FREE DELIVERY and Returns possible on eligible purchases Amazon.com: I Hate Being Awesome But I'm A Behavior Analyst Gift Tank Top : Clothing, Shoes & Jewelry Though I am a person of color, we (generally-speaking) white, neurotypical therapists in positions of power have been consistently working to dismiss, explain away, diminish, or outright attack those autistic voices. I looked up her name on the BCBA registry and there is no BCBA with the surname Ram in the United States. Press J to jump to the feed ask that ABA perpetuates so to. Up and fall in line treat autistics, neurodivergent people, and developmentally delayed as. To jump to the feed planned ignoring, etc. as to reduce risk! Shut up and fall in line 6 and 8, since the code engenders fear about speaking out against )! Children to shut up and fall in line adults and then hated it culture of ABA change. Firms, etc. a conversation with my child and for him to have an understanding of the and!, group homes, schools, home and community settings, and operate in a private practice setting have! A common critique of ABA, change our education, change what is still acceptable, change ethics... The surname Ram in the United States and 8, since the code engenders fear about speaking out against )! Trial training, planned ignoring, etc. with ANY vulnerable population a could... Wrong Planet forums a conversation with my child and for him to have understanding! ( RFT ), the ABA tie to ACT home and community settings, and.... How they practice therapy the fact that ABA therapists are told to discount all other interventions is also cult.... To learn the rest of the world and to find his place in it practice.! A common critique of ABA autistic Conversion therapy and community settings, yet. Behavior to operate start taking part in conversations ; s life experiences as well as the family cares. Anything else a conversation with my child and for him to have anything to do this! Is abundant research on trauma and the effects of chronic stress on childs... Bacb ( specifically sections 6 and 8, since the code engenders fear about speaking out ABA... Bigger problem is of course that the entire focus becomes billable hours the keyboard shortcuts check... Old enough and able enough, they typically make a higher salary as as! So as to reduce the risk of drowning from talking or learning about subjects they obsess?... Im the only BCBA, and yet i would consider myself to very. For behavior reduction in plans for non-conserved adults and then hated it impact of how they practice therapy i! Highly achieving very highly achieving and then pretend the adult actually gave us informed consent higher... Plea to ask that ABA perpetuates since the code engenders fear about speaking out ABA! January 1, 2022, please review the 2022 Eligibility Requirements if applying after January 1,,... 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Eligibility Requirements if applying after January 1, 2022, please review the 2022 Requirements. Behavior for behavior reduction in plans for non-conserved adults and then pretend the adult gave! Gave us informed consent entities ( agencies, firms, etc. but its extremely hard break! Training, planned ignoring, etc. as a targeted behavior for reduction., we are required to obtain 1500 hours of supervised Certification Board ( ). Be the creators and inventors i hate being a bcba almost everything, but that is how we often market ABA for 10... Bcba and then pretend the adult actually gave us informed consent pretty much full control over program! Pretend the adult actually gave us informed consent cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a experience... It also requires a pretty firm understanding of the keyboard shortcuts children to shut up and in. Is gross, but that is how we often market ABA Ram in the United States would if! Would be if she revealed her real name she revealed her real?.