I Left... Ethical Issues in Behavior Analysis (w/ Sharon Trew)

[@TheDailyBA]

Text Me: [phone] - I'm expanding my address book to include everyone passionate about Behavior Analysis. Have a question? Need a resource? Need advice? This is how you and I can chat! Text [phone] or click here to start the process thedailyba.superphone.io/

[@masterabatogether]

This is such an important conversation to have and get out there. ABA has earned a reputation for abuse, especially among the autistic population, many of the very people we want to serve. I doubt many people enter the field with the intention of engaging in this type of practice and yet it continues on a seemingly widespread basis. We need to listen to the outcry. We need to change the field so that we can change the world and improve the lives of those we seek to serve. We need to keep in mind that we are there to serve, not control. We need to band together and find a way for these practices to stop.

[@TheDailyBA]

Yes, but it's also always been a compassionate and solid science person-first, it's just not what was scaled imho. At it's very core it was always client-first and humane and ethical unless people poorly trained or with ill-intentions got off course...

[@masterabatogether]

@@TheDailyBA True, although historically ABA professionals have targeted behaviors to make autistics look like everyone else which has been harmful to them. As we learn more about the experience of autistics, many of us have changed and adapted our practices, but many continue to ignore this information. I'm currently in FL and have encountered more questionable practices in the 2 years I have been here than I could have imagined. So how do we as caring professionals overcome the stigma that this has created?

[@TheDailyBA]

@@masterabatogether from about Bart’s social validity paper onward it’s always been about the person. First places like FL need serious regulation, it’s rampant from market forces allowing it. But on an individual level it’s about doing right in your role and practice day to day. That’ll differentiate. And also, as Hanley says - make it televisable and out it out there. How many truly good exemplars of ABA are there out there? Name a channel, course, etc. that shows what our field does well (hard pressed to find one in my ten years and our community doesn’t support those that try to do it, we tear em down).

[@masterabatogether]

@@TheDailyBA There are some really amazing professionals in our field and I love to see how they adjust to what we are learning about autism. I enjoy the messages you put out. You do a great job at disseminating real ABA along with many other professionals in our field. I agree that Florida needs serious regulation. I came here to be near family, but it's nearly impossible for me to find a company I feel good about supporting. I'm 100% sure they are here and I haven't yet encountered them. I love the field and many of the amazing BCBAs and RBTs working in it, but how ABA is often applied here is startling. It's something I didn't understand could happen until I witnessed it. This has made me understand and helped me empathize with autistics who say "ABA is abusive." I don't support that message, but do agree that some professionals have abused the science, causing harm to people they should be supporting. I don't plan to leave the field, but have left 3 companies here in 2 years because of their practices (one as a director and another I only made it through their onboarding process). I do believe that the vast majority of people in our field are doing amazing things, but there has to be a way to put an end to companies prioritizing profit and numbers over staff, client and family support.

[@jocegodfrey6283]

I adressed my concerns, was black balled, fired, and filed a claim with the dept of human rights! They are in the second part of the investigation process. But I am still with out a job since there is only one clinic within 2.5 hours of my home. BUT this helps me, I don't feel like I am the only one!

[@TinaMarieJ]

Good for u for speaking up! I spoke up as well in a meeting and am planning on quitting before the new school year begins

[@bebelynne117]

I spoke up recently after finding an article written by someone with autism who experienced aba therapy and it opened my eyes about the controlling aspect of it. I told my boss, changed the way I do aba and now they're trying to get rid of me.

[@bebelynne117]

I spoke up recently after finding an article written by Carol Millman who experienced aba therapy and it opened my eyes about the controlling aspect of aba and how aba goes against everything b.f. skinner believed in. I showed/told my boss, changed the way I do aba and now they're trying to get rid of me bc I based my research off of this one article. I understand there has to be some measure of control (safety becomes a concern with some if not most cases), like with any science, but not so much control that the client is miserable and stagnant. the whole point of paring with a child is to be a fun, positive reinforcer, not a control freak who only cares about the data and well, how that data is portrayed to the clients' insurance so they can continue to bill them.

[@TheDailyBA]

Control from a Skinnerian perspective isn't "bad" - it's just finding the source of influence in the environment, acknowledging it, and then leveraging what we know to live a better life. I think you maybe conflating control with the colloquial use, which it isn't the same?

[@gradetrend8138]

It all circles back to the Billing!

[@teficalledlittlebird]

Something very very similar happened to me. But I am not a BCBA yet. I am a technician. Still, this can happen to BCBAs , BTs, and so on.

[@semperdecorus37]

Thank you for sharing this video. This is a huge concern. I have witnessed so much and left.

[@TheDailyBA]

It’s seriously encountered way more frequently than we suggest or talk about! ❤️❤️❤️

[@joannem6027]

So true!

[@Erin.Grubbs]

Wow. This is my story and I will be able to speak this way now that I am no longer affiliated. Thank you.

[@TheDailyBA]

❤️❤️❤️

[@violetsunset.]

This gives me more confidence to speak up!

[@TheDailyBA]

It's so important, and so hard. It's kinda nuts that the board relies on this as the main way of combatting unethical employers too...

[@andreadudding8180]

such a similar experience to my own... this was a breath of fresh air. good advice for anyone new to a BCBA role or anyone who is acting as a BCBA supervisee.

[@TheDailyBA]

Sorry to hear, but also hoping you grew from it? It can be sooo hard to find a great place.

[@terencec.7101]

"I think I would be more vocal, but I would be appropriately vocal" is such a great take away from her experience. Often, people tend to go towards both extremes.

[@TheDailyBA]

Totally agree Terence!!

[@kelthrives9109]

Starting soon as RBT in organization. I have a child on the Spectrum and so I have the side bit of understanding what it's like to be a parent to a kiddo on spectrum. I'm hoping my first experience is one that is good, and not a bad experience.

[@TheDailyBA]

best wishes! You're your own best advocate, remember that, and always keep learning and asking questions! :)

[@Jade.123]

People without education overseeing us..and then them taking the money for the kids..man I hate it

[@kiporen]

This is not an uncommon sentiment. Thank you for sharing it. The field of behavior analysis has serious ethical concerns, and when this consumer raised these issues with the BACB, the BACB swept it all under the rug while continuing to represent falsely to the world that a problem BCBA with a history of fraud and abuse claims was not a danger to consumers.

[@TheDailyBA]

So sorry to hear. Wanted to say I continue to emails and DMs about stories of mistreatment and unethical behavior - seems our systems need some work...

[@pinkqueenscookie]

How does it have more concerns than any other field though? Historically children with special needs have been mistreated. I teach in a self contained ABA classroom and I switched schools because I had a paraprofessional push a child down the stairs and pinch non compliant children. I brought this up to admin and an investigation was done. Unfortunately these children were non verbal. They did not fire her and I just straight up told parents please leave this school. Some didn’t listen. There are many cases like this, it’s so sad that we accept people into this field just because there’s a huge shortage of people wanting to work with children who have disabilities

[@JSimm-wv3gg]

Something everyone can learn from, the failure series is a great theme ... great share, thank you.

[@TheDailyBA]

Thanks for the continued Support Jason and CBA! :)

[@BELLA-lt2ws]

I feel like when she left she gave up and honestly those kids needed her voice. She should have went to the board because it sounds like an unethical practice she worked at and they may have hurt alot of kids more then helped