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So. The top book for Applied Behaviour Analysis teams. 2020 version. Highly respected by that industry. Huge. Expensive.
Want to see what's in it?
Here's the book.
Want to see what's in it?
Here's the book.
Here's the index showing how important it was to talk about what autism is. Wait, there's no entry for autism at all. Nearly 900 pages. It mentions autism quite a bit in the text, but not a word about what it is, or how behaviourist techniques might or might not adapt to that.
We know that perhaps 6 out of 10 autistic people will show diagnosable levels of trauma from life events (recent research). So, what does it say about trauma and how to adapt behaviourism for that?
Oh. No entry for trauma. Nothing in the text either. That's, er, strange, eh/
Oh. No entry for trauma. Nothing in the text either. That's, er, strange, eh/
You know behaviourists pop up regularly to say "We don't stop autistic people being autistic!"
Here's the entry for how to stop an autistic child stimming (vital repetitive movement to help calm and balance us, etc). Description, "nonfunctional behaviors".
2020. New book.
Mmm
Here's the entry for how to stop an autistic child stimming (vital repetitive movement to help calm and balance us, etc). Description, "nonfunctional behaviors".
2020. New book.
Mmm
Nearly 900 pages of how to make a child do whatever you want, though.
Is making a child do whatever you want actually a suitable aim in the 21st Century?
I don't think so. That's not a definition of teaching, or learning.
Is making a child do whatever you want actually a suitable aim in the 21st Century?
I don't think so. That's not a definition of teaching, or learning.
So, friends. If you are 'emitting' a 'nonfunctional behaviour' right now, what would you like to say to the ABA industry about their book?
And if you are a Commissioner or Politician who has been sold this as the 'answer' to autism, I'm fairly sure you can think of your own word.
I shall be giving us another thrilling journey through Surprising Things Not In This Book, later today.
