Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder (Shekarro et al., 2021) that usually surfaces early and creates lifelong difficulties in social relations and communications, and rigid and repetitive patterns of behaviors (Axelrod et al., 2012). Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) has long been considered the gold standard of treatment for those that meet the ASD criteria (McPhilemy & Dillenburger, 2013). However, a number of critiques of ABA have been raised by those claiming that ABA is ‘ableistic.’ These have included the idea that the use of ABA promotes dependence, erodes the sense of self and uniqueness by shaming participants for aspects of autism and forcing a need to be like neurotypical peers. In addition, critics claim that ABA creates emotional detachment, resentment, and a decrease in a sense of community, and increases the likelihood of mental health issues. Finally, ABA critics argue that ABA does not address helping the non-speaking individuals on the autism spectrum. In contrast, several meta-analytic reviews have debunked this notion (e.g., Wolff et al., 2022). These find strong evidence supporting the efficacy of ABA with non-speaking clients on the autism spectrum. In contrast, the ableism literature focuses primarily on case reports and qualitative analyses and does not include non-speaking individuals on the autism spectrum in their research. In response to the complaints about being ‘forced’ to be like neurotypical peers, I argue that those complaining fail to understand the connections between the impact of ABA on social behaviors and communication, and their very ability to speak out about what they do not like. It is illogical to ask children who are not fully cognitively developed to provide their input on treatment. I argue that autistic individuals are ultimately asking for social change. They are asking their neuro-typical peers to see outside of their autistic differences and be welcomed for who they are as an individual. Until that is achieved, the improvements made in ABA therapy will continue to be seen in a negative light.