While not every resource here will contain explicit triggering content, much of the resources in this masterpost mention or deal with generally triggering material. Content warnings for institutionalized ableism, medical abuse, restraint, child abuse, torture, anti-autistic ableism, “quiet hands”, emotional and psychological abuse, manipulation, infantilization, nonconsensual “therapy”, compliance training, and violence against disabled children and adults.

Resources for therapists/professionals:



If you want me to believe you’re a good behaviourist

http://realsocialskills.org/post/99822366632/if-you-want-me-to-believe-youre-a-good

ABA and Autism – the thorny problem of control and consent (this is very good and very thorough, a must read)

http://smallbutkindamighty.com/2015/06/16/aba-and-autism-the-thorny-problem-of-control-and-consent/

Appearing to enjoy behaviour modification is not meaningful

http://realsocialskills.org/post/124333076514/appearing-to-enjoy-behavior-modificiation-is-not

ABA therapy is not like typical parenting (this one is relevant to “life skills” acquisition)

http://realsocialskills.org/post/120453082402/aba-therapy-is-not-like-typical-parenting

Resources other than ABA

http://realsocialskills.org/post/126754414929/resources-other-than-aba

How to Tell if an Autism ABA Therapy Is Harmful

http://www.wikihow.com/Tell-if-an-Autism-ABA-Therapy-Is-Harmful

THE MISBEHAVIOUR OF BEHAVIOURISTS: Ethical Challenges to the Autism-ABA Industry

http://www.sentex.net/~nexus23/naa_aba.html

“After you hit a child, you can’t just get up and leave him; you are hooked to that kid" O. Ivar Lovaas Interview With Paul Chance, Psychology Today, 1974

http://neurodiversity.com/library_chance_1974.html

A note to what feels like every ABA therapist ever

http://neurowonderful.tumblr.com/post/112730019116/a-note-to-what-feels-like-every-aba-therapist



Writings on ABA by a/Autistic people:

My Thoughts on ABA

http://autismwomensnetwork.org/my-thoughts-on-aba/

A Challenge to Autism Professionals

http://idoinautismland.blogspot.ca/2014/02/a-challenge-to-autism-professionals.html

No You Don’t

http://unstrangemind.wordpress.com/2013/01/27/no-you-dont/

Breaking Down ABA

https://restlesshands42.wordpress.com/2014/11/22/breaking-down-aba-again-part-2-goals-and-underlying-philosophy/

ABA teaches kids how NOT to communicate

http://stimmyabby.tumblr.com/post/93506124680/aba-teaches-kids-how-not-to-communicate

I wish behaviourists understood

http://madeofpatterns.tumblr.com/post/117254400612/i-wish-behaviorists-understood

Why I oppose ABA as a method of instruction

http://realsocialskills.org/post/110819268573/why-i-oppose-aba-as-a-method-of-instruction



ABA 101

http://neurowonderful.tumblr.com/post/114506589521/hello-just-wanting-a-quick-for-dummies-answer

Writings on the connection between ABA and trauma/PTSD:

An open letter to families considering intensive behaviour therapy for their child with autism

http://www.astraeasweb.net/politics/aba.html (part one)

http://www.astraeasweb.net/politics/aba2.html (part two)

Trauma & Autism

http://emmashopebook.com/2013/06/25/trauma-autism/

The truth about ABA

http://autismmythbusters.com/parents/therapy/the-truth-about-aba/

Writings on ABA by professionals/therapists/ex-ABA therapists:

What ABA is like: The point of view of a former therapist

http://karalianne.tumblr.com/post/90413871001/what-aba-is-like-the-point-of-view-of-a-former

“I’m sorry, but that’s not earning your token…”

http://ink-and-daggers.tumblr.com/post/112076858794/im-sorry-but-thats-not-earning-your-token﻿

Dr. Mona Delahooke’s entire ABA tag:

http://www.thevisibleparent.com/tag/aba/

Why I Left ABA

https://sociallyanxiousadvocate.wordpress.com/2015/05/22/why-i-left-aba/

Writings from the parents of a/Autistic children:

Would You Accept This Behavior Towards a Non-Autistic Child?

http://www.speakforyourself.org/2014/02/22/accept-behavior-towards-non-autistic-child/

Tackling That Troublesome Issue of ABA and Ethics

http://emmashopebook.com/2012/10/10/tackling-that-troublesome-issue-of-aba-and-ethics/

More On ABA

http://emmashopebook.com/2013/11/05/more-on-aba/

The cost of compliance in unreasonable

http://loveexplosions.net/2013/01/30/the-cost-of-compliance-is-unreasonable/

The Influence of Others

http://emmashopebook.com/2013/04/10/the-influence-of-others/

Changing the child vs. helping the child

http://lifehiswayblog.wordpress.com/2013/04/12/changing-the-child-vs-helping-the-child/