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13/06/2024

Our topic the past two weeks has not been an easy one to discuss. However, we believe it is necessary in order to bring awareness to what appears to be a pervasive pattern of inappropriate behavior happening in the field. Even more distressing is the fact that despite reporting these incidents, little has been done about it by credentialing boards or associations.

So, what CAN be done? How do we move forward to ensure everyone feels safe in professional and academic settings?

We have put together a resource list for dissemination to help you before, during, and after situations where you may feel unsafe. While this does not address the systemic issues at play, we hope it can help ensure safety on the individual level.

30/05/2024

TW: Predatory Behavior, SA

The ick started to creep in toward the end of our first night at the conference. We were having an incredible time meeting our in person at a bar downtown. The energy was incredible. The people were genuine. The conversations were *chef’s kiss* . Many of us were saying our goodbyes for the evening and heading back to our hotels.

Then a group of three men from a prominent ABA company walked into the bar. There was a noticeable shift in the air. Suddenly, drinks were being offered to others at an alarming rate. We were getting requests for photos to be taken and then having lewd comments and gestures made. One of them was offering to pick up a large bar tab. We were being asked questions like, “So, what do you do anyway? What state do you live in?”. It felt…well…predatory.

For more seasoned BCBAs like us, we are all too familiar with this part of the night.

is a survivor-led social movement against sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and r**e culture. Originated by survivor and activist Tarana Burke, the Movement increased in awareness following the egregious sexual abuse allegations against a POS film producer in 2017. The virality of the hashtag increased awareness of the actions that some experience daily.

Starting in 2018, Daudin and Stanley created the hashtag to begin the conversation around sexual harassment at professional events. Unfortunately, sexual harassment and other abuses of power are rampant at professional conferences and conventions.

According to the Survey of Meeting Experiences (SOME, 2017), 60 % of respondents reported being harassed at a professional meeting/convention.
Harassment refers to undesired, unwelcome attention that is invasive, frightening, insulting, and/or disrespectful.

Womxn and other marginalized groups are more likely to experience harassment, particularly in public spaces like professional conferences.

Most harassers are “open secrets” to others in their field.

The burden of correcting harassment falls on the professional associations that hold events.

Continued in comments.

28/05/2024

Cognitive dissonance refers to one’s behaviors not aligning with their values. Feelings of shame, guilt, stress, anger and anxiety are a common part of cognitive dissonance. Common examples may include eating animal products being an avid animal rights advocate continuing to drink coffee and diet coke all day knowing that you are dehydrated (This is Erica providing personal examples).

In many ways, attending Applied Behavior Analysis – International (ABA-I) was a recipe for cognitive dissonance from the start. For those who are not aware, in the past few years, there has been heated, public, and divisive dialogue and protest, largely stemming from ABA-I support of the Judge Rothberg Educational Center (JRC). The JRC infamously utilizes contingent electric shock (CES) as a punishment procedure for clients who engage in challenging behavior. Despite ABA-I voting against the practice of CES, they continue to accept sponsorship from the JRC and allow them a platform for speaking.

This week, we are diving deep into our feelings and takeaways post-conference. We will be discussing how funding and sponsorship impact the conference experience, from the perspective of access to the conference due to high cost as well as sponsoring companies that do not align with alleged organizational values. We are going to share some personal experiences about predatory behavior at these conferences and how they impact young professionals. We will be discussing accommodations at the conference and how marginalized folx may have been impacted by structural supports (or lack thereof). Finally, we will be talking about hero worship and why you may not want to meet your idols. It’s not all bad, but it is important. Stay tuned this week.

17/05/2024

Organicism uses the root analogy of a plant, which grows from seed to seedling to plant. This hypothesis focuses on growth and development. Organicists believe that the complex, integrated organic process of development explains world phenomena. Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development is an example of Organicism.

Berry, F. M. (1984). An introduction to Stephen C. Pepper’s philosophical system via World Hypotheses: A Study in Evidence. Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, 22(5), 446-448.

08/05/2024

On Wednesdays, we talk about Vygotsky 💁🏻‍♀️

Lev Vygotsky was a Russian psychologist who had a significant impact on the fields of psychology and education. Unlike Piaget, who emphasized independent play and exploration as a catalyst for development, Vygotsky was the first to really highlight the importance of social and cultural factors in a child’s development.

He is most known for coining the term “scaffolding,” referring to supports that can be provided to children to help them reach their full potential. Similarly, his Zone of Proximal Development became well-known in education as a way to help children learn and grow outside their comfort zones

01/05/2024

We would like to invite you to join us for a Critical Friend Meetup at ABA-I ✨

Are you a Critical Friend of ABA? Do you like beverages and critical conversations about the field of ABA? Do you like pins and friendship bracelets?

Critical Friends bring relevant knowledge and experience. They establish and adhere to clear vision and boundaries. They are concerned with the outcomes and effectiveness of the work. Critical friends understand the complexities of change. They advocate for the success of the work. They balance rapport and feedback. Does this sound like you? Then please join!

This event is FREE, but you are welcome to donate to help us cover the venue minimum cost. We do not want cost to be a barrier, so please register to join! Food and drinks will be available for you to purchase at the venue.

Tag your ✨critical bestie✨and write the words “critical friend”, and we will send you the registration link and event details!

05/04/2024

As we wrap up our content this week on the origins of Psychobabble and pop psychology, we wanted to end with a discussion of an article that was published this past fall in a popular health magazine.

“The Psychobabble of Everyday Life” is a poignant evaluation of the rise in psychiatric jargon currently permeating our culture. Is this a result of the increased use and breadth of social media? A reflection of our culture’s increased self-obsession? Or are we truly becoming more “woke” when identifying emotional and psychological barriers to success?

Either way, the topic invites and is a reminder to

Link to full article in comments

04/04/2024

As a psychologist and BCBA who works in a clinic-based setting, I often overhear the use of psychobabble when staff are talking about autistic individuals. What I tend to see most is individuals inappropriately applying diagnostic labels to behaviors that are actually part of the autistic presentation.

I want to be clear that Autism CAN and DOES co-occur with many other disorders, including ODD, ADHD, and OCD. However, it is not appropriate to make assumptions about a comorbid diagnosis in a casual or misleading context.

Please be sure to

03/04/2024

Hey, Critical Friends of ABA, will you be at Applied Behavior Analysis - International in Philadelphia May 25th - 27th?

We will be there with our critical friend , and we want to plan a critical friend happy hour event. If you’ll be at the conference (or even in the Philly area around that time), we would love to meet up in person! 🫖🍷🍺

Tag your conference bestie, and we’ll be collecting some data over the next few weeks about event interest and swag! 📈

Would you like to join us and some other critical friends of ABA at ABAI?

10/02/2024

The past week has brought about a lot of dialogue regarding what it means to be an ally, advocate, and critical friend in applied behavior analysis (ABA). What does it mean to be a critical friend? The term “critical friend” comes from a community learning model of professional development that is grounded in dialogue and reflection. The critical friends learning community model was developed in the 1990s at Brown University, and its principles are based in school reform, although the model applies to multiple contexts. Critical friends ask provocative questions. Critical friends provide data to be examined through a new lens. Critical friends offer critiques in a supportive manner.

BCBAs, BCaBAs, RBTs, and related service providers – how are you a critical friend of ABA?

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Going to @kentuckianapride this weekend. So I figured it was a good time for a pride post. This is my third #pride with my partner. Each time we have gone, they have looked a little different. And each time, they are feeling more like themself. I’m so happy to be married to and coparenting with them. Pansexual and proud 🌈

What exactly is a critical friend? Critical friends ask thought-provoking questions. They provide data to be examined through new lenses. They also offer supportive and meaningful critique. Critical Friends bring relevant knowledge and experience. They establish and adhere to clear vision and boundaries. They are concerned with the outcomes and effectiveness of the work. Critical friends understand the complexities of change. They advocate for the success of the work. They balance rapport and feedback. Are you a Critical Friend of ABA? Do you like beverages and critical conversations about the field of ABA? Do you like pins and friendship bracelets? If this sounds like you, please join! This event is FREE. We do not want cost to be a barrier, so please register to join us! Food and drinks will be available for you to purchase at the venue. Please register using the link in our bio!

Five years ago, I was evaluating a young woman for Autism. She was describing her medical history and mentioned that she was recently diagnosed with Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (hEDS). I was not familiar with the disorder, so I asked her to describe her symptoms. I started taking notes. Connective tissue disorder. Genetic condition. Joint hypermobility and instability. Frequent, unexplained bruising. Extreme fatigue. Chronic pain. Frequent headaches. Significant anxiety. I said (out loud), “Huh. I have all of those symptoms. I’ll have to look it up.” She explained that many children with these symptoms are classically told that they have “loose ligaments” and/or anxiety disorders. This was the case for me. At every childhood doctor’s visit, my pediatrician told me that I was hyperflexible and should join the circus. My knees first started dislocating at age 8. Since then, they have continued to dislocate multiple times per year. In my 20s, I had three surgeries to treat my chronic joint pain. After my pregnancy and delivery of my daughter, my symptoms were unbearable. At 36, I have arthritis in my knees, making it difficult to walk and move around some days. Last month, I was officially diagnosed with hEDS by a geneticist. I would have never had the condition on my radar if not for my client years ago. May is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders Awareness Month. While there is no cure for hEDS, I am now able to communicate better with my providers and find some things that provide me with relief. EDS/HSD are extremely common in the neurodivergent population. Be sure to learn a bit more about these disorders to learn how to best accommodate those affected.

After Wakefield falsely linked the MMR Vaccine and Autism, a litany of “miracle” biomedical “cures” were “prescribed” by DAN (Defeat Autism Now) Doctors. Chelation Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Bleach Therapy Stem Cell Therapy Secretin Injections Though the DAN Approach was formally discontinued in 2011, their protocols live on in MAPS (Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs). As behavioral health providers it’s necessary that we are aware of these dangerous and harmful “treatments” and remember that autism is not a disease to be cured - it’s a set of developmental differences that can impact individual needs.

Feeling a bit shocked after our series this week on the history of autism? Well, hang on to your hats - this week we are diving into some of the harmful “treatments” that have been recommended in recent decades. It’s not pretty. But it is important to learn about these histories so we can understand the missteps of the past and prevent harm in the future. Follow for more and drop your suggestions for historical deep dives ⬇️

As we wrap up this week of unmasking the history of autism, it’s important to remember that historical reflection is an iterative and ongoing process. While we touched on some difficult and uncomfortable topics in the history of autism, remember that there are also some incredible works in the foundations. Be sure to revisit Skinner’s work and the OG call to action, Baer, Wolf, and Risley. Please let us know if you found this content helpful as a behavioral health practitioner. What did you learn? What were you previously taught? How have you reflected on our history to know better moving forward? Share below ⬇️

Y’all, this was the most fun. @danielzimm and @martinsautismlife are total pros hosting this podcast, and I had a blast getting to hear more from @theabaunicorn. Best of all, I got to talk about consent, assent, psychology, rapport, and improv. Hope you all have a chance to check out the full interview on Spotify or YouTube. Links in bio and story.

✨But I am so productive. It’s an art ✨ Any other Tortured Critical Friends 31 songs deep in an existential crisis? We were lucky enough to spend TTPD Day together meeting with new friends (@aba.madeez), planning events with other critical friends (@aba_in_the_wild), and planning for ABAI! Our book is officially off to production. Release date TBD soon!

Reflective practice allows us to look back on a practice, decision, or interaction after it happened to evaluate what we did, and how it could go better in the future. Reflexive practice happens in the moment, and allows us to actively make changes to our behavior through constant self-awareness and self-evaluation. So how can you engage in more critical reflection in your clinical practice (#criticalfriendofaba)? Here are a few questions to ask yourself: What have I learned from this interaction? How do I feel about this interaction? Why are things done this way? What can I do to improve my behavior in the interaction? How did my biases influence my behaviors in this interaction? Share your examples ⬇️

Reflective practice allows us to look back on a practice, decision, or interaction after it happened to evaluate what we did, and how it could go better in the future. Reflexive practice happens in the moment, and allows us to actively make changes to our behavior through constant self-awareness and self-evaluation. Reflexive and reflective practice are approaches to professional inquiry and training used in clinical psychology, medicine, and public health to address systemic issues in clinical decision making. The aim of these practices is to teach practitioners to become curious and critical of their own work. As behavioral health practitioners, it is essential to engage in reflexive and reflective practice in order to provide ethical, value-driven service to our autistic clients So, this April, instead of speaking FOR the autistic community, consider engaging in some reflexive/reflective practice to improve and learn to make the behavioral health landscape better.

Anyone else practice self-care Sunday? 🛁💅🏼🎨📖 #criticalfriendshipbracelets

6’2”? Dude, nice try… It was recently announced that BHCOE, one of the largest accreditation companies in ABA, rebranded as Jade Health. Wondering why? In October 2024, it was reported that Sarah Litvak, the Founder of BHCOE and CEO at the time, had published an article in a peer reviewed journal that was later found to have 18 of 36 AI generated hyperlinks. To make matters worse, the article topic was promoting Private Equity in ABA - which presented a clear financial conflict of interest for Litvak (who was on the board of a large PE firm at the time). To make matters even worse, Litvak then wrote a statement to BHCOE organizations dodging accountability and stating that these citations were added without her knowledge (despite her being listed as the sole author) 🤔 And now, guess who is a board member for Jade Health… Does this all sound too familiar?

We are in the final stages of submitting our text, Psychology Essentials for Behavior Analysts (Routledge), and we cannot WAIT to share this content. More info coming soon… Should psychology and ABA get back together?

Part 2! We are so grateful for all of our critical friends of ABA who reached out with their own take on our first video. Thank you all for speaking up about what it means to be a critical friend in the field. Keep sharing what it means to you 💕

If you know, you know. 🫖 We’re critical friends of ABA. Of course we ask hard questions, examine data through new frameworks, and offer critique to help our field grow.

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