Open Society

Here are the best and most ethical alternatives to ABA therapy for kids diagnosed with autism.

Assimilation is a dangerous and cruel goal for Autistic People (especially considering how many of us will never blend in no matter how hard we try).

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is commonly used to support individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental…

In short there are no alternatives to ABA because there is no need for an alternative. there is no therapy for being Autistic...

Alternatives to ABA: If not ABA... then WHAT? CONTENT WARNING: This piece discusses ABA and other Conversion Therapies. Reader discretion is… | 16 comments on LinkedIn

In today's society, because we are a small minority, Autistic People are often expected to fit into a world that doesn't take our needs into consideration.

I saw firsthand the other element that ABA targets (education) in November of 2021 when I got involved with a group trying to slow the increase of ABA legislation in funding in Texas.

Providers claim that Autistic kids who don’t have ABA won't able to enter mainstream schools and may never be autonomous without ABA.

Alternatives to ABA therapy, as well as PTMB, PBIS, and all of its cousins

Here are lessons, books, and films for teaching the truth about Columbus and Indigenous Peoples’ history. Lessons Standing with Standing Rock: A Role Play

Request PDF | Enhancing flow states in neurodivergent individuals through cognitive network integration | This article explores the concept of "flow" in the context of neurodivergence, focusing on the interaction between the default mode network (DMN)... | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate

In order to understand the Body without Organs, it is necessary to have a basic understanding of a few other Deleuzian concepts. Firstly…

Social and economic integration are not experienced equally by all. For autistic people in particular, there are barriers that actively…

Trusting my instincts and facing my fear of time revealed what every autistic person needs to know.

Background: Literature indicates that mental health of autistic individuals is substantially poorer than that of the general population. Mental illnesses, such as depression and anxiety, which contribute to high suicide rates, feature prominently in research. Few studies, however, have considered the lived experience of mental health across the lifespan, which includes the experience of positive mental health. This research investigated the lived experience of mental health of autistic adults. Method: We used reflexive thematic analysis, underpinned by a coproduction framework, to explore mental health experiences. Through coproduction with a steering group of autistic adults to inform the questions, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 Australian autistic adults, diagnosed in adolescence or adulthood. Results: The thematic analysis identified four main themes, including discovering autistic identity, body and mind, connections to family and community, and choice and control. Participants reported highly heterogenous life experiences, with intense experiences of mental health, both positive and negative. All participants experienced mental health challenges, and most had experienced a diagnosed mental illness. Protective factors that mitigated against mental illness included supportive environments, relationships, and positive societal attitudes. Conclusion: While some of the themes are universal, some of the subthemes, such as the significance of sensory input and adaptive morphing to hide autistic traits, do not feature in non-autistic mental health literature. These factors, which frequently interrelate, may be overlooked by mental health care providers. The findings of this research emphasize that in order to support positive mental health outcomes, there is a strong need for therapies and disability supports to be targeted and tailor-made to the individual.

In this article, I critique media narratives about ‘ADHD superpowers’ that have become particularly prominent in recent times as awareness-raising activities have gained traction in social as well ...

Many teachers believe that analyzing student assessment data can improve performance, but the research suggests otherwise, writes Heather C. Hill.

The search engine that kept up at the speed of blogging created a “search war” with Google. But eventually, the speed of blogging just wasn’t fast enough.

Posts about enshittification written by Karl Bode and Mike Masnick

These days, everyone hates big tech, and that’s often for very good reasons. You shouldn’t trust giant centralized companies that have collected a ridiculous amount of data on you. There are few re…

'I no longer try to mask my autism; I now work to support my autism'It is a myth that autistic children grow into 'less autistic' adults. In fact, many autistic adults feel more overwhelmed as they age as the stresses of social demands such as relationships, parenting, or the work environment increase.Niamh Garvey offe

This massive sensory processing disorder checklist breaks down sensory behaviors as over-reactions or under-reactions to sensory input.

The following list includes a sampling of assorted occupational therapy sensory-related assessment tools and checklists appropriate for use with adolescent and adult populations. Please note that therapeutic assessments, informational handouts, and worksheets sometimes need to be adapted for an individual’s cognitive ability, otherwise frustration and/or misinterpretation may occur. The following are several examples of some of the different types of sensory-related tools available for use with adolescents and adults: Catana Brown, PhD, OTR, FAOTA and Winnie Dunn, PhD, OTR, FAOTA developed the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile. This valuable standardized assessment tool is most appropriate for use with individuals functioning within the Allen Cognitive Level 5 ranges. It is available through Pearson. The Sensory Integration Inventory – Revised, for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities is a screening tool developed by Judith E. Reisman, PhD, OTR, FAOTA and Bonnie Hanschu, OTR. This Inventory is categorized into four areas: tactile, vestibular, proprioception, and general reactions. This […]

I hate that the "social media is bad for teens" myth will not die. In this little rant, I tackle one part of this puzzle: the obsession with "harms" (thanks lawyers) and the implications of not thinking through how to respond coherently to risks.

The Greek word “apokalypsis” (ἀποκάλυψις), which we tend to translate “apocalypse,” literally means an unveiling or a revealing—hence why we call the last book of the New Testament “Revelation” in English.

"I harbored guilt over not being happy about growing up in the end times."

A high school social studies teacher describes a classroom simulation where students experience the effects of decades of racist federal housing policies.

First graders learn about accessibility and empathy through constructing emergency signals.