To ABA, or not to ABA . . .

Fourteen years ago yesterday was TJ’s first day of ABA, a/k/a “playing the work,” as he described it. We saw almost immediate progress on some of the worst behaviors, most born of frustration at not being able to make his needs known. He made slower, but steady, progress in overall communication and as he did, we saw his confidence grow. One thing fed off another and within a couple of years, he was (relatively) ready to start kindergarten.

Back then, we’d never heard of “BCBA’s” or “RBT’s”—instead, ABA therapy was a hit-or-miss almost “shadow” therapy provided by well-meaning adults who just learned as they went along. This was before states mandated insurance coverage for ABA and most plans didn’t cover it, so fewer people could afford it, so there were fewer options. And it was crazy-expensive!

Now ABA is as available as more traditional therapies like OT and SLT. But criticism of ABA has grown almost as fast as its availability.

Help an older mama out—what do you think about ABA? Has your child benefitted from it? Please share your experiences, good or bad.