Describe culture from a behavioral perspective.
Discuss the importance of incorporating culture as a part of a client’s/participant’s context in applied practice.
Describe cultural humility and discuss the potential benefits of adopting culturally humble approaches to applied practice.
Discuss specific skills needed to adopt culturally humble approaches and specific ways we can develop and maintain those skills.
Provide at least two supporting examples of a culturally humble approach in action based on the following statement from an anti-ABA Autistic Adult within the context of two groups of people in frequent conflict: (1) behavior analyst researchers and practitioners and (2) anti-ABA autistics and advocates.
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Culture in Behavior Analysis
Describe culture from a behavioral perspective and supports with examples or resources. Define culture from a behavior analytic perspective (cite your source). Include 1-2 examples of a culture based on the definition. Thoroughly analyze the importance of incorporating culture as a part of a client's/participant's context in applied practice and research and supports with examples. Analyze the importance of considering a client’s culture when conducting assessments or selecting interventions in applied practice. Provide 1-2 examples of how culture can be incorporated within this context.
Cultural Humility
Describe cultural humility and benefits of taking a culturally humble approach in practice while providing examples or explanations of what may happen if a humble approach is not used. Explain specific skills needed to adopt culturally humble approaches and specific ways we can develop and maintain those skills. Support with examples and research – cite your source. [One example of a source is listening to Dr. Patricia Wright on Cultural Humility for a discussion on cultural humility. The link can be found in the reference list at the end of this document.
Responding with Cultural Humility
Provide three supporting examples of a culturally humble approach in action based on the following statement from an anti-ABA Autistic Adult within the context of two groups of people in frequent conflict: (1) behavior analyst researchers and practitioners and (2) anti-ABA autistics and advocates.
As an autistic adult, I am strongly against the use of ABA therapy. ABA therapy is based on the harmful idea that autism is a deficit that needs to be fixed. It can involve coercive and aversive techniques, such as punishment, isolation, and physical restraint. These techniques can be traumatic for children and can lead to long-term psychological harm.
I believe that ABA therapy is fundamentally unethical. It teaches autistic children that they are wrong for being who they are. It also teaches them to suppress their emotions and to conform to social norms. This can lead to a number of negative consequences, including anxiety, depression, and self-hatred.
I am grateful that I did not receive ABA therapy as a child. However, I know many autistic adults who have been harmed by ABA therapy. They have shared stories of being punished for stimming, being forced to make eye contact, and being isolated from their peers. They have also spoken about the long-lasting psychological effects of ABA therapy, such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
I believe that autistic children should be supported and accepted for who they are. They deserve to learn and grow in a safe and inclusive environment. ABA therapy does not provide this kind of environment. It is a harmful practice that should be abandoned.
I urge parents and caregivers of autistic children to consider alternative approaches to supporting their children. There are many ways to support autistic children without using ABA therapy. These approaches focus on accepting and supporting autistic children for who they are, and on helping them to thrive in their own unique way.
The culturally humble responses to criticisms about ABA examples provided should be based on the specific skills needed to practice with cultural humility and steps that professionals can take to develop and maintain those skills. Hint: Explaining why one thinks anti-ABA movements misunderstand ABA is not an example of how to respond with cultural humility. [See For Whose Benefit?: Evidence, Ethics, and Effectiveness of Autism Interventions (ASAN, n.d.) for a review of the main concerns expressed about ABA by Autistic self-advocates. See podcast Beautiful Humans: The Social Change Cast, episodes 25 & 26 for a discussion about ABA Reform with a BCBA and an Autistic self-advocate. Links are included in the reference list below.] Describe some of the criticisms of ABA by Autistic self-advocates and why this is a conflict for ABA practitioners and researchers.
References
Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN, n.d.). For whose benefit? Evidence, ethics, and effectiveness of autism interventions. https://autisticadvocacy.org/policy/briefs/intervention-ethics/
Donovan, A., & Gingles, D. (Hosts). (2020-2021). Ep. 25: ABA Reform Movement with Jo Ramirez-Messina and Jeff Newman. Beautiful humans. https://anchor.fm/beautiful-humans/episodes/Ep-25-ABA-Reform-Movement-with-Jo-Ramirez-Messina-and-Jeff-Newman-Part-1-ei4en9
Donovan, A., & Gingles, D. (Hosts). (2020-2021). Ep. 26: ABA reform movement with Jo Ramirez-Messina and Jeff Newman. Beautiful humans. https://anchor.fm/beautiful-humans/episodes/Ep-26-ABA-Reform-Movement-with-Jo-Ramirez-Messina-and-Jeff-Newmanpart-2-ei4foh
Conners, B. M., & Capell, S. T. (2021). Multiculturalism and diversity in applied behavior analysis: Bridging theory and application. Routledge.
Kelly, A. (Host). (2021, April 25). Dr. Patricia Wright on cultural humility. Behaviorbabe. https://anchor.fm/behaviorbabe/episodes/Dr–Patricia-Wright-on-Cultural-Humility-egq034
