Addressing the Concern: “Is ABA just ‘dog-training’ to strip away autistic identity?”

Summary: We address common worries of parents and caregivers regarding Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). People feel like ABA is all about training someone to be “not autistic”. We explain how Shining Steps ABA’s practice avoids this and supports identity-affirming growth.

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What’s behind the concern?

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Parents and caregivers of autistic children may worry when they hear people comparing ABA therapy to dog training. Some feel that it forces the child to pretend they’re neurotypical, causing them to mask feelings and behaviors. Unfortunately, these concerns stem from legitimate experiences, and many sources out there bashing ABA therapy because of it.

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Some valid concerns include:

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• ABA can feel like an effort to shape the outward behavior of the child, not taking their thoughts and feelings into consideration. This can have a negative effect, as they can feel unheard.
• When a child learns to suppress their natural characteristics, it can lead long term mental health risks.
• Those who advocate for neurodiversity point out that when therapy aims to make an autistic child “indistinguishable from their peers,” it may undermine the child’s sense of self.

These are deeply valid concerns. So, how does Shining Steps ABA respond?

How Shining Steps-ABA addresses these concerns

1. Therapy which supports identity

At Shining Steps, we recognize the individual person and embrace their uniqueness. We never try to change them into something they’re not. We encourage them to communicate their needs and listen to their interests. We help them develop the tools to:

• express their needs
• engage with peers and family in meaningful ways
• navigate choices in daily life

Conducting ABA therapy in this way, empowers the child to be who they are and how they can live their best life.

2. Focus on meaningful change

The more old-school-style ABA therapy was more rigid. It would focus more on punishment in order to correct behavior. The purpose was simply to make autistic people mask their behavior so they fit better into society.

At Shining Steps:

• We collaborate with the family and set goals together, coming up with ideas that will work for your child specifically.
• We avoid superficial goals like “make eye contact for exactly 5 seconds”.
• We are constantly monitoring your child’s emotion wellbeing, whether the problematic behavior changed or not.

3. Active family/caregiver partnership

It is of utmost importance to involve the family in helping your child grow. They must work side by side in order to ensure that your child feels heard and understood. When a child feels comfortable to act himself in all environments he’s in, the therapy can be more effective. Therefore, at Shining Steps:

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• We train caregivers alongside sessions, so everyone stays on the same page.
• We emphasize consistent communication between therapists and parents. We set the goals together, to determine what is truly best for each child.

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4. Naturalistic approach

At Shining Steps ABA, our therapy is stuctured in a way that can trasnfer to real-life situations. We don’t use theoretical situations, since that makes it way harder for your child to understand and relate. We also offer in-home services, bringing support directly to where your child feels comfortable. Bringing the therapy to environments where the child feels the most natural, is the key to assisting them in living life for real and not just following a bunch of protocols.

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5. Ongoing reflection on identity and emotional safety

Because research shows that forcing neurotypical behavior in autistic children can result in poor mental health outcomes, at Shining Steps we are sure to:

• Have our therapists constantly checking that their methods stick to the long-term goals of your child. We work on problematic behaviors in a way that will help the child with the life skills they need, as opposed to just making them stop so the people around them are more comfortable.
• Monitor whether the child is showing signs of stress. When it gets too much or we feel the child is just “acting the role”, we know it is time to slow down.
• We never encourage children to suppress emotions. Growth comes from deep within, and we work with the child’s emotions to bring it out.

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What this means for you as a parent

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• Ask questions - Don’t be shy to ask the therapist about what the goals are for your child. Again, it is extremely important for you to be involved to maximize your child’s growth.
• Ensure your child’s preferences are taken into consideration - Don’t let anyone ignore the way your child feels. Have them surrounded by people who value their interests and preferences, letting them have a say in what they learn.
• Watch for signs of masking - If you feel like your child is hiding behaviors from you, it is a sign for you to work on being more accepting of your child’s differences. You can then embrace them for who they are and help them become successful human beings.
• Watch for signs of stress - if your child seems exhausted or is getting triggered a lot, these are signs that it’s too much. It would be a good idea to raise that with the team so we can reassess the goals.
• Clarify what therapy is not - therapy is not about erasing your child’s identity so they can fit better into society. The truth is that they are unique (and so is everyone unique!), and therefore they should never be punished for behaviors that may appear “not normal”.
• Stay involved - Home routines and caregiver training are crucial to help the therapy be the most effective.

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In summary

There is definitely a very real worry that ABA may feel like dog-training. But at Shining Steps ABA, we strive to do things differently. We tailor therapy to the individual and focus on meaningful life skills.

If you ever feel unsure, trust your instincts. Talk openly with your BCBA or therapist. Your child’s uniqueness is not something to be erased! It's the foundation from which we build your child’s ability to be independent and enjoy their life to its fullest.

FAQ

Q 1: Does ABA force my child to behave “normal” or hide their autism?
A: Not necessarily. At Shining Steps, therapy goals focus on functional skills. For example, communication, choice, and self-care, since those are skills one needs to live a functional life. We are not trying to force “normalcy”, while stuffing away they’re identity.

Q 2: What about the risk of masking and trauma?
A: We monitor the emotional wellbeing of the child, alongside behavior change. This way, we can keep a close eye on how they are reacting to the therapy, and adjust if it begins feeling like suppression. We can avoid the risks of masking and trauma by staying intuitive the the signs the child is giving us.

Q 3: Will my child be treated like a “project”?
A: Not at all. The foundational value at Shining Steps is partnership. Your child’s voice informs the therapy and since each child is different, so is the therapy they will receive.

Q 4: How do I know the goals are respectful of my child’s identity?
A: Review the Individualized Treatment Plan (ITP) and determine if it accounts for your child’s natural characteristics and abilities. We encourage you to ask questions and work with the therapist to ensure personalized treatment for each child.

Q 5: What should I look for if therapy starts feeling wrong?
A: If your child appears anxious, fatigued, or starts hiding certain behaviors, it’s a red flag. Immediately discuss it with the BCBA. Therapy must support self-expression, not just outward conformity.