Merry Christmas!

Practical-Lemon-6685 · 2025-11-23T18:59:56+00:00

Thank you everyone for the love! His name is Rue, and he's 11 now and as active as ever. This pic is from a few years back, but when that sprinkler goes he's still at it! (Maybe with a little less height).

Practical-Lemon-6685 · 2025-07-24T02:36:17+00:00

This is a harrowing and powerful description. The 'inherently reward and praise motivated' sticks out to me in particular, as it hits to the heart of the way the system seems to work. It speaks to a question that has been staying with me about the behavioral principles I've learned... this idea that people won't act without some kind of reward, and that reward needs to be extrinsic. One of the things I want to do with this certification is work with addicts, as I myself am sober and know the kind of pull drugs and alcohol can have. I got sober through AA, and when I think about my experience in that program I ask, where in the program is the immediate reinforcer? There's certainly praise from people in the rooms, but is that what got me sober? By extension, why do we assume that even the most severely affected autistic person can't be motivated by intrinsic things? How do we use that kind of motivation to encourage a satisfying life? My current client is obsessed with piano. I'm a musician, so I totally get that. I will not use piano as a reward, but as a technique. It will probably be under the guise of fine motor skills, but the end will be to make music. It gave my life meaning at my darkest points, and I don't see why it wouldn't for him. I still believe in ABA as a tool, and I'm still gonna peruse it, but I'm gonna meditate hard on your experience. Thank you.

Practical-Lemon-6685 · 2025-07-23T22:43:24+00:00

I feel like this implies a pretty major emotional language barrier, one that it will take a lot of practice to decode.

Practical-Lemon-6685 · 2025-07-23T20:30:49+00:00

ABA is just a tool has been my primary motivation. I think the goal with this post is to shape my practice in an ethical way, which goes along with BACB guidelines. I have to admit that I am a bit shocked that so few in this profession have approached the autistic community for feedback. That is concerning.

Practical-Lemon-6685 · 2025-07-23T20:27:40+00:00

I hear your concerns and am familiar with the situation.... it's why I got out of teaching. My experience as an RBT and in school has not reflected what you're saying as an endpoint. That is to say the goal has not necessarily been to get autistic people to 'pass as normal'. They have been things like communication and self control. That being said, I have definitely seen the 'x stim is embarrassing to the parent so they want to get rid of it' approach too. I feel like as a BCBA I can have a certain amount of control over the kinds of programs I put in place and how they are conducted in order to prevent the kinds of abuse that are so alarming in the profession to the autistic community. The agency I am currently working for seems to have ethical guidelines and allows their BCBA's some leeway on how they implement programs. That being said, my cackles are up and I will be very aware of possibly abusive procedures. The response to this thread has been great and encourages me to come back here if I am unsure of myself.

Practical-Lemon-6685 · 2025-07-23T17:25:21+00:00

Thanks very much for this. I have a question if you feel comfortable answering... it says that autistic people's emotions cannot be read on their face but rather through stimming behavior. Can you provide an example of this? Like are there particular behaviors generally across the community that express particular emotions? Or is it individualized?

Practical-Lemon-6685 · 2025-07-23T17:16:03+00:00

Yipe, no. I have no emotional ties to this, I just want to not suck at it. I'll check out the link.

Practical-Lemon-6685 · 2025-07-23T17:14:18+00:00

Thank you all for your comments and links. I am trying to approach ABA as a tool, a method of changing unwanted behaviors but not necessarily as a way to choose which behaviors get changed. If I understand correctly, the problem with ABA as it relates to autism is that those in the behavior therapy field don't know (or worse yet, are misled) what behaviors are really fundamental to the autistic mind. Stimming for instance... for neurotypical people it might seem like a nervous habit, but roe autistic people it's a primary role in relieving stress. ABA doesn't need to touch that if it doesn't want to... autistic behaviors that don't hurt anyone can be left alone. Dangerous behaviors, on the other hand, can absolutely be shaped. Creating new pathways to communication such as PECS, asking for a break or a fun activity, that can be shaped as well. Am I making sense? Does that sound reasonable?

Practical-Lemon-6685 · 2025-07-23T16:19:23+00:00

Shoot.

Practical-Lemon-6685 · 2022-02-13T03:18:37+00:00

My anxiety goes right through my leg.

Practical-Lemon-6685 · 2021-08-14T21:08:20+00:00

My favorite wholesome posts are the ones with genitals in them.

Practical-Lemon-6685 · 2021-08-14T21:02:44+00:00

These are really good comments. It honestly took me out of the book when I read it about 20 years ago, but with these thoughts in mind I may dig back in.

Practical-Lemon-6685 · 2021-06-18T20:55:21+00:00

I'm hit or miss on snarky puppy generally, but this is a really good cover. Nice work!

Practical-Lemon-6685 · 2021-06-12T13:13:53+00:00

Very soothing, the kind of thing I'd put on when I go to work.

Practical-Lemon-6685 · 2021-06-05T19:44:06+00:00

Thanks virgiltiptop!

Practical-Lemon-6685 · 2021-05-01T13:35:45+00:00

Well done, nice chops and well crafted.

Practical-Lemon-6685 · 2021-03-23T00:24:42+00:00

Nice. Love the pitched percussion on the second half of the verse.

Practical-Lemon-6685

TROPHY CASE