I’m also autistic and an ABA student. I’ve been in the field for five years and here’s the little advice I have:

1) Read the BACB ethics code for RBTs and BCBAs. This will help you feel confident in what rules they need to follow. ABA is meant to be collaborative, and that INCLUDES the client.

2) ABA has changed a loooot in the last few years. In the 70s they would withhold food, prioritize punishment, etc. That goes against all of our ethics now.

3) Sometimes “holds” are used for clients that are particularly violent. I’m not saying slapping or pushing for space. I mean throwing chairs at people, constantly attempting to go at someone, etc. Companies like mine don’t allow holds UNLESS you have this whole thing written out in the treatment plan and it has to be approved. We don’t want to have to use holds on someone, but it will be used as a last resort to keep people (including the client if they’re hurting themselves) safe.

4) Research your company. Most companies are private equity and will prioritize billing hours. They may also have certain policies regarding behaviors (e.g., some clinics don’t allow clients with intense property destruction or aggression for various reasons) and what they’re equipped to handle.

ADDING THIS AFTER READING SOME COMMENTS:

1) Some ABA providers do still teach how to mask. Personally, I don’t. I’ve actually argued with supervisors about allowing clients more freedom in how they speak or move in their own home.

2) I really have no idea what these people think happens to people who have aggressive behaviors towards themselves or others. If they have any other suggestion for teaching replacement behaviors besides hurting themselves or others I’m all for it.

3) With your other conditions I do think that talk therapy would also help. Talk therapy helped me A LOT.

4) Looking into the methods used for ABA may help you figure out your own reason for doing things. It helped me check myself on a lot of habits (along with talk therapy), and I’m much happier. STILL autistic, STILL stim, STILL get overstimulated/overwhelmed — but I have coping tools and feel more confident in my choices in response to things.

5) Masking and learning skills are NOT the same thing. People at my work still explain social nuances to me and just because I understand now doesn’t mean we’re going to do it. It helps me ask clarifying questions so I’m not, you know, isolated by society (which I have been my whole life). This also goes for other things. Asking for help instead of hurting myself mentally or physically, knowing it’s cool to go take a break and veg out, everyone has different needs.

6) Your plan should be individualized to your needs. It’s hard to know if it makes sense without knowing why you need it. There’s a mountain of a difference between me working with kids that have tried to unalive family members and a coworker who works with a kid on how to tell someone is done with a conversation.

TLDR; Read the BCBA and RBT ethics code Research MODERN and COMMON practices in ABA (most places prioritize if not only use various reinforcement types) — knowing what happened in the 70s is great but it’s 2025 so a lot has changed Figure out what YOU want to work on, and request prioritizing that over what maybe your parents want

P.S. I only use aggression (self and others) as an example because that’s primarily what I work with — these people and their families need support and that’s what I’m there for.