ABA vs. Attachment Parenting? - Page 3

[kchoffmann]

I'm not touching the ABA conversation, but just wanted to throw in since it was mentioned as a criticism of ABA -

RDI (which I like a lot) is built on an apprentice system, where you as the caregiver work to get the child with ASC to become an apprentice to you. While it includes following the child's interests, it is explicitly structured so that the caregiver directs the activity and the child has to follow. The belief is that the child missed this part of his/her development - s/he didn't learn to reference his/her caregivers, and RDI, seeing this as a foundational skill, attempts to build referencing back into the child's development. So, it's not only ABA that's therapist-directed.

[fluttermama]

So, it's not only ABA that's therapist-directed.

That seems to me to work more with a child's natural inclination for imitation through relationship from what you described. It seems to me that most therapies and therapists out there are steeped in behavioralist thought no matter what they call themselves...sort of sad IMO and why we don't have a psych.

[BellinghamCrunchie]

Originally Posted by WuWei

This sounds like you have found an amazingly responsive resource. I believe that each individual makes a difference. I haven't found ABA to be as you describe, philosophically, however.

Here is a web site about "Getting the Truth Out" regarding autism and "therapy": http://www.gettingthetruthout.org/
Read through the first part of the photo captions when the photos are described, and then read the individual's perspective of their experience.

It is a matter of who is in charge and who decides what is "best" for another person.

Pat

Pat, I passionately agree with you about 95% of the time, but in this case, you are dragging in the anti-curebie philosophy and pitting it against ABA - both philosophies are highly charged and will definitely elicit strong opinions on this board. And its not a fair argument to pit these two against each other here, in this thread, because the discussion isn't about whether people with autism should be "cured" but whether ABA is a respectful, AP choice. If you want to argue against the curebies then you have to argue against all kinds of therapies, not just ABA, including RDI and floortime, AND including the options method (Son-Rise)

[WuWei]

Bellingham, I am not advocating *against* anything, I am advocating for understanding and honoring the child's perspective and experience, regardless of "therapy". There are many therapies which are agreeable to an individual.

Pat

[BellinghamCrunchie]

Originally Posted by WuWei

Bellingham, I am not advocating *against* anything, I am advocating for understanding and honoring the child's perspective and experience, regardless of "therapy". There are many therapies which are agreeable to an individual.

Pat

ABA can be perfectly agreeable to a person. People choose it for themselves all the time. I'm not sure I understand? If ABA isn't agreeable to the child, it shouldn't be used.

[therdogg]

Originally Posted by mimtessa

I agree that therapy and therapist should be fun and reinforcing in and of themselves, but what are you saying is reprehensible?

Giving children attention, positive or negative, contingent on bratty behavior. I have seen this pattern many times with "gentle discipline" types; ie, the kid gets TONS of extra attention, hugs, discussion about his feelings, etc when he throws something across the room/ bites his brother/ starts screaming. I can hardly imagine a better way to create an ill-mannered child.

[Pyrodjm]

Slightly off topic...
I was just wondering if anyone could post a link to a study of the effectiveness of Floortime or RDI in children with autism. I have been to workshops and trainings on both and never recieved and info on this. I know both types of therapy are more recent than ABA, so anything you have would be fine.I would be a could tool to use with parents who are seeking out other types of therapies, or who want more than one type.

[feebeeglee]

Here's some on Floortime/DIR:
http://www.floortime.org/news.php?id=6

There's a HUGE study going on right now, in fact.

[WuWei]

Originally Posted by therdogg

I must say, though, that much of "attachment parenting" esp regarding discipline, involves giving lots of attention contingent on poor behavior (whining, crying, etc) and that, I think, is reprehensible.

Perhaps, with AP/GD, you are assuming that attention isn't provided except with "poor behavior". I would assert that we provide engaged attention for meeting needs, unconditionally.

Pat