Bring ABA to the Community:
Lessons from Ireland
Mickey Keenan
University of Ulster
Rotterdam, 2012
How do you help parents who have been
denied access to an effective science for
dealing with autism?
1. What science are you talking about?
2. How does it help parents?
3. In what way are parents denied
access to it?
Comments on the effectiveness of
Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) for helping
children with autism
American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities “highly recommended” (highest rating)
National Institute of Mental Health
The National Academies Press
Association for Science in Autism Treatment
Autism Speaks
Organization For Autism Research
ABA-based procedures are highly effective
Government agencies supporting the use of ABA-based procedures
Surgeon General of the United States
“Thirty years of research demonstrated the efficacy of applied
behavioral methods in reducing inappropriate behavior and in
increasing communication, learning, and appropriate
social behavior.”
New York State Department of Health
Maine Administrators of Services for Children with Disabilities
U.S. Dept. of Defense
Current Opinion in Psychiatry
“Interventions based on applied behavior analysis have the strongest empirical basis, although there is some evidence
that other therapies have promise.” (Sturmey, 2002)
Pediatrics
“The most efficacious psychosocial treatment for autism is applied behavior analysis...” (Lilienfeld, 2005)
Supreme Court of British Colombia (2000)
“…It is beyond debate that the appropriate treatment is ABA or early intensive behavioural
intervention.”
National Standards Project – 2009
(http://www.nationalautismcenter.org/)
The overwhelming majority of interventions were developed
in the behavioural literature.
Government officials
ABA in Ireland:
A parent’s perspective
Parents
Cillian’s Story
age 3 yrs 10 mths
Professionals
who were unable to
offer practical advice to
Cillian’s parents
Cillian’s Story
age 3 yrs 10 mths
Cillian’s diagnosis
Age 3
Cillian’s Story
age 11 yrs
Age 3
Age 11
Cillian’s Story
age 13 yrs
Cillian, 2005
Welcome address to an ABA conference
with a script he wrote himself!
Age 3
Age 11
Cillian’s Story
age 13 yrs
Cillian, 2005
A remarkable transformation by any standards
• Skills deficit in community to achieve what Cillian’s mum and I achieved together
(Local ABA Charity, P.E.A.T., has one professional and 250+ parents)
• Misinformation on Applied Behaviour Analysis
• Abuse of parents by some professionals who charge extortionate fees for their services
ABA is a SCIENCE
It is NOT a commercial product or a therapy for autism
Dillenburger, K., & Keenan, M. (2009). None of the As in ABA stand for autism: Dispelling the myths.
Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 34, 193–195.
Applied Behavior Analysis is the science in which tactics derived from the
principles of behavior are applied systematically to improve socially
significant behavior and experimentation is used to identify the variables
responsible for behavior change. (Cooper, Heron, & Heward, 2007 p. 20)
Person-Centered and Holistic perspective:
Evidence-based practice
Person-Centered and Holistic perspective:
Evidence-based practice
Person-Centered and Holistic perspective:
Evidence-based practice
Person-Centered and Holistic perspective:
Evidence-based practice
Person-Centered and Holistic perspective:
Evidence-based practice
Please supply a list of references from research published in
peer-reviewed journal articles showing an eclectic approach to
be equal to, or superior to ABA
Admitted they didn’t have any!!
Yet, they say ECLECTIC is the way to go
The Republic of Ireland was asked the same question
Same Answer
Same Policy
Category Mistake:
Indicative of lack of
understanding of
basic issues
Category Mistakes
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its properties, structure,
composition, behavior, reactions, interactions and the changes it undergoes.
Science of Matter
Chemistry
properties structure composition
behavior
reactions,
interactions,
changes
Category Mistakes
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its properties, structure,
composition, behavior, reactions, interactions and the changes it undergoes.
Science of Matter
Chemistry
Chemistry properties structure composition
behavior
reactions,
interactions,
changes
ABA is the applied branch of the science of behaviour analysis
incorporating an understanding of basic principles like Stimulus Control,
Schedules, Shaping, ….
Science of Behaviour
ABA
Stimulus control schedules shaping
…….
…….
……
…….
Manualised applications of the science of behaviour in the area of autism
include PECS, DTT, NET, PT, VB, Lovaas, TEACCH.
Application of a Science of Behaviour
ABA
PECS
DTT
NET
PT
VB
Lovaas
TEACCH
This slide shows the level of antagonism towards ABA
by professionals not trained in this science.
Dealing with Misrepresentation
Competence in a Science
As a general rule, in matters concerning physics, the Institute of Psychics
in Ireland would seek to have appropriately qualified physicists represented
on any review panel which might be reporting on 'findings from physics'.
Institute of Physics in Ireland
ABA professionals never involved in writing
Gov. sponsored reports in Ireland
International standards of training in ABA
ignored
Dealing with Misrepresentation
How they do it in Scotland
Scottish autism toolbox –
The Scottish Government has deleted a key section of the Autism Toolbox
on its web site, which contained seriously flawed information on ABA.
… the description of ABA was inaccurate, 30 years out of date, and made no
mention of recent research findings which indicate clear evidence of benefit for many
children with autism.
Dealing with Misrepresentation
How they do it in New Zealand
“Feedback was sought on the draft ASD Guideline from across the health,
education, disability and social service sectors, as well as from families, ...
Most of the concerns expressed by individuals or groups related to a view that
the principles of ABA had been misrepresented and that ABA research had not
been properly evaluated in the draft ASD Guideline.”
In response to these concerns, the Ministry commissioned a new review of
literature on the effectiveness of ABA interventions for people with ASD.”
How they do it in the Netherlands
?
Conclusion
"Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into flame by another human being.
Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this light."
Albert Schweitzer
Leonardo da Vinci
programme