Autism and ABA Therapy: Ethical Issues and Effectiveness | Discover the Truth by Elianne van Turennout

An article recently appeared in The Telegraph about a new study claiming that autism is 'curable'. An article about that particular study also appeared in The Daily Mail, but since that is the British Telegraph, I find it less surprising than for a newspaper, which still has a reasonable reputation by British standards.

However, this study raises questions, especially given the ethical issues and limited participation. With only three participants and dubious methods, such as ABA Therapy (Applied Behavior Analysis), the study is anything but convincing. ABA Therapy is often compared to conversion therapy, but for autistic people. It includes techniques such as taking away hugs for repetitive behaviour (stimming) or excessive rewards for eye contact. This begs the question: are you actually no longer autistic after this therapy, or do you just behave as expected after intensive training?

Like conversion therapy for homosexuals, it often revolves around adaptation to social norms, which requires a heavy emotional and psychological mask. Perhaps the children with autism are not sick, but the society that is too eager to make them neurotypical. For parents seeking answers or adults living with autism themselves, it is crucial to understand what such therapies really mean. The effectiveness and ethics of ABA Therapy are highly controversial, and it is important to be well-informed before making a decision. Looking for reliable information about autism and its various treatment methods? Then stay critical and look beyond the hype.

This artwork is offered by Elianne van Turennout

It all started with a4 paper and HB pencils. As a child I was often impressed by how beautiful the world around me was. The urge to capture this beautiful world, and to show the people around me what I saw, was actually there from the beginning. If I remember correctly, I was about eleven years old when I first met the camera. Of course it was a simple compact camera with a ridiculous quality, but I enjoyed it.

I sometimes said I wanted to be a photographer, but of course you have one of the two parents who says, "Dream on." Strangely enough, I followed the sarcastic remark as advice, and still went to study photography.

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