The purpose of this presentation is to help BCBAs realize the importance of ensuring Autistic clients as active leads rather than passive recipients in intervention services. This talk will also explore personal experiences of the author (an Autistic, woman) as it relates to the importance of neurodiversity, and as it applies to assent, autistic autonomy, and social validity. This essay will discuss and examine theoretical underpinnings, which validate that it is essential to include the client in all interventions. It is important that BCBAs develop a professional repertoire involving the Autistic community as key stakeholders, in order to determine what should and should not be targeted for intervention, and to help facilitate neurodiverse directives.
Learning objectives:
List five ways in which they can source client values and utilize social validity measures to inform programming.
Identify ableist biases within the field and assessments and choose to promote individualization and cultural responsiveness.
Gain three strategies to enrich programs using Autistic stakeholders.
Differentiate between the medical model of service provision vs. a neurodiversity perspective.
Define masking and identify harmful teaching practices that may promote masking.