Applied Behavior Analysis ( ABA )
strategies though , not a philosophy that their child needs to change who he / she is , what he / she likes , and how he / she communicates his / her needs .
When I speak with the children I worked with many years ago they mention very little of what they disagreed with ; they merely mention that they are happy with the way some of the sessions are done now . When I ask my nephews and nieces , who are grown up , what they liked about school , some say they didn ’ t enjoy it at all . So , how do we make a decision for our own child ? We do the research , we ask the people we have met in the field , and we go with our gut .
What we do know is that the brain of an individual is always evolving and always able to build new neural pathways , and these stay elastic . There is always time to learn a new skill , take a language course , or change your current habits .
How is this different for our children ? Yes , some studies show early intervention is beneficial , but my personal advice would be to slow down before jumping to the first service provider you find , and take a look at your child . What do you truly feel would be best for him / her ? Would your child cope in a strict behavioral setting , or does he / she require a more fluent and easygoing therapist ?
A great analogy I once heard was about the teachings of yoga . Ashtanga and Iyengar are both well-researched and respected yoga styles . The names of these practices haven ’ t changed much , yet some yoga practitioners have realized that the repetition of certain sequences and poses within these practices lead to body ailments . Instead of “ shaming ” the yoga style , they removed the positions that lead to delayed pain and continued practicing good yoga sessions .
Now , let ’ s assume we can do this with ABA ; perhaps we can remove the delayed pain it caused some autistic individuals , the philosophy of trying to change a person , repetitiveness of certain tasks , and enforcing reinforcement schedules ? Maybe then we can find a way to continue utilizing the effective , fun , and interactive strategies our children do need — and help parents and children by supporting them the best way we can .
So , how do we make a decision for our own child ? We do the research , we ask the people we have met in the field , and we go with our gut .
Karla Pretorius , M . Psych is a Research Psychologist and Co-founder of AIMS Global . She started working in the field of autism in 2002 and has played an instrumental role on an international level in advocating for autism awareness , acceptance , and understanding .
Karla received a double Honors degree in the US and South Africa and completed her Master ’ s degree in Psychology through the University of Stellenbosch as a Research Psychologist . Karla , together with her colleague , Nanette Botha , has presented in many countries , including Denmark , Indonesia , Singapore , South Africa , and the US . The pair have collaborated with autism advocates and adults on the spectrum by providing a holistic support system that evolves as our understanding of autism does too .
Karla currently resides in Portugal but travels all over the world to work with clients . Her passion for autism drives her to continue learning from her clients , their parents , adults on the spectrum , and professionals in the field .