Cultural humility is a key feature of effective and ethical practice. To fully respond to another’s culture, we have to remember that we view it through our own cultural lens. Also, specific beliefs and practices of two cultures can conflict. This is often the case with the field of Applied Behavior Analysis and anti-ABA autistics and advocates. Part of adopting a culturally humble approach involves understanding your own cultural practices and listening and learning from cultures other than your own.
In this assignment, you will be required to:
Understand specific cultural practices of behavior analysts.
Listen and learn about the perspectives and cultural practices of anti-ABA autistics and advocates.
Approach a culture different than your own in a non-judgmental and non-critical manner.
To complete your assignment, use the Cultural Humility in Practice Template [DOCX] to complete the following:
Describe culture from a behavioral perspective.
Discuss the importance of incorporating culture as a part of a client’s/participant’s context in applied practice.
Describe cultural humility and discuss the potential benefits of adopting culturally humble approaches to applied practice.
Discuss specific skills needed to adopt culturally humble approaches and specific ways we can develop and maintain those skills.
Provide at least two supporting examples of a culturally humble approach in action based on the following statement from an anti-ABA Autistic Adult within the context of two groups of people in frequent conflict: (1) behavior analyst researchers and practitioners and (2) anti-ABA autistics and advocates.
“As an autistic adult, I am strongly against the use of ABA therapy. ABA therapy is based on the harmful idea that autism is a deficit that needs to be fixed. It can involve coercive and aversive techniques, such as punishment, isolation, and physical restraint. These techniques can be traumatic for children and can lead to long-term psychological harm.
I believe that ABA therapy is fundamentally unethical. It teaches autistic children that they are wrong for being who they are. It also teaches them to suppress their emotions and to conform to social norms. This can lead to a number of negative consequences, including anxiety, depression, and self-hatred.
I am grateful that I did not receive ABA therapy as a child. However, I know many autistic adults who have been harmed by ABA therapy. They have shared stories of being punished for stimming, being forced to make eye contact, and being isolated from their peers. They have also spoken about the long-lasting psychological effects of ABA therapy, such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
I believe that autistic children should be supported and accepted for who they are. They deserve to learn and grow in a safe and inclusive environment. ABA therapy does not provide this kind of environment. It is a harmful practice that should be abandoned.
I urge parents and caregivers of autistic children to consider alternative approaches to supporting their children. There are many ways to support autistic children without using ABA therapy. These approaches focus on accepting and supporting autistic children for who they are, and on helping them to thrive in their own unique way.
