Description
Is ABA for Autistic Children a Neurodiversity-Affirming Model of Care?
🤔 Have you heard ABA touted as the gold standard for autism treatment?
🤔 Are you equipped with the facts to challenge the industry’s narrative confidently?
🤔 Can you articulate to a doctor, school, or agency why ABA (even “positive” ABA) might not be the best approach for autism?
In the last few years, the ABA industry has marketed this treatment as “Neurodiversity-Affirming” therapy for Autistic children. Is it really?
Therapist Neurodiversity Collective’s enlightening 2-hour professional development course challenges conventional views of ABA for autism and the industry’s “neurodiversity-affirming” and “gold standard” claims. Presenter Julie Roberts, M.S., CCC-SLP dives into the multifaceted world of Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) with peer-reviewed published research insights from autistic individuals who have experienced ABA.
Delve into ABA’s controversial history and assess the industry’s ethics both past and present.
🌟🌟🌟Course Description
Historical Review: Uncover the surprising history of ABA and its evolution over time.
Ethical Inquiry: Examine the ethical implications associated with past and current ABA practices.
Autistic Voices: Hear firsthand accounts from autistic individuals who have experienced ABA.
Fact Over Fiction: Delve deep into understanding whether ABA truly stands as the “gold standard” for autism treatment.
► Presenter: Julie Roberts, M.S., CCC-SLP, Founder of Therapist Neurodiversity Collective
► 2 hours of professional development
►On-Demand Course: Enrollees have access to the course for 180 days from the date of enrollment.
► Audience: Therapy Providers interested in learning about ABA as viewed through the lens of the Neurodiversity Movement
🔓🔓🔓 (Therapy Neurodiversity Collective Members, this course is included in your membership!)
Key Discussion Points
1. Debunking the myth: Is ABA the unquestionable “gold standard” for autism treatment?
2. The compatibility of ABA and neurodiversity affirmation.
3. A look at modern ABA: Is it truly an improved version?
4. A deep dive into the mental well-being outcomes stemming from ABA.
Step into informed advocacy and leave this course, empowered!
Included:
☑ Slide handout
☑ Course handout with references and summary
☑ Certificate of Attendance for 2 hours of professional development
The Gold Standard Fallacy of ABA
After this course, You will
- Possess a comprehensive understanding of ABA's history and objectives.
- Have insight into up-to-date research findings related to ABA.
- Be knowledgeable about the ethical challenges posed by ABA practices.
- Be equipped to champion the rights of neurodivergent children with evidence-based arguments.

Julie Roberts, M.S., CCC-SLP, founding CEO of Therapist Neurodiversity Collective, Inc.™ is a late-diagnosed Autistic ASHA certified, licensed Speech-Language Pathologist who has been practicing in schools, pediatric clinics, rehab hospitals, and outpatient units since 1999.
Julie is a frequent neurodiversity speaker, educator, and trainer who delivers high-energy presentations that challenge audiences to re-examine their beliefs about Autism and outdated and damaging therapy and education practices. Her work focuses on professional, and public education about empathetic evidence-based therapy alternatives to ABA and behavioral therapy models that are non-trauma inducing and respectful of autistic social communication differences, social justice, and human rights. Her articles and educational resources have reached well over three-quarters of a million people and are frequently cited in other presentations and articles.




