Why Waddle Services Opposes ABA: A Commitment to Ethical, Neurodiversity-Affirming Care
At Waddle Services, our mission is rooted in affirming, trauma-informed, and respectful support for autistic and neurodivergent children. As part of that commitment, we take a clear and uncompromising stance: we do not support or offer Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).
This decision is not based on personal opinion, it’s grounded in history, science, ethics, and the lived experiences of the autistic community. In this post, we want to be transparent about why we reject ABA, what the research and autistic voices say, and why we believe it’s time for the field of autism support to move forward.
The Origins of ABA: A Shared Legacy with Conversion Therapy
ABA was developed in the 1960s by psychologist Dr. Ole Ivar Lovaas, who was also a co-founder of the notorious Feminine Boy Project, an early form of gay conversion therapy. In both cases, Lovaas used behavioral techniques to suppress what he deemed “undesirable” behaviors, whether it was gender nonconformity or autistic traits. His goal was not to support people, but to make them appear more “normal.”
This origin story is critical. ABA was never designed to understand or support autistic people—it was designed to make them appear less autistic, regardless of the emotional cost. This philosophy has persisted in many ABA programs to this day, where success is measured by compliance, eye contact, or “quiet hands,” rather than well-being or self-expression.
Aversive restraint chair formerly at JRC. Photo courtesy of WNYC.
The Use of Electric Shock Devices in ABA Settings
One of the darkest aspects of ABA’s history—and in some places, its present—is the use of aversive techniques, including electric shocks.
The Judge Rotenberg Center (JRC) in Massachusetts gained international condemnation for its use of electrical shock devices as a form of behavioral control on autistic and disabled students. These devices—known as the GED (Graduated Electronic Decelerator)—delivered painful electric shocks in response to behaviors as minor as standing up without permission or flinching.
This practice was legal for decades and continued until 2020, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finally banned the use of electric shock devices for behavior modification. However, the JRC fought the ruling, and the ban was overturned in 2021 by a federal appeals court on procedural grounds. As of today, it remains the only facility in the U.S. known to still use electric shock aversion therapy—and it continues to be funded and defended under the broader umbrella of ABA.
Global Rejection of ABA and the United Nations’ Position
Outside of the United States, ABA is largely rejected or heavily restricted. Many countries—including the UK, Norway, and most of the EU—do not consider ABA an ethical or evidence-based therapy. In fact, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has condemned ABA as a violation of human rights, citing its coercive and compliance-based nature.
In its 2015 General Comment on the Right to Inclusive Education, the UN specifically criticized therapies that aim to normalize disabled individuals rather than support their development, identity, and autonomy. ABA’s focus on compliance and normalization places it in direct contradiction with these international human rights standards.
What the Autistic Community Says About ABA
Perhaps the most important voices in this conversation are those of autistic people themselves, many of whom were subjected to ABA as children. The overwhelming consensus among autistic adults, self-advocates, and researchers is clear: ABA is harmful.
Here are just a few of the concerns raised by the autistic community:
Lasting trauma and PTSD: Many report long-term psychological harm, including anxiety, dissociation, and hypervigilance.
Suppression of self-expression: ABA discourages natural autistic behaviors like stimming, scripting, or using alternative communication, which are often essential for self-regulation.
Compliance over autonomy: ABA teaches children that adult authority must never be questioned, even when they’re uncomfortable or in pain.
Lack of consent: Many children in ABA programs are too young or too overwhelmed to give meaningful consent to the therapy they’re receiving.
Focus on external control: ABA treats behaviors without addressing the underlying causes, needs, or communication attempts behind them.
Multiple large-scale surveys of autistic adults show that more than 70% view ABA as harmful or abusive, and organizations like the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) and Autism Inclusivity have long called for its end.
Common Myths About “Modern ABA”
Some providers argue that “modern ABA” is different, that it’s more positive or play-based. While some programs have softened their language and methods, the core model still relies on behaviorist principles: shaping behavior through external rewards, punishments, and compliance training.
Unless a program:
Centers the child’s autonomy,
Recognizes their communication and sensory needs,
Rejects the idea of masking,
And treats emotional well-being as the primary goal,
…it is not meaningfully different from traditional ABA. Simply calling it “play-based” or “positive” does not erase the structure of control that underpins it.
What Waddle Services Offers Instead
At Waddle Services, we choose a different path—one rooted in respect, consent, and neurodiversity-affirming practice. We believe:
All behavior is communication. Instead of trying to “fix” or suppress behaviors, we look for the underlying needs and help families support those needs in safe, compassionate ways.
Children have a right to be themselves. We do not train children to act neurotypical; we help them build on their strengths and find joy in their authentic identities.
Support should be collaborative, not coercive. We involve the child and the family in goal-setting, and we never use compliance-based strategies or aversives.
Mental health matters more than outward behavior. A child who is quiet and compliant may still be anxious, traumatized, or disconnected. We aim for emotional regulation and connection, not surface-level control.
Moving Forward Together
The autism support field is evolving, and the tide is turning. Parents, clinicians, and educators around the world are beginning to ask the right questions: What does this therapy teach my child about themselves? What will they remember about how they were treated? Will this help them thrive, or just survive?
At Waddle Services, we believe the answers matter. That’s why we’ve committed to providing ethical, evidence-informed alternatives to ABA—ones that center dignity, identity, and real connection. We invite you to explore our services, reach out with questions, and join the growing movement toward compassionate, affirming care for every neurodivergent child. Learn more about our non-ABA services.
If you’d like to speak with our team or schedule a consultation, contact us here: contact@waddleservices.net.
References
Autistic UK. (n.d.). Autistics Against ABA. Retrieved from https://www.autisticuk.org/post/autistics-against-aba
Behavior Analysis in Practice. (2020). History of Applied Behavior Analysis and Ivar Lovaas. Retrieved from https://www.springer.com/journal/40617
CNN Health. (2021, July 16). Court overturns FDA ban on shock devices used on people with disabilities. Retrieved from https://edition.cnn.com/2021/07/16/health/judge-rotenberg-center-appeals-court-ruling/index.html
Kupferstein, H. (2018). Evidence of increased PTSD symptoms in autistics exposed to applied behavior analysis. Advances in Autism, 4(1), 19–29. https://doi.org/10.1108/AIA-08-2017-0016
Lovaas Institute. (2024, March). Statement Regarding Conversion Therapy. Retrieved from https://lovaas.com/2024/03/lovaas-institute-statement-regarding-conversion-therapy
New Yorker. (2023). The Argument Over a Long-Standing Autism Intervention. Retrieved from https://www.newyorker.com/science/annals-of-medicine/the-argument-over-a-long-standing-autism-intervention
ResearchGate. (2020). Recalling Hidden Harms: Autistic Experiences of Childhood Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA). Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343834549
Small Stepps. (n.d.). The Disturbing, Unethical Reality of ABA: Autistic Adults Speak Out. Retrieved from https://smallstepps.com/the-disturbing-unethical-reality-of-aba-autistic-adults-speak-out-2
UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. (2015). General comment No. 4 on the right to inclusive education. Retrieved from https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/845728
Verywell Health. (2023). What Is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)? Retrieved from https://www.verywellhealth.com/applied-behavior-analysis-259920
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Autistic rights movement. Retrieved August 6, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autistic_rights_movement
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Critical autism studies. Retrieved August 6, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_autism_studies