“Today’s episode criticises the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for its lack of transparency and accountability, arguing that it prioritises industry self-interest over ethical practices and the well-being of those it serves. It draws a parallel to the forensic science industry, highlighting how the creation of the Organisation of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) brought necessary external oversight and stakeholder inclusion to a previously self-regulated field. The author of the source article, Dr. Jaime Hoerricks, posits that if ABA genuinely sought public trust, it would adopt a similar model, moving away from insider-controlled standards and accreditation and embracing diverse perspectives, including autistic individuals, in a publicly accessible process. Dr. Hoerricks suggests that the current structure of ABA, deeply intertwined with financial and political interests, makes such radical transparency unlikely but emphasises that imagining such a future remains crucial for autistic dignity and genuine reform.”

Here’s the link to the source article: https://open.substack.com/pub/autside/p/if-you-wanted-an-osac-for-aba-why

Let me know what you think.

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