Here at DGC, we proudly practice ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis). ABA has been practiced for over 50 years, and has thousands of studies demonstrating its effectiveness in a variety of different ways with a variety of different types of people. While we recognize the contributions of ABA to improving the lives of the people we work with, we acknowledge that current ABA practices may differ from older, antiquated ABA procedures. Have ABA practitioners engaged in questionable practices in the past? Unfortunately, yes, they have. A recent article published by Leaf and colleagues (2021) discusses several concerns about ABA-based interventions. We do not refute nor shy away from this history; we can only assure you that the type of ABA that we put into practice emphasizes valuing the individuality of each client, collaborating with each individual and their families on the manner in which they want behavior to change, and only using current best-practice procedures.

It is also important to recognize that, at times, more intensive strategies may be called for. These should only be considered in the most extreme of situations, typically involving serious health and safety risks (e.g., aggression, self-injury, property destruction). Should any client require more intensive intervention, trust that we are the experts that can help with the situation in the safest, most professional, and most ethical way possible. While, recently, some advocacy groups have been critical of past ABA experiences, we also recognize that there are many individuals who require this level of intervention to stay safe. Individualized, differentiated intervention means that we don’t apply our procedures to every situation, but we recognize that every situation is different. The National Council on Severe Autism (“NCSA”) continues to advocate for recognition of Severe Autism, which necessitates a different intensity of supports. While not every client requires as complex a treatment, we also recognize that these situations do exist, and we are the providers that are best-equipped to make a difference.