We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.
Elie Wiesel, Holocaust survivor
I understand that therapists and others in the autism industry sometimes have a hard time speaking out against ABA, because doing so sounds like “my therapy versus your therapy”. And if you’re an OT, an SLT, or some other therapist who got a client referred to you by an ABA school, then they sometimes pull away your client if you speak out about the abuse. And then that client has no-one. So, you stay silent, accepting the unspoken blackmail. You mutter to autistic people. You cry to your friends.
And the ABA guys are connected — well connected. They can talk to “certain people” they know people in places, in councils, in governing bodies. They can close your doors. I know. I have spoken to many of you.
But if you are publicly asked for an opinion, you can defer comment. You can either say, listen to autistic people, or do not listen to them. You can say, listen to survivors, or silence them. You can say, respect the CRPD, which talks about disabled people’s rights (not the rights of parents and therapists).
Stand for something. Stand for that.