ABA therapy is a behaviour modification intervention. It is used particularly with autistic children who struggle with communication and self-regulation. ABA is touted as being “evidence-based”, even though evidence shows that most ABA survivors want it stopped. This article, written for a South African audience, includes perspectives of several non-speaking autistics on their ABA experiences.
Nonspeakers
A Rights-Based Approach to Communication and Therapy
Communication is a human right. Here we share some resources which we’re using in a presentation about this topic for allied health professionals interested in working with autistic people who don’t speak.
Nonspeaking autists on radio
Learn more about the nonspeakers who are sowing the seeds for Africa’s nonspeaking autistic revolution.
Messages for Autism Awareness Month 2022
“All this drama about Autism Awareness Day is too much. It’s a much hated day by many autistics. I hate it too. Just too patronising for words.”
Interview with the LISTEN team
Nina Fiore of the Astoria Film Festival interviews some of the autistic contributors to LISTEN.
LISTEN — A short film made by and with nonspeaking autistic people
In February 2021 we contributed to LISTEN, a short film made by and with nonspeaking autistic people.
PROMPT© isn’t the same as prompting that helps for autistic apraxia
Prompting helps nonspeaking people develop motor skills for whole-body apraxia. The PROMPT© method is not a good fit.
Rise of the nonspeaking autistic revolution in South Africa
In February 2021, nonspeaking activist Zekwande Mathenjwa became a member of the newly-formed Special Interest Group (SIG) on Autism established by the Ethics Committee of the SASLHA, the national body for Speech, Language and Hearing professionals in South Africa.