Report On Evidence-Based Treatments for Autism

Maine released its ratings of the treatments for autism with the greatest evidence behind them. Good information to share.

Facing Autism in NB Highlights Morris on Gernsbacher

Facing Autism in New Brunswick provides a good perspective on autism and aba from a person who is not an aba-professional nor an aba-focused academic. This recent post highlights Edward Morris' critique of "The Gernsbacher Lectures", which Morris argues misrepresent behavior analysis:

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Autism and ABA: Morris's (Unanswered) Challenge to Gernsbacher Will Be Featured at CalABA Annual Conference 2010

Edward K. Morris is scheduled to give
what should be a fascinating keynote speech at the 28th Annual Regional
Conference of the California Association for Behavior Analysis. Professor
Morris's topic will be The Gernsbacher Lectures: Cut Aways, Outtakes, and
Bloopers - and Essentialism. The CalABA conference is scheduled for February 18
to 20, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine California.

Professor Morris published a scathing article in the Behavior Analyst, A Case Study in the Misrepresentation of Applied Behavior Analysis in Autism: The Gernsbacher Lectures, in which he thoroughly, systematically and candidly dissected and demolished her criticisms of ABA.

To my knowledge Professor Gernsbacher has not provided a public reply to
Professor Morris's challenge .... [click for more]

Applied behavior analysis and evidence-based practice

Facing Autism in New Brunswick often posts commentary regarding autism treatment from a parent's perspective, and is a strong proponent of applied behavior analysis as an evidence-based treatment. The current post examines the difference between evidence-based treatments and those lacking evidence -- and the attraction of the latter.

Readers may find Facing Autism thought provoking. The posts are generous in their openness -- please, check it out. (The blog also presents strong opinions on issues like vaccinations and autism and neurodiversity advocates; WisABA does not currently have a position on these issues.)

Autism research blog

As most folks reading this are probably aware, autism is an active area for behavior analysis -- for both research and clinical work. I subscribe to the Autism Research Blog: Translating Autism partially because new behavioral research is likely to pop up from time to time. The latest post concerns research into using "cognitive-behavioral therapy" for children diagnosed with autism and anxiety (note that the participants were labelled "high-functioning", suggesting that children without the verbal skills thought necessary for CBT were not involved in the study).

Click here to read about it.