From Harm to Healing: Building the Future of ABA with Autistic Voices

Host: Maria Nicolaou, MSc BCBA

LIVE WEBINAR: September 11, 2025 | 10:00 AM PST / 1:00 PM EST

CEU ELIGIBILITY: 
BACB CEUs: 1 Ethics 

Are you committed to advancing ABA in ways that are ethical, respectful, and affirming of neurodiversity? Join Special Learning’s Journal Club—a dynamic and interactive space for professionals dedicated to evolving ABA practice through collaboration, inclusion, and authentic engagement with the Autistic community. 

In this month’s Journal Club, we will be exploring the article From Harm to Healing: Building the Future of ABA with Autistic Voices by Joy F. Johnson, an Autistic BCBA whose unique perspective bridges lived experience and professional expertise. 

Overview: 

ABA has a complex history—marked by both scientific achievement and ethical controversy. This article critically examines the historical roots of compliance-based ABA practices, including the suppression of natural autistic behaviors such as stimming, the promotion of masking, and the exclusion of Autistic voices from defining meaningful outcomes. Johnson explores how movements like #ABAisAbuse amplified these concerns, catalyzing the shift toward neurodivergent-affirming and assent-based practices. 

Drawing on global perspectives, the article addresses systemic inequities in access to autism services, the risks of unregulated alternative therapies, and the ongoing need for standardization and reform in ABA. It also underscores the importance of incorporating Autistic leadership, enhancing BCBA training with neurodiversity content, and embedding ethical guidelines that prioritize autonomy, dignity, and authenticity. 

This session will examine the lessons of ABA’s past, the realities of its present, and a blueprint for an equitable and collaborative future—where the science of behavior is used not to enforce conformity, but to support individuality and well-being. 

Who Should Attend: 

• Behavior analysts seeking to align their practice with neurodivergent-affirming principles 
• Supervisors and educators training the next generation of BCBAs 
• Practitioners interested in ethical reform and assent-based interventions 
• Policymakers, administrators, and advocates shaping autism service delivery 
• Don’t miss this opportunity to explore how ABA can move from harm to healing through the authentic inclusion of Autistic voices. 

Learning Objectives: 

1. Identify historical ABA practices that contributed to psychological harm and mistrust within the Autistic community. 
2. Analyze the role of advocacy movements such as #ABAisAbuse in driving ABA reform. 
3. Apply neurodivergent-affirming, assent-based strategies to promote autonomy, dignity, and authentic engagement in ABA services. 

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