Bullshit on Both SidesSaturday, October 26, 2024I’ve been thinking about the Netflix Documentary titled Tell Them That You Love Me. I saw it back this past Summer. It talks about the Anna Stubblefield Case where she through using Facilitated Communication on a man with Cerebral Palsy had what she claimed to be a relationship with him. Many have said that given first their roles as Instructor and Student, that the sexual and romantic situation between the two of them was non-consensual. Then because of the man having an intellectual age of only two years old, then there certainly couldn’t be consent.There were also issues discussed regarding Facilitated Communication. FC is usually used with Autistic people, and some advocate for it as an alternative to ABA Therapy. With FC, advocates say that presuming competence is the first rule when helping someone use FC. People critical of FC though, say that there’s a good chance that more of what the so-called facilitator thinks and feels is added into what the Autistic person is supposedly typing. In short, it might be difficult if not impossible to know what is the actual thoughts of the Autistic verses the facilitator.As far as whether or not ABA or FC should be used for Autistics, or FC for other non-speaking disabled people, I completely disagree with both sides. ABA presumes that Autistics have no ability to learn anything that isn’t broken down into single steps. FC presumes that locked within the sad Autistic person is a 30000000000%-level IQ Genius that if only given FC, then they could show how super smart they really are.The problem with both of these ideas whether it be ABA, or FC is that it’s the same old idea that we can make Autistics or other disabled people be just like the rest of society who are able-bodied. ABA does it through reward and punishment. FC does it by presuming not just competence, but deep astronomical levels of copetence and intelligence that may or may not even be within said Autistic or disabled individual. Should either tool fail to bring out these talents or if the disabled or Autistic person won’t conform, then they’re tossed aside and given little if any voice.I completely reject the notion that Disabled, Blind or Autistic people be they kids or adults have to be exactly like able-bodied society in order to be allowed a place in society. It’s not about making them conform with ABA, presuming competence with FC or whatever other Bullshit the Abods come up with. It’s about meeting said groups of people where they’re at, and accepting them as they are. Only then can we talk about what should be expected of them then.#Disability!!!#Autism!!!#ABA Therapy!!!#Facilitated Communication!!!#Cure Ableism, Not Autism!!!#Cure Ableism, Not Disability!!!
