#Applied Behavior Analysis Center

[autismcenterofexcellence]

The Magic of ABA Therapy in Autism Management - Autism Center of Excellence

Let's discuss The Magic of ABA Therapy in Autism Management and learn how ABA Therapy can help children thrive.

[brightballoons]

Empowering Brilliance: Autism Treatment in Scarborough

Is your child on the autism spectrum? Are you seeking compassionate and effective autism treatment in Scarborough? At Bright Balloons Autism Center, we're dedicated to unlocking your child's full potential.

Our team of experienced behavior analysts and therapists is committed to providing personalized care that addresses the unique needs of each child. We utilize evidence-based practices, including Applied Behavior Analysis, to help children with autism develop essential skills and lead fulfilling lives.

Our Comprehensive Approach to Autism Treatment

At Bright Balloons, we believe in a holistic approach to autism treatment. Our services encompass a wide range of areas, including:

Communication Skills: We help children develop effective communication strategies, both verbal and nonverbal.

Social Skills: We foster positive social interactions and relationships, enabling children to connect with others.

Play Skills: We encourage imaginative and engaging play activities, promoting creativity and cognitive development.

Daily Living Skills: We teach essential life skills like self-care, eating, and dressing, fostering independence.

Academic Skills: We support academic development, including reading, writing, and math.

Why Choose Bright Balloons for Autism Treatment in Scarborough?

Personalized Treatment Plans: We tailor treatment plans to meet the specific needs and goals of each child.

Experienced and Compassionate Team: Our highly qualified professionals are dedicated to providing exceptional care.

Positive Reinforcement: We utilize positive reinforcement techniques to motivate and encourage progress.

Family-Centered Approach: We involve families in the therapy process, fostering a collaborative partnership.

State-of-the-Art Facilities: Our center provides a stimulating and nurturing environment for learning and growth.

The Benefits of ABA Therapy for Autism

ABA therapy has been proven to significantly improve the lives of children with autism. Some of the key benefits include:

Enhanced communication skills: Improved verbal and nonverbal communication abilities.

Improved social skills: Better social interaction and relationship building.

Increased independence: Enhanced self-care and daily living skills.

Reduced challenging behaviors: Decreased frequency and severity of problem behaviors.

Improved academic performance: Better focus, attention, and learning abilities.

Empowering Your Child's Future

At Bright Balloons Autism Center, we're committed to empowering children with autism to reach their full potential. Our autism treatment in Scarborough is designed to equip children with the skills they need to succeed in all aspects of life.

Ready to take the next step? Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn more about how our autism treatment can benefit your child. Thanks For Reading! For More Information Visit us: https://bright-balloons.com You can also connect with us on social media: Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/brightballoons_aba/profilecard/?igsh=eTNscjlncmV2c3Z5 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bright-balloons-inc/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brightballoonsaba?mibextid=LQQJ4d

[youcanautism]

Empowering Lives at You Can Autism: Comprehensive Care for Every Child

At “You Can Autism,” we are dedicated to being the best ABA clinic in Tamilnadu and a leading autism clinic in Tamilnadu. Our center, located in Coimbatore, offers a range of specialized services designed to support children with autism, ensuring they receive the best possible care. Our mission is to provide holistic autism treatment in Coimbatore by using a combination of therapies tailored to each child’s unique needs.

Recognized as the best ABA clinic in Coimbatore, we utilize Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, a proven approach to help children improve social, communication, and learning skills through positive reinforcement. Our clinic is also known as a trusted ABA clinic in Coimbatore, where dedicated professionals implement personalized ABA programs to achieve measurable progress. As an applied behavior analysis center in Coimbatore, we aim to provide structured interventions that focus on behavior modification and skill development.

Our team includes some of the best speech therapists in Coimbatore, providing top-notch speech therapy in Coimbatore. Our speech therapists focus on enhancing communication abilities, making us one of the best speech therapy centres in Coimbatore. We offer specialized speech therapy for autism in Coimbatore, helping children express themselves more effectively. Additionally, our center excels in speech and communication therapy for autism in Coimbatore, combining various therapeutic approaches to improve both verbal and non-verbal communication skills.

At “You Can Autism,” we are committed to being a premier autism center in Coimbatore and a comprehensive autism clinic center in Coimbatore. Our services include a wide range of communication therapy for autism in Coimbatore to support children’s growth and development. As one of the leading autism centers in Coimbatore, we provide a nurturing environment where every child receives individualized care and attention.

If you’re looking for an ABA clinic in Tamilnadu that truly understands and supports your child’s needs, “You Can Autism” is here to help. Visit our website to learn more about how we can assist your child’s development journey.

[k12academics]

When Jean Van Sinderen donated her 110-acre Washington estate to the Devereux Foundation in 1965, it set in motion the creation of The Glenholme School, one of the most respected special needs programs in the nation.

The Van Sinderen family were already well known in town. They were instrumental in the construction of the elegant Mayflower Inn, the former site of the private Ridge School. By the 1920s Jean’s husband, Adrian, had built an elegant country mansion, raising show horses on his “gentleman’s farm.”

And when an enraged Shepaug River wiped out Washington Depot’s downtown business district in 1955, it was Harry Van Sinderen, Adrian’s brother, who helped to spearhead the reconstruction of that devastated area.

Eight years later, the family donated 727 acres of undeveloped land to the Steep Rock Preserve. Today the property is known as Hidden Valley Preserve off Route 47.

Despite these milestones it can be argued that the family’s greatest legacy lies with Jean in 1965. Through her daughter’s urging, Jean met Helena Devereux, an educator and a pioneer in the field of special education. Traveling from Pennsylvania to the Van Sinderen’s country estate, Helena explained that she had always wanted to start a school in New England. Ms. Devereux had led the charge to help children with behavioral health needs, starting her first school in 1918 and expanding on that in other parts of the country.

Jean did not need much convincing since she was personally well aware of families who needed therapeutic help for their children. Jean also felt that the estate had also become too much to manage, especially with the recent death of her husband. Three years after that meeting took place inside the stone mansion off Sabbaday Lane, the Glenholme School opened its doors in 1968 to a handful of students on the autism spectrum.

Since that time, the year-round school has grown to approximately 80 students in grades 5-12. Each receives the individualized support needed to succeed academically, emotionally and socially. Many of these high functioning students had previously not been able to fit in at private and public schools due to their difficulties associated with diagnoses such as autism, anxiety, depression, and ADHD.

Even the Glenholme property exudes a therapeutic affect with its expansive manicured lawns and gardens. Here, students have a multitude of after school activities to choose from, whether it be performing arts, music, dance or robotics. The grounds include basketball courts, stables, a fitness center, soccer and softball fields and a nine-hole Frisbee golf course. A track for go-carts is also used for fitness activities such as biking, running and walking.

Today, students throughout the world come to Glenholme, graduate and go on to college or a preferred profession, opportunities that seemed impossible to families when their child first arrived. And Glenholme has expanded over time, offering a transition program for high school graduates needing a year or two to strengthen independent living skills.

All of this was made possible by a little-known meeting between two women who met one day 55 years ago in the small town of Washington.

[certifiedposeidonhater]

Im bored so here is an analysis of how G*be Uglyano affected the way Percy would feel, behave, think, and basically live forever.

TRIGGER WARNING!!!!!!!!! abuse, mention of sa, g*be uglyano, suicidal ideation, etc.

First up, financial abuse:

In the first book, G*be says something along the lines of “this is coming out of your clothing money” when Percy and Sally are leaving for Montauk. This is an example of financial or economic abuse, where one partner in an intimate relationship has control over the other’s finances and economic resources, causing the victim to lose their capacity to support themselves and forcing them to rely solely on the partner.

G*be also steals Percy’s money, which is also another form of financial abuse, although not intimate. This most likely affected Percy’s view of his own money, and how to share his money with others later in his relationship (i.e. whether or not to have joint checking accounts with annabeth, buying a house with annabeth, etc.) It also could affect how he views the money he has in general. He often does not feel like it’s actually HIS money, or feels like he is supposed to give his money to somebody. The way G*be took over Percy’s room with his stuff also affected the way Percy would view his own place and things. He feels almost possessive of his stuff, he feels like the things he owns aren’t really his.

Next, mental/emotional abuse:

G*be makes fun of or humiliates Percy at least 3 times in the books, but based on the knowledge we have and me having basic media literacy skills, it happened a lot more than those few instances (Percy and G*be don’t exactly interact very often in the books.

This is emotional or psychological abuse.

Emotional and psychological abuse can include purposely humiliating, trying to scare, isolating, neglecting, or debilitating a child (we see Gabe humiliate, neglect, and debilitate Percy.) Emotional abuse can also include constant criticism, rejection, dismissing a child’s feelings, calling the child names (which Gabe does), yelling or swearing very often, threats, and allowing the child to witness domestic violence and abuse.

While any child can be a victim of child abuse, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognize that children living in poverty (which Percy was) are at greater risk.

Signs of emotional abuse in children include watchful demeanor, aggression or anger, overly passive or compliant behavior, nervousness around certain people, a tendency to avoid being around certain people, withdrawn or unresponsive demeanor, and low self esteem. All of these can apply to Percy. Children in dysfunctional environments such as Percy’s can believe that everything is normal because that is all they have ever known

Emotional abuse can also lead to cognitive abilities such as trouble focusing, learning, and remembering; academic issues; mental health conditions such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, and low self esteem; emotional difficulties such as interpreting, communicating, processing, and regulating emotions; substance use such as nicotine, drugs, and alcohol abuse starting at a young age; and behavioral issues such as acting out, behaving weirdly, and trying extremely hard to please others.

Changes in weight (such as eating disorders, nutrition deficiencies, and malnourishment), sleep issues (such as insomnia, night terrors, or nightmares), physical aches and pains (they don’t have any other discernible cause and don’t seem to get better with treatment), career issues (as a result of lower educational attainment, limited employment opportunities, and an increased risk of delinquency), and relationship issues due to mostly unhealthy dynamics being modeled.

Children with abusive role models are more likely to seek out others who are abusive because it is the dynamic they are used to seeing, or they become abusive themselves. (This is known as the intergenerational cycle of violence.)

All this being said, most of these behaviors and effects can be applied to Percy and we can see the effects of Gabe’s abuse in Percy’s actions and thoughts later in the book.

Percy and Annabeth (while they have an awesome relationship and they REALLY love each other) do not have the healthiest dynamic. Annabeth can often neglect some of Percy’s needs. I AM NOT ACCUSING ANNABETH OF BEING ABUSIVE OR CALLING HER A BAD GIRLFRIEND, HER ACTIONS ARE ALL BECAUSE OF HER OWN TRAUMA. And Percy can sometimes get a little overprotective (caused from having to protect his mom from Gabe) and put himself down (from Gabe constantly criticizing him and putting him down.)

Percy also has trouble trusting and being extremely intimate with Annabeth (as does she with him), reflecting his attachment issues. His emotions and feeling were neglected when he was a child, so he now cannot express or communicate them healthily (or at all) as an adult.

Percy also often puts himself down before others get the chance, because he automatically assumes everyone will. This happens both in a joking manner to others and in his own thoughts, and reflects his low self esteem. It also affects his sense of identity and who he is as a person, leading to him questioning whether or not he is a good person (as we see his do on multiple occasions.)

These effects can result in negative coping mechanisms, such as substance abuse or self-harming. This ties into my stress smoking and smoking in general headcanon that i have for Percy (because we all know that he would not touch a drink after Gabe.)

Then, physical abuse:

In the first book, there is a quote of Percy saying that if he told his mom about Gabe’s financial abuse, Gabe would punch his lights out. Now, anybody with any media literacy skills at all can tell that this is referring to physical abuse. (Sorry, that was a bit intense and offensive.)

Okay, so Percy was physically abused by someone who was supposed to be a trusted parental figure (even though g*be definitely wasn’t trusted.) This, just like with most children, DEEPLY affected Percy. He has trouble maintaining relationships, he doesn’t trust or respect authority figures, and he doesn’t feel good about himself or see himself as worthy.

These are just a few of the effects the physical abuse he suffered gave him (most overlap with emotional abuse.) Many physical child abuse victims become aggressive themselves and “act out.” Personally, i don’t think this applies to Percy because he didn’t exactly “act out,” the trouble usually just found him. Others will become numb and withdrawn, they don’t seem to care anymore whether they are hurt; they lose the ability to process danger. They also may stop trying to socialize or succeed at school. I feel like this one applies to Percy the most, as well as children becoming more fearful and anxious.

The unpredictability of the abuser can result in a child constantly being in flight or fight mode, which i think we all know Percy lives in. But the constant survival state that he is in didn’t start after the war or after his first quest, we saw traces of that before he even found out who his father is. This can be tied back to Gabe.

This unpredictability and lack of control can also lead the victim to look for control in other places, such as controlling their food intake (developing eating disorders where the person restricts their intake as a way to feel more control), sleep patterns, and can lead the victim to substance abuse. (I reflect most of these in my headcanon videos.)

Low self-esteem:

One of the biggest signs of Percy’s childhood abuse is his low self esteem. I talk about this all the time but Percy absolutely HATES himself. He believes that he is a terrible person and is not worthy of anything. He does not believe he is smart, good looking, or an above average warrior (all of which he is.)

This all stems from so many people telling him that he’s annoying, or not a good person. He was ignored and bullied as a kid from both his peers and G*be (that bullying didn’t stop once he came to camp.) This low self esteem is shown in his thoughts and actions.

He has significantly less regard for himself or his health than he does for anybody else. He has what i would call passive suicidal ideation. He is not actively trying to kill or hurt himself, and he doesn’t have any intention of making a plan, but many of his thoughts surround the idea of him being better off dead, or his family and friends being better off with him gone.

Growing up around dv:

While Percy experienced lots of trauma from G*be, he also experiences trauma from witnessing Sally get trauma from G*be (if that makes sense.) Children who grow up experiencing domestic violence or abuse are often impacted. A few of these short-term impacts are anxiety, PTSD, and frequent headaches and stomachaches. (That can tie into my hc of Percy getting super bad migraines.)

Long-term effects include depression and health problems such as a poor diet. Trauma can also be misdiagnosed for ADHD (not saying Percy isn’t ADHD cs he totally is, a few of his ‘symptoms’ might js actually be his trauma.)

Sexual abuse hints:

This is an extremely sensitive topic so i’m not going to dive too deep into it, but with many abusers that are mentally, physically, and financially abusive, the abusive often extends to sexual abuse, as well. The book says that “He [G*be] called it our ‘guy secret.” The idea of keeping a secret from one’s parents can usually be tied to something sexual, although in this case it was literally referring to financial abuse.

Again, this is an EXTREMELY SENSITIVE AND REAL TOPIC (not saying that the other ones i have talked about aren’t, i js have more evidence for those. this is more far fetched) AND I AM NOT OFFICIALLY HEADCANONING THIS OR ANYTHING. I am simply saying that there may be some hints.

this thing is super long so i hope this makes sense lol

Overall:

G*be sucks. Percy’s traumatized and it affects his actions, thoughts, and relationships (romantic, familial, and platonic.)

[devinsturk]

A Manifesto for the Liberated Autistic

(written by one Autistic person!)

Communication is a human right!  We demand access to whatever form of communication we choose, including unconditional access to Augmented and Alternative Communication technologies.

We demand autonomy over our own bodies and rightful decision-making powers over our own lives as we see fit.

We demand freedom from police brutality and all forms of abuse, including seclusion and physical and chemical restraint in schools and hospitals, and we demand freedom from all forms of violence, including filicide.

We demand that the shameful Judge Rotenberg Center in Canton, Massachusetts—and all other institutions like it—be shut down.  #StopTheShock

ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) is conversion therapy for autistics.  We demand freedom from all oppressive “interventions” or “treatments” and quack “cures” for Autism which seek to rob us of what—and who—we are.

We demand unsegregated access to an education alongside our peers.

We demand access to our own communities and our own cultures, and we demand access to knowledge of our people’s history!

We demand meaningful employment and an end to sub-minimum wage for all disabled people.

The way we move is political, and we demand freedom from all pressures to “behave” in accordance with neurotypical standards.  Embrace the stim!  

We must commit to cross-disability solidarity and cross-movement solidarity.

#ActuallyAutistic people are the REAL experts on Autism.

[my-autism-adhd-blog]

Why Temple Grandin is NOT my Hero

Hello everyone,

As the title says, I wanted to talk about Temple Grandin. I got to meet her when I was 12. She seemed very standoffish (which isn’t surprising). I did some research on her for some time and I’ve come to realize that she isn’t the best autism advocate. According to this article:

As a believer in functioning labels, Temple Grandin believes in preserving “high functioning” autistic traits while eliminating “low functioning” traits through Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) and cures and even special diets for autism, such as wheat free and dairy free. ABA is a harmful early intervention that causes PTSD in autistic adults and attempts to eliminate autistic behaviors and replace them with neurotypical behaviors, which causes distress and emotional and psychological harm in autistic children and adults who undergo ABA. The Association for Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABAI) even endorsed electric shock therapy at the Judge Rotenberg Center, the only care facility in the United States to use this horrific form of “treatment.” The fact that Temple Grandin divides autistic people into those that should be “preserved” and those that should be “cured” is a very harmful and ableist belief, and this view is damaging to the pro-acceptance and neurodiversity movement.

Article will be below:

Clearly she supports ABA therapy, which is harmful to autistic people. Plus she also mentions how she thinks autism can improve in time. Which…isn’t how it works. You can manage your traits and symptoms, but you can’t necessarily “improve”. Your autism is your autism. It’s not going to change.

While she did do some good work for the world, I cannot bring myself to support her advocacy. If you aren’t advocating for all autistic people, higher needs included, then you aren’t advocating for us at all.

Some autistic people have high support needs. And she doesn’t seem to understand that, and thinks it can magically improve is the gist I’m getting here. That’s not how it works. You don’t “improve” an autistic individual. You “support” them. No matter where they are on the spectrum.

According to another article I found:

Temple Grandin believes that "high-functioning" autistics are talented, intelligent, and necessary to human survival, while "low-functioning" autistics cannot function or live independently, and thus should be cured in the present and prevented from existing in the future. Both I and others have thoroughly deconstructed the false dichotomy of high and low functioning, but suffice it to say that such claims not only reinforce ableist hegemony, but also reinforce a capitalist notion of success and value in that only people who can produce are worthy of inclusion in society; all others are burdens.

That’s all I wanted to share. I will leave the source below if anyone wants to read it. I find this very disappointing because I looked up to her when I was younger.

[eternal-echoes]

“But what about the claim that only 1 or 2 percent of all individuals who undergo reassignment surgery regret their choice? Studies that make such claims often lack validity due to four shortcomings:

First, there are no standardized measures for establishing results. For example, one of the most widely used statistics is that only 2.2 percent of individuals experience post-surgical regret.(5) However, this study counted only individuals who applied to change their legal documents to reflect their detransition. Carey Callahan, a female detransitioner said, "Moreover, that study defined a 'detransitioner' as someone who had changed their name and gender legally (an arduous process in Sweden at the time) and then had the motivation and money to go through the name change process in reverse, a standard so strict that I wouldn't be counted, and nor would 90% of the detransitioners I know."(6) Other surveys measure those who had surgical reversal procedures. But again, this would exclude most detransitioners.(7)

A second flaw that weakens the findings of many "low regret rate" studies is that they contain a small sample size. Some have as few as ten or twelve individuals.(8)

A third weakness of many of the studies is that they are based upon short follow-up times. Dr. Paul Rhodes Eddy noted, "The average timespan from a person's medical transition to taking steps to officially initiate detransition is somewhere between eight to eleven years."(9) However, many studies that show low rates of regret are conducted within five years of the operation, and some of them as little as five months (10) Therefore, studies with shorter follow-up times will inevitably underestimate transition regret rates.

A fourth flaw is that these studies are often plagued by extremely high loss to follow-up rates. Many of the studies lost track of between 50 and 86 percent of the individuals!(11) When determining how important this is to the validity of a study's findings, Dr. Joseph Dettori points out, "A good rule of thumb is that <5% loss leads to little bias, while >20% poses serious threats to validity. ... One way to determine if loss to follow-up can seriously affect results is to assume a worst-case scenario with the missing data and look to see if the results would change."(12)

-Jason Evert, Male, Female, or Other: A Catholic Guide to Understanding Gender

—

Work cited:

(5) Cf. Dhejne et al., "An Analysis of all Applications for Sex Reassignment Surgery in Sweden, 1960-2010: Prevalence, Incidence, and Regrets," 1535-1545.

(6) Carey Callahan, "Gender Identity Is Hard but Jumping to Medical Solutions Is Worse," Economist, December 3, 2019.

(7) "An Open Letter to Julia Serano from One of the Detransitioned People You Claim to 'Support," Crashchaoscats, August 8, 2016).

(8) Cf. O. Bodlund and G. Kullgren, "Transsexualism-General Outcome and Prognostic Factors: A Five-Year Follow-up Study of Nineteen Transsexuals in the Process of Changing Sex," Archives of Sexual Behavior 25 (1996), 303-316; M. Stein et al., "Follow-Up Observations of Operated Male-to-Female Transsexuals," Journal of Urology 143 (1990): 1188-1192.

(9) Paul Rhodes Eddy, "Rethinking Transition: On the History, Experience and Current Research Regarding Gender Transition, Transition Regret and Detransition," Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender, September 2022, 204.

(10) Cf. W. Tsoi, "Follow-Up Study of Transsexuals After Sex-Reassignment Surgery," Singapore Medical Journal 34:6 (1993), 515-17; J. Rehman et al., "The Reported Sex and Surgery Satisfactions of 28 Postoperative Male-to-Female Transsexual Patients," Archives of Sexual Behavior 28:1 (1999), 71-89; P. Cohen-Kettenis and S. van Goozen, "Sex Reassignment of Adolescent Transsexuals: A Follow-Up Study," Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 36 (1997), 263-271; James Barrett, "Psychological and Social Function Before and After Phalloplasty," International Journal of Transgenderism 2:1 (1998), 1-8; M. Stein et al., "Follow-up Observations of Operated Male-to-Female

11) Cf.G. Weinforth et al., "Quality of Life Following Male-To-Female Sex Reassignment Surgery," Deutsches Ärzteblatt International 116:15 (2019), 253-260; N. Papadopulos et al., "Quality of Life and Patient Satisfaction Following Male-to-Female Sex Reassignment Surgery," Journal of Sexual Medicine 14/5 (2017), 721-730; T. van de Grift et al., "Surgical Satisfaction, Quality of Life, and Their Association After Gender-Affirming Surgery: A Follow-Up Study," Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy 44/2 (2018), 138-148; C. McNichols et al., "Patient-Reported Satisfaction and Quality of Life After Trans Male Gender Affirming Surgery," International Journal of Transgender Health 21/4 (2020), 410-417; L. Jellestad et al., "Quality of Life in Transitioned Trans Persons: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Cohort Study," Hindawi-BioMed Research International (2018), 8684625, 10.

12) J. Dettori, "Loss to Follow-Up," Evidence-Based Spine-Care Journal 2/1 (2011), 7-10.

—

For more recommended resources on gender dysphoria, click here.

[thatstormygeek]

*note* litigating aba therapy is not the point of this post

United and Optum declined a request ProPublica made more than a month ago for an on-the-record interview about their coverage of behavioral health care. They have not answered questions emailed 11 days ago, citing the Dec. 4 killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO as the reason. In an email, a spokesperson said “we are in mourning” and could not engage with a “non-urgent story during this incredibly difficult moment in time.” Offered an additional day or two, the company would not agree to a deadline for comment.

Menard, who cleans pools for a living, grew to fear the moment her phone rang. School employees, unable to soothe Benji’s tantrums, frequently called her to take him home. One morning last spring, they told her Benji had lashed out when an aide tried to persuade him to work, aggressively poking their hand with a pencil. He hadn’t broken the skin, but after a dozen incidents, the situation was becoming unsalvageable. The district made her sign a behavioral contract, his second in two years: If Benji didn’t behave, he could be suspended or expelled. Menard felt she had no choice but to withdraw Benji. She enrolled him full time in a home-study program run by his therapy group, Aspire Behavioral Health Center in Lafayette, which costs about $10,000 a year in tuition, a substantial portion of her paycheck. That was in addition to the therapy cost, which his insurance still covered. Benji’s clinicians determined he needed direct support for most of the day and told Optum they wanted him to scale up his therapy from 24 hours a week to 33. They expected the insurer would approve the request; after all, it was less than what was previously covered and only nine hours more than it was currently paying for. But Optum denied the increase in a letter to Menard this past May. “Your child has been in ABA for six years,” the insurer wrote. “After six years, more progress would be expected.”

When her team received the denial for Benji’s care, McCoy set out to gather hard evidence to demonstrate the necessity of his treatment. “It’s what we call a reversal to baseline, where we will withdraw the treatment for a short period of time,” McCoy said. “The reason is to demonstrate what happens because we’re curious, too: What happens if we withdraw the care?” Much of the therapy is driven by positive reinforcement; for example, if Benji pays attention and engages in his academic exercises, he can take a break to play on his iPad. But the reward is contingent on him not hitting anyone for at least 10 minutes at a time. During the experiment, the clinicians took away the possibility of his reward, and without an incentive, they had limited leverage to manage his behavior. At first, Benji lightly hit the staff, they said, as though testing the limits. But when there was no response to his behavior, it began to escalate. He tossed chairs and flipped tables. He pushed Newton into a bookshelf, which collapsed to the ground. He hit walls and windows, eventually turning his fists on his aide. They stopped the experiment early, both for his safety and theirs. Once they resumed the interventions, Benji was able to calm down. Newton drafted a report, including line charts that quantified his behavior with and without the interventions and photographs of her team’s injuries. She faxed it to Optum, asking the company to reconsider the denial. The insurer did not change its decision.

Even though Optum denied the additional hours of treatment, Benji has continued to receive them. “We’re giving the hours even if they were not approved,” McCoy said. “We don’t think it would be safe for him to do what the insurance is saying.” Next month, a state administrative law judge will hear an appeal for the additional hours. If the request is approved, Benji’s clinicians will be paid for the six months of services that they’ve provided without reimbursement. Even if that happens, their battle with the insurer will go back to square one. Each insurance authorization typically lasts for only six months, and soon after the hearing date, the clinicians will have to request coverage for his treatment again.

[boredtechnologist]

Evelynn, a champion in the game League of Legends, is characterized as a succubus, thriving on inflicting pain and suffering. Her lore presents her as a demon who preys on the emotions of her victims, drawing power from their agony.

Personality Analysis: Evelynn exhibits traits that align closely with several psychological concepts and personality disorders. Here, we examine her profile through the lenses of notable psychological theories and frameworks.

1. Psychopathy: Her behavior exhibits strong psychopathic tendencies. According to the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R), key traits include glibness/superficial charm, a grandiose sense of self-worth, pathological lying, cunning/manipulative behaviors, and a lack of remorse or guilt. Evelynn's delight in causing pain, lack of empathy, and manipulation of victims are indicative of high scores in these areas.

Notable Psychologists:

Robert D. Hare: His work on psychopathy provides a framework for understanding Evelynn's behavior. Hare's checklist can be applied to analyze her lack of empathy, superficial charm, and manipulative nature.

Cleckley, H. (1941). "The Mask of Sanity" presents criteria for psychopathy, many of which Evelynn embodies, such as superficial charm and failure to learn from experience.

2. Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD): Evelynn exhibits traits of NPD, characterized by a pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy. Her seductive allure and the need to be the center of attention align with narcissistic traits.

Notable Psychologists:

Heinz Kohut: Kohut’s theories on self-psychology and narcissism can be used to understand Evelynn’s need for admiration and her grandiose sense of self.

Otto Kernberg: Kernberg’s work on narcissistic personality disorder provides insights into Evelynn's emotional coldness and manipulative behaviors.

3. Sadism: Evelynn's enjoyment of causing pain aligns with sadistic personality disorder traits. Sadistic behavior includes deriving pleasure from others' pain, cruelty, and the use of fear to control others.

Notable Psychologists:

Theodore Millon: Millon's description of the sadistic personality includes deriving pleasure from cruelty, which aligns closely with Evelynn's predatory nature.

Roy F. Baumeister: Baumeister’s research on sadism and sexual arousal related to aggression can be used to further understand Evelynn's motivations and behaviors.

4. Dark Triad: Evelynn’s characteristics can also be examined through the concept of the Dark Triad: a combination of narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. This triad encapsulates her manipulative, deceitful, and self-serving nature.

Notable Psychologists:

Delroy L. Paulhus and Kevin M. Williams: Their work on the Dark Triad provides a comprehensive framework for understanding Evelynn’s complex personality traits.

Behavioral Analysis:

Manipulation and Deception: Evelynn often manipulates her victims through seduction and deceit, reflecting high levels of Machiavellianism.

Empathy Deficit: Her lack of empathy and enjoyment in others' suffering indicate psychopathy and sadistic tendencies.

Need for Control: Evelynn's desire to dominate and control her victims aligns with both sadistic and narcissistic traits.

Evelynn’s psychological profile is dominated by elements of psychopathy, narcissism, sadism, and traits identified in the Dark Triad. Her behavior aligns with established psychological theories and diagnostic criteria, making this profile robust and defensible within the context of her character’s lore in League of Legends.

[taterforlife]

Things Parents of Children with Autism/ADHD/Developmental Delay/Intellectual Disability/etc. Should Know Before Agreeing to Applied Behavior Analysis Services (This is not a complete list but it has some that I consider most important):

You WILL see online criticism of people who have had bad experiences with ABA. You want a provider that is client-centered and cares about your child's needs and wants and makes sure that the process includes GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CHILD AND YOU and establishing a positive relationship before placing any sort of expectations on the child. People do not want to change their behavior or habits for someone they do not care about. And you want a provider that is trauma-informed and will take ALL PRECAUTIONS against causing trauma, using evidence-based behavior analytical treatments and focusing on reinforcement and letting the child make decisions throughout much of the process, and including you in it too.

It is meant to be an INTENSIVE SERVICE. It is based on the client's needs how many hours services should provide in a clinic or in your home, but this could range to anywhere from 10-20 hours on average. Sometimes more or less. Not being able to arrange those hours can cause more harm than good should your child have many needs or delays.

Daytime hours during the school year get you off the waitlist faster. Evening school hours are always taken first during the academic year. We often struggle finding families willing to take their kids out of school early or take them late. ABA companies should not pressure you on what choice to make, but if you feel your child could benefit or if you are experiencing high-intensity behaviors of concern such as aggression or elopement, it may be able to get you services faster. We are ALWAYS looking for daytime sessions!

Your participation is NECESSARY for success. The child must have interventions that are consistent across places and people. Otherwise, it will most likely be less effective or not effective at all. We want to teach you the strategies we use that show to be successful and work with you and the child! We want to work to the point where the child and the family does not need us anymore! But we cannot do that if you do not learn and accept teaching from us. And often insurances require it and will not pay anymore if the report shows you are not participatong and implementing. We are a service meant to enhance the lives of clients in a way that gives them wider access to things they want and like, build more meaningful relationships, and learn new skills that benefit them. If you do not want to participate, then you are probably thinking of a different service, such as having an attendant.

A good provider who is client-centered is not there to reduce behaviors others find "annoying" or "disruptive", such as stimming. They can be taught skills to help increase attention to tasks and temporarily redirect them, but it is often unethical and harmful to the child to stop them from doing it altogether. The treatment plan may even incorporate time for the child to be able to stim/flap hands/rock their body/etc. on purpose because often, they need it to regulate themselves. It feels good. It's their version of tapping fingers when nervous, playing with a strand of hair, etc. It would be unethical to make a client uncomfortable just because a behavior does not look "normal". If if truly hurts them to do the behavior, such as banging their head against a wall, then it will be addressed for safety concerns.

[trlvsn]

I hope you won’t mind elaborating, please ignore this message if it makes you uncomfortable, but I am terribly intrigued by the correlation between shipping narumitsu and having attachement issues, and I would love to hear your thoughts - either on the pattern you’ve noticed, or on why you think one would lead to the other? Sincerely, a sceptical of the idea that our fictional preferences reflect who we are (who also just happens to ship narumitsu lol) (this is all /lh and /genuinely interested btw my signature is meant to be tongue in cheek not passive-aggressive)

this doesn't make me uncomfortable at all! in fact, i'm happy to elaborate. i would, however, like to start this by saying i meant the case majority of nrmt shippers, not every single one, so if this doesn't apply to you - honestly, great news for your future and present relationships with people.

anyways. when i started reading narumitsu fanfiction, i noticed a pattern. people tend to make the characters pass the "i will find you and help you" role like a hot potato between the characters depending on the time of the events in the fanfic - if it's feenie or aa1 era, phoenix is the one who writes endless letters and seeks miles out, if it's aa3-aa4, edgeworth is the one who flies across the ocean to see wright or helps him financially and emotionally during the disbarment. each time, that borderline obsessive behavior gets romanticized and turns into the basic formula of "i'm in pain, closed off and not who i really am - let me help you despite your constant refusals - okay i'm better now. i love you also". i don't mean to say it's inherently bad to write stuff like that or that it makes the relationship toxic, i'm simply hyperbolizing and making an overall point.

another thing about those fics is that the hurt/comfort is usually centered on the one who needs the comfort. if phoenix helps miles get over the turnabout goodbyes trial, holds him after an earthquake or saves him "again", it's usually a miles-centered fic, and the disbarment ones are a phoenix study. it can be the other way around, of course, but the ones described earlier made me have a realization.

as i've stated in my nrmt analysis post, what they would have had before turnabout succession is just... not that healthy in my eyes? not long term healthy, at least. so i feel like nrmt fans tend to have a warped sense of what love and relationships are, constantly defining phoenix and miles by what they do for each other and what they mean to each other, not by their individual growth. phoenix often gets too much credit for saving miles, miles gets assigned the role of the one who was always there during the 7yg and helped take down kristoph, etc. again, not bad!! just interesting.

and with all of that being portrayed as this big romantic thing, i just feel like the narumitsu fans can be divided into different groups. if you like phoenix-centered bratfeen and aa1-3 wrightworth, you are likely to disregard your emotional needs for the sake of another person, idealize then, and to have experienced parental neglect or betrayal and abandonment of some kind, which can lead to an anxious attachment style. the people who like aa1-3 wrightworth with explorations of miles and disbarment fics about phoenix might have an idea in their head that no one understands them and never will, have a tendency to isolate themselves and have an avoidant attachment style. it might get mixed up too. of course, this is no way scientifically credible or well-spoken, it's like two am for me, what am i doing. but anyway, with the way nrmt shippers practically tie these two together by their identities... yeah.

again. absolutely no shade or hate or anything similar. i'm a huge narumitsu enjoyer. i have 333 bookmarks on ao3 and god knows some of them are exactly what I described above. but a girl has to speak her mind.

[youcanautism]

You Can Autism: A Comprehensive Center for Autism Treatment in Coimbatore

“You Can Autism” is a leading center for autism treatment in Coimbatore, offering a wide range of therapies designed to support children with autism. As a recognized ABA clinic in Coimbatore, we specialize in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), a scientifically proven approach that focuses on improving social, communication, and learning skills through positive reinforcement. Our ABA clinic in Tamilnadu stands out for its dedicated team of professionals who tailor individualized therapy plans to suit each child’s unique needs, ensuring the most effective outcomes.

Our center is also known for its expertise in communication therapy for autism in Coimbatore. We understand that communication is a crucial area of development for children with autism, and our specialists are trained to deliver personalized interventions that enhance both verbal and non-verbal communication skills. Whether it’s through speech therapy or interactive activities, we aim to create an engaging environment where children feel comfortable expressing themselves.

At “You Can Autism,” we provide comprehensive speech and communication therapy for autism in Coimbatore. This integrated approach focuses not just on speech development but also on understanding and using language in social contexts. Our goal is to empower children with the skills they need to interact more effectively with others and participate more fully in their daily lives.

As an established Applied Behavior Analysis center in Coimbatore, we take pride in offering a holistic approach to autism care. Our team uses evidence-based methods to assess each child’s progress and make necessary adjustments to their treatment plan, ensuring they receive the best possible care. This approach makes “You Can Autism” a preferred choice for parents looking for quality autism treatment and therapy services.

If you are searching for an experienced and compassionate team to support your child, “You Can Autism” is here to help. Visit our website to learn more about how our specialized therapies can make a difference in your child’s life.

[onecornerface]

Blair iilluminaughtii's video about Autism Speaks & the JRC - some inaccuracies

A few months ago, Blair iilluminaughtii (a popular YouTuber) was exposed for being abusive to her colleagues behind the scenes, among other scandals. In the last few days, Hbomberguy (another popular YouTuber) further delved into her rampant plagiarism and inaccuracies. (Hbomb's main video and Hbomb's second video)

I mainly knew of iilluminaughtii because a few years ago, her videos about Autism Speaks were some of the first videos created by a popular YouTuber criticizing that organization. Autism Speaks's corruption, pseudoscience, and ableism are notorious in the autistic community, but not widely known in the general public. So, iilluminaughtii did a valuable service in that regard.

Moreover, to this day, she is one of the few popular YouTubers who has made a video about the horrific Judge Rotenberg Center, a center which uses a variant of Applied Behavioral Analysis (which is already abusive and pseudoscientific) accompanied by electric shock aversives (even more abusive and pseudoscientific) on involuntarily committed autistic patients. The JRC has somehow managed to stay open despite numerous scandals and several patient deaths.

However, three years ago, I noticed Iilluminaughtii's video about the JRC did have some inaccuracies in the timeframe, regarding its association with Autism Speaks. This was just what I noticed from the timeline not making sense in her video itself, and I didn't look into it a lot more. At the time, I assumed it was a one-off error. Now it appears this kind of sloppiness is her default mode throughout many videos on many topics. I also found more errors when I rewatched her JRC video today.

Here's what I posted on her video 3 years ago:

"Unfortunately, there are some additional wrinkles in their [Autism Speaks'] sort-of-condemnation of the JRC which you missed. It’s true that Autism Speaks (or at least, Marc Sirkin, one of their representatives) explicitly condemned the JRC. I’m not sure if that was in a public statement (which I can’t find) or only in private communication. BUT, check the dates— the condemnation was in 2012! That was BEFORE Autism Speaks supported the JRC in November 2013 at their DC Walk Now event. As far as I can tell, Autism Speaks has never apologized, nor have they explicitly recanted their support for the JRC since that time. At least, I can't find any public statements by Autism Speaks explicitly about the JRC since 2013.

"As you note, Autism Speaks did add this to their website: “We are opposed to aversion therapy and do not support or endorse organizations that engage in its use as a form of treatment for autism.” So at least that’s an implicit condemnation, apparently in 2016. However, it’s still important that they did not explicitly disavow the JRC, nor did they apologize for their previous support for the JRC."

-- I decided to rewatch the video and do just a few hours more research today. The first time around, I somehow missed or failed to mention Blair Iilluminaughtii’s most serious error. She said the JRC’s electric shock practices apparently ceased when Matthew Israel (its founder, who also invented the specialized electric shock device) was forced to resign. She qualified this with a bit of uncertainty, but did not emphasize the uncertainty, and didn't do enough research to find she was wrong.

Israel was forced to resign in 2011. But what actually happened is that the JRC merely *reduced* its use of the electric shocks from 2011 (or thereabouts) onwards, but did NOT end it. Now, the JRC no longer uses the shocks on *new* patients—but it DOES still use the electric shocks on many longterm patients who were already subjected to them. As of 2021, this set apparently consisted of 55 patients (out of a total of maybe some 200 patients).

There have been some more developments in the last few years regarding the FDA, legislation, and court cases, but I’m not sure what all has happened since the last update by Lydia Brown (one of the JRC's main critics) back in 2021.

I also think Blair Iilluminaughtii may have overstated the degree to which Autism Speaks was associated with the JRC. Toward the end, she says Autism Speaks “endorsed” the JRC for “many, many years.” Her main evidence for their connection is that the JRC partnered with Autism Speaks at the 2013 DC Walk Now event. Such a partnership was of course egregious—but it might have been confined to 2013, for all she says in the video. iilluminaughtii’s main source seems to be a post by Lydia Brown, who only mentioned the 2013 event and no previous connection. Brown's post is quoted several times in the video.

Brown also mentioned explicitly that Autism Speaks’s disavowal of the JRC had occurred a year earlier in 2012, yet iilluminaughtii says this disavowal was “later on.” The fact that iilluminaughtii got the timeline wrong indicates she didn’t properly read her own source.

Iilluminaughtii also describes the Walk Now event as Autism Speaks “recommending” the JRC’s founder, Matthew Israel, *himself*—which doesn’t seem quite right, since Israel had been forced to resign two years earlier (although many of his horrible ideas remain in place).

Here’s my rough reconstruction of the actual timeline: In 2011, Matthew Israel resigned. Around that same time (due to related scandals), the JRC’s use of electric shocks was restricted to patients already being subjected to it (but was *not* ended). In 2012 (also due to those scandals), Autism Speaks disavowed the JRC in a not-very-public statement which was made via a third party blogger. In 2013, Autism Speaks partnered with the JRC at DC Walk Now (despite what they’d previously said).

Iilluminaughtii may have been inclined to overstate the Autism Speaks-JRC connection because it allowed her to get more views by framing her JRC video as a sequel to her earlier Autism Speaks video. She may also have been thrown off by the fact that Autism Speaks condemned the JRC a year *before* partnering with them—a weird fact which could easily be misinterpreted (since the opposite order of events *would* have made more sense!).

To be clear, it was unacceptable that Autism Speaks partnered with the JRC *at all*, and the JRC is *still* extremely abusive. However, a more nuanced video would have gotten the timeline right, and would have gone into more detail on the history and specifics.

Another point to consider (not discussed in the video): Autism Speaks has long supported ABA—and *some* ABA organizations support the JRC, while *other* ABA organizations condemn the JRC. (Arguably, the JRC is the result of taking the abusive spirit of ABA to its horrific logical conclusion. However, it may also be politically important to get more ABA proponents to condemn the JRC.) What relationships does Autism Speaks have to the ABA orgs which are pro-JRC vs. the ABA orgs which are anti-JRC? I don’t know, but that would be an interesting question to delve into.

Some big YouTuber who is more credible and careful should really do a video on the JRC and these related topics.

Note: I just found that in a later stream (part 1, part 2) in 2021 on her second channel, iilluminaughtii did a bit more research and confirmed that the JRC was still doing the electric shocks after 2011. However, that stream got far fewer views than her original video, and she never added any clarification or correction to the description of her original video.