Applied Behavioral Analysis Quotes

“Echophenomena, such as autistic echoing of phrases, are largely considered involuntary, even if such echoing is done voluntarily. (Such are the paradoxes of compliance.) Conversely, imitation, such as complying with a behavioral analyst's demand to mirror her jumping body, is regarded as voluntary, even if it is coerced or scripted.”
― Melanie Yergeau, Authoring Autism: On Rhetoric and Neurological Queerness

“...ABA doesn't aim to offer neuroqueer children new repertoires of meaning. To smile isn't to signify one's contentment; it's to comply with a behavioral and prosocial demand.”
― Melanie Yergeau, Authoring Autism: On Rhetoric and Neurological Queerness

“The rhetorical training of ABA might be best understood as a kind of "we are always watching you.”
― Melanie Yergeau, Authoring Autism: On Rhetoric and Neurological Queerness

“What ABA has come to signal for autistics is an in-made rhetorical paradox from which escape is difficult: the laughable presumption that autistics can only communicate their feelings about ABA because they've endured ABA.”
― Melanie Yergeau, Authoring Autism: On Rhetoric and Neurological Queerness