Your malaria example proves my point perfectly. We don't call new treatments "better malaria," but in fields like medicine and education, the names stay the same even as practices improve dramatically. The label is not what matters. What matters is real reform and better outcomes for those affected.

No one is denying the deep trauma caused by old ABA methods. The field has responded with strict ethical guidelines and a strong focus on consent, respect, and dignity. Real progress means learning from past harm and making sure those mistakes are never repeated or ignored.

You keep shifting the focus from the real harm ABA caused to just the name it carries. Words do carry history, but they also evolve as practices improve and grow. ABA today is not what it was decades ago. The focus now is on ethical, individualized support that avoids repeating old mistakes.

Saying ABA can’t change doesn’t make it true. Refusing to accept reform just means you want things to stay broken. Real progress comes from learning and improving, not from denying the reality that change is already happening.

Medicine used to mean bloodletting and lobotomies. Mental health care once meant asylums and harsh treatments. Education once excluded kids with disabilities. All of these fields are still called medicine, mental health, and education, even though they’ve changed for the better.

You’re missing the point. Understanding push-back against ABA doesn’t mean change is impossible. Every field with a troubled past has evolved. If we never allowed change, we’d be stuck with the worst parts of history forever.

And don’t claim to speak for “people.” Speak for yourself, because that’s all you can honestly do. Acting like you represent anyone beyond yourself only exposes how shaky your argument really is. If your point had any real strength or validity, you wouldn’t need to hide behind a crowd to make it.

You failed to comprehend my point. Acknowledging the past isn’t ignoring it. Just because you don’t see something doesn't mean it can't possibly exist. Progress is happening whether you admit it or not, and refusing to see it won’t make it go away. Denial doesn’t erase reality.

You’re saying change is impossible, but I disagree. The horrible history of ABA is real, and most therapists and doctors admit it. The past isn’t up for debate, but how things change is. With the new focus on respect, consent, and positive support, I don’t see why anyone would push back on that.

That was exactly the adult and constructive response I was expected when asked to strengthen your argument.

That's a pretty broad statement with zero nuance. Did you read the article at all or was this just a bad-faithed response?

Ok, well now the burden of proof lies on you to show history is being rewriten. I read the article. Did you? Can you point to any example at all to back what you're saying?

Nope what?

Yeah, you're just grasping at straws now if that's what you took from reading those words. While I don't disagree with the sentiment, you're angry and all over the place and this headspace you're in isn't one to take to the table to have an adult, constructive conversation.

Again, did you read the article (you didn't)? Because it tells you what it means and how it will help us. You need to really rethink what's powering this anger of your because all of this bad-faith of yours is only making you look bad and not helping push the neurodiverse conversation forward.

You're deflecting now and, unsurprisingly, still assuming. You claimed the article was "ableist" and that "it frames autistic communication differences as a deficit in need of treatment." Ok, well burden of proof lies on you to show that.

Ehh. You maybe read it, but didn't comprehend it. The article focuses on how new research methods are providing new insights into how the brains of autistic people work differently and provide understanding. It's clear you have a deep frustration that's leading you to bad-faith assumtions.

Oh no. They clearly didn’t read the article at all.