Leaked internal documents show that the insurance giant is culling providers of applied behavior analysis from its network and scrutinizing the medical necessity of therapy. Advocates say the company’s strategy may be illegal.
I’m all in favor of shitting on UHC, but ABA for autism is rather problematic, so they’re actually on the same page as the autism community on this one.
EDIT: For those unfamiliar with it, it’s basically the autism equivalent of gay conversion therapy, trying to convert autistic children to neurotypical behavior. It’s not good for the autistic person’s own mental health.
We kept hearing this as well, but our personal experience has been the opposite. I think ABA therapy has changed dramatically over the years and shouldn’t be generalized as such. ABA seeks to understand behavior and includes that which is unseen. Specific therapists have certainly been problematic over the years though.
I am an autistic person with an autistic child. “Therapies” that try to get us to act like you should be illegal. And stupid, we evolved as part of humanity for a reason.
I masked my whole life, I don’t want my kid to be forced to as well.
I’m autistic as well, although I was not diagnosed with it as a kid (they only diagnosed me with a “learning disability” rather than the complicated soup of neurodivergences I have).
I’ve been lucky to not have to mask much in my life (although I do some, for sure). It’s a tragedy that most autistic kids are treated worse than I was. I think they all deserve better.
I’m all in favor of shitting on UHC, but ABA for autism is rather problematic, so they’re actually on the same page as the autism community on this one.
EDIT: For those unfamiliar with it, it’s basically the autism equivalent of gay conversion therapy, trying to convert autistic children to neurotypical behavior. It’s not good for the autistic person’s own mental health.
We kept hearing this as well, but our personal experience has been the opposite. I think ABA therapy has changed dramatically over the years and shouldn’t be generalized as such. ABA seeks to understand behavior and includes that which is unseen. Specific therapists have certainly been problematic over the years though.
I am an autistic person with an autistic child. “Therapies” that try to get us to act like you should be illegal. And stupid, we evolved as part of humanity for a reason.
I masked my whole life, I don’t want my kid to be forced to as well.
Cure ableism not Autism.
I’m autistic as well, although I was not diagnosed with it as a kid (they only diagnosed me with a “learning disability” rather than the complicated soup of neurodivergences I have).
I’ve been lucky to not have to mask much in my life (although I do some, for sure). It’s a tragedy that most autistic kids are treated worse than I was. I think they all deserve better.