Association for Behavior Analysis International

The phenomenon of stigma has been widely studied in the mental health field, yet research on the stigma experienced by neurodivergent individuals and their family members has been overlooked in the field of applied behavior analysis (ABA). Previous research has shown that experiences of stigma negatively impact the mental health and quality of life of those subjected to it. Furthermore, stigma often prevents individuals from seeking necessary support for themselves or their children and from following intervention recommendations. Since many ABA practitioners serve neurodivergent individuals and their families, who frequently encounter stigma, understanding this phenomenon is crucial for providing effective and ethical ABA services. Stigma is a complex issue, and several types have been identified and studied within the mental health field. In this presentation, I will share how ABA practitioners can assess consumers’ experiences by (a) providing a set of questions, (b) discussing considerations for assessment, and (c) outlining how to interpret and use assessment data.

The diverse pool of clients who are seeking Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services in the United States is rapidly growing. Clinicians will provide care for clients that are different in their own culture, beliefs, and customs. Beaulieu et al. (2019) highlighted the importance of clinicians to receive training to serve diverse populations. Cultural competency is an ongoing learning process that requires the clinician to shape and refine these skills in their practice. In some cultures, seeking care might be perceived as a stigma (Liu, 2001), if the service provider is not culturally sensitive, they could be providing treatment that is not culturally accepted by families and may experience resistance. Therefore, providing culturally sensitive treatment plans to meet the needs of linguistically and culturally diverse populations is of great importance. The purpose of this presentation is to discuss how to identify cultural stigmas and provide practical recommendations for delivering diversified care to Chinese/Chinese American families through a behavioral perspective lens.

It is said that the term stigma originated in ancient Greece, where it referred to symbols burned into the skin of enslaved people and people judged as criminals or traitors. Goffman reinvented the term to mean “a general aspect of social life that complicates everyday micro level interactions.” Such custom led to alienation and discrimination of the persons stigmatized. Whether visible or not, stigma is within and without all of us today, in every culture and nation. Persons with autism and other neurodiversity in Japan are stigmatized in multiple ways as the collectivist social norms make them difficult to conform. Their parents and siblings too, internalize their perceived stigmas to the extent that they avoid engaging in public social activities with their autistic family members. This presentation explores how compassionate ABA is the solution to overcome such stigma in Japan, to combat discrimination, gender inequity, and social exclusion. It is not just ABA, but it must be Tsunageru (connecting) ABA, in which one reaches out to the deepest sorrows and desperations of those children and families quietly oppressed and ostracized.