A Father, A Son and the ABA Machine: A Discussion with John Summers

EPISODE 82
A Father, A Son and the ABA Machine:
A Discussion with John Summers

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Show Notes

John Summers is an historian, and the father of a 12-year-old autistic son. He holds strong feelings about Applied Behavior Analysis after many years of stressful experiences for his son, and for him as a father. He also has major concerns about the institutionalization of ABA in autism treatment, and bureaucracies that hold significant power over how disabled individuals are educated and treated. John discusses these issues from the perspective of an historian interested in the development and domination of systems for disabled people, that are too often dehumanizing , as well as the from his experience as an engaged and loving father working to do the best for his son.

Featuring

John Sumers

JOHN SUMMERS

John Summers is a research fellow in history and disability at New America and the Editor-in-Chief of Lingua Franca Media, Inc., an independent research institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he lives with his two children. John received his Ph.D. in American history from the University of Rochester and for a decade taught at Harvard University, Boston College, and Columbia University. To meet the need for sensitive writing about disability, He recently launched a publishing initiative at linguafranca.com. He writes and speaks widely about issues in contemporary culture. In recent years, he has turned to address autism and related neuro-developmental disorders, casting one eye on disability policy and the other on the history of the human sciences. He also is the father of a 12 year old autistic son, and has described his and his son’s experiences in a widely read Boston Globe, Op-Ed, entitled “The Mismeasure of Misha” published in November, 2022.

Visit John Summers’ Website

…and Continue the Discussion

Do you have a book or podcast club? If so, you may use this discussion guide to facilitate a conversation about this episode.

1) John believes it is important for those involved in supporting autistic children and adults to be aware of the influences and history in the development of applied behavior analysis. He speaks specifically about B.F. Skinner, the controversial behavioral psychologist whose work is the foundation of the field of ABA. What are his concerns about the influence of Skinner’s work as it has been applied not only to autism, but in American culture in general? He also believes that when we focus on “behavior”, we are missing the most important aspect of relationships. Do you agree?

2) In his influential article, “The Mismeasure of Misha”, John makes this point: “Sidestepping Misha’s sense of himself as a conscious agent diverged from my approach as a parent. His squealing and flapping I took as a kind of song and dance, fun rather than functional. His meltdowns I interpreted as frustration over his struggle to discriminate among his desires. I reckoned his outward behavior, in other words, not as a domain unto itself, to be manipulated to conform to objectives imposed on him, but as a clue to his inner feelings, beliefs, and thoughts. That’s common-sense parenting”. We then went on to discuss therapy approaches that violate parental intuitions about what best supports their children, and that dismisses the importance of trying to understand the child’s experience and inner perspective. Have you had similar experiences with professionals as a parent, teacher, or therapist, and how did you react in such circumstances?

3) Some parents discuss the challenge of being “appropriately assertive”, rather than coming across as “aggressive” and uncooperative? What is John’s opinion about this? Have you faced or know of others who have faced, similar circumstances, and what do you feel is the best way to navigate through this challenge?

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Music

Matt Savage, courtesy of Savage Records

Matt Savage is an autistic jazz musician, composer, and bandleader. Matt has collaborated with jazz greats like Chick Corea, the Ellington All Stars, Chaka Khan, Wynton Marsalis, Bobby Watson, Clark Terry, Jimmy Heath, Jason Moran, Arturo O’Farrill, John Pizzarelli, Joshua Redman, Terri Lyne Carrington, Jon Faddis, Jerry Bergonzi. Donny McCaslin, and more. He has recorded more than a dozen records and graciously contributes the music for Uniquely Human.

Production and Sound Design

ELEVATEDSTUDIO

Uniquely Human: The Podcast is produced, engineered, and edited by Elevated Studio in Denver, Colorado. Owned and operated by co-host Dave Finch, Elevated Studio produces digital media assets and content strategies for the electronics, entertainment, and lifestyle industries.