uodsp: Fwd: Re: Centria Autism Services: Career Info Session TH 4/14 @ 5PM

Sat Apr 9 00:17:26 PDT 2016

Hi all,

This is my reply to an email I got from the Career Center advertising an 
info session with a company that specializes in ABA (applied behavior 
analysis), a "treatment" for autism; that email is is the last message 
in this thread. For those who aren't aware of what ABA entails, my 
message that follows should clarify. I'm tempted to organize a protest 
of the info session, but unfortunately I can't make that time. If anyone 
else wanted to take up the cause, however, please feel free. If anyone 
has any questions, I'd be happy to field them.

content warning for child abuse / medical abuse / ableism:

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: Centria Autism Services: Career Info Session TH 4/14 @ 5PM
Date: 2016-04-09 12:05 am
 From: Finch G Byrd <finchb at uoregon.edu>
To: thaynes at uoregon.edu

Dear Tina,

I understand that your mailing list is supposed to be a non-biased 
conveyor of information to students looking for jobs, and I usually 
appreciate your services, but unfortunately this particular email 
reached the wrong audience. I am a proudly autistic person and I'd like 
to inform you of how ABA "therapy" hurts autistic people like me.

ABA forces autistic individuals to avoid expressing their feelings in 
ways that come naturally (like flapping or other stimming), and to 
perform behaviors (for example, eye contact) that make them deeply 
uncomfortable. ABA is not a "treatment" for autism, it is merely a 
forced (read: abusive) repression of natural, comfortable, HEALTHY 
behaviors. To "treat" autistic children in this way is to fuck them up 
for life, to institute self-hate and  potentially lifelong confusion 
about why and how they differ from their non-autistic peers. 
Furthermore, the very tactics used by ABA "therapists" are cruel and 
indefensible.

Autism is not a bad thing. It is not a devastating condition (a claim 
which relies on an insidious negative misconception of other 
disabilities, but I digress) like organizations like Autism Speaks might 
have you believe (Autism Speaks, by the way, is a hate group: 
http://goldenheartedrose.tumblr.com/post/89338501188/autism-speaks-masterpost-new-updated-4116). 
As an autistic individual, all autism means for me is a different 
perspective on life from my non-autistic peers. Autism is not something 
that needs, or even warrants "treatment."

I am deeply hurt and disturbed that the Career Center would allow a 
company specializing in the abuse of autistic children to come and give 
an info session at the University. Besides being generally morally 
reprehensible, doing so is also deeply inconsiderate of autistic 
individuals on campus, like myself. I hope that this email, if nothing 
else, will make you personally reconsider your apparently enthusiastic 
complicity in abuse.

More information on the harm that ABA does can be found here: 
http://neurowonderful.tumblr.com/post/113614992351/aloha-amethyst-i-came-across-your-post-on-my

Sincerely,
Finch Byrd
(pronouns: it/its/itself)

On 2016-04-08 3:43 pm, thaynes at uoregon.edu wrote:
> [1]
> 
> ~ Invite ~
> 
> CENTRIA AUTISM SERVICES
> Career Info Session
> Thursday, April 14 from 5:00PM - 6:00PM
> Location: 254 Straub Hall
> 
> Take a study break and stop by this info session to learn more about
> one of the fastest growing careers in healthcare--ABA Therapy!
> Part-time & Full-time jobs available!  Centria Autism Services [2] is
> the largest provider of in home BA therapy to children diagnosed with
> an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Come and explore careers as Behavior
> Technicians, BCaBAs and BCBAs.
> 
> JOIN US to learn about why we hired 91 techs in March alone!
> JOIN US to learn about how you can have a rewarding career in ABA
> Therapy (applied behavior therapy)!
> JOIN US to learn how to get started today!
> 
> Especially interested in majors in FAMILY AND HUMAN SERVICES, SPED,
> PSYCHOLOGY, HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY AND SOCIOLOGY.  All majors welcome as we
> have part-time and full-time positions available. More info:
> http://www.centriahealthcare.com/autism-services.html.
> 
> Please RSVP if you plan to attend:
> 
> 1. Sign in to DuckConnect using your DuckID [3]
> 2. Navigate to CAREER EVENTS & WORKSHOPS
> 3. Locate and register for this event
> 
> Please contact me if you have any questions about this opportunity.
> Tina Haynes
> UO Career Center - On-Campus Recruiting
> 541-346-6006
> thaynes at uoregon.edu
> 
>  [4]
> 
>  [5]
> 
>  [6]
> 
>  [7]
> 
> Attachments
> 
> Centria Info Session Flyer [8]
> 
> 
> Links:
> ------
> [1] http://career.uoregon.edu/meet-employers
> [2] http://www.centriahealthcare.com/autism-services.html
> [3] https://www.myinterfase.com/uoregon/student/secure
> [4] http://facebook.com/uocareercenter
> [5] http://twitter.com/uocareercenter
> [6] http://www.pinterest.com/uocareercenter/
> [7] http://www.instagram.com/uocareercenter/
> [8]
> https://www.myinterfase.com/uoregon/resources/resource_view.aspx?token=BBl2B1neuPq4J87%2fyfi4Kw%3d%3d