Upholding Anti-ableism in Applied Behavior Analysis: A Strengths-Based Approach to Goal Writing and Direct Service.

Elisabeth J Malone, Bonnie L White, Finley W Aavatsmark, Bethany P Contreras, Kathleen N Tuck

Abstract readReview

In one paragraph

Review in Behavior analysis in practice, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

0citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Elisabeth J MaloneUniversity of Tennessee, Knoxville, 1122 Volunteer Blvd, Knoxville, TN 37996 USA.ORCID 0000-0001-6486-1246

Bonnie L WhiteHigh Hopes Development Center, 301 High Hopes Court, Franklin, TN 37064 USA.

Finley W AavatsmarkUniversity of Nevada, 1664 N. Virginia St., MS 0296, Reno, NV 89557 USA.ORCID 0009-0005-0226-0919

Bethany P ContrerasUniversity of Nevada, 1664 N. Virginia St., MS 0296, Reno, NV 89557 USA.ORCID 0000-0003-0806-0975

Kathleen N TuckUniversity of Kansas, 1122 West Campus Road, JRP 531, Lawrence, KS 66045 USA.ORCID 0000-0003-0271-0965

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Consumers of applied behavior analysis (ABA) are largely those with autism or those who identify as disabled. Therefore, it is essential that ABA professionals embody anti-ableist practices by moving away from the deficit-based medical model perspective of disability and toward a strengths-based approach. Six areas of a strengths-based approach to ABA, specifically in goal writing and direct services, are discussed, including (a) respecting client dignity, (b) amplifying client voice, (c) honoring neurodiversity, (d) considering intersectionality, (e) promoting authentic inclusion, and (f) prioritizing social-emotional intervention. Actionable steps and tools are suggested for ABA service providers. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40617-025-01085-6.

Indexed as

AbleismApplied behavior analysisAssentInclusionNeurodiversitySelf-advocacySelf-determinationSocial-emotional learning

Identifiers

PMID42327417

DOI10.1007/s40617-025-01085-6

PMCPMC13275942

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata

Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.