The AutSide
The AutSide Podcast
Episode 198: Scripting is Speech
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Episode 198: Scripting is Speech

“Today’s episode critiques a 2025 ABA study targeting autistic toddlers, arguing it dangerously disregards their communication rights and lived experiences. The author of the source article, Dr. Jaime Hoerricks, contends the study, which aims to reduce “challenging behaviors” through the Terminal Probe method, fails to consider the communicative intent behind these actions and lacks appropriate consent measures. Dr. Hoerricks highlights that suppressing behaviors like scripting or moving away can violate disability rights, as these actions may be forms of communication or self-regulation. Drawing on disability law and Able Grounded Phenomenology, Dr. Hoerricks emphasises the ethical necessity of understanding behaviour within the context of the autistic individual's internal experience, rather than merely seeking to extinguish it for compliance. Dr. Hoerricks expresses concern over the study's focus on behavioural reduction without considering broader well-being, autonomy, or the potential for trauma.”

Here’s the link to the source article:

https://open.substack.com/pub/autside/p/scripting-is-not-a-symptomits-speech

Let me know what you think.

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