Episode 95: Canary in the Coal Mine

“Today’s episode critiques Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBAs) used in schools, arguing that they focus on “fixing” the student rather than addressing systemic issues within the classroom environment that contribute to challenging behaviors. The author of the source article, Dr. Jaime Hoerricks, advocates for environmental audits as a more inclusive alternative, emphasising the importance of creating supportive learning spaces that meet diverse student needs. The text highlights the lack of transparency in FBA guidance development and the critical absence of neurodivergent voices, particularly autistic perspectives, in shaping these educational policies. A key element of the critique involves the failure to consider alexithymia, a condition affecting many autistic individuals, in understanding and addressing their behaviors. The ultimate call to action is to shift from a deficit-based model to a system prioritising equity and the unique needs of all students.”

Here’s the link to the source article: https://open.substack.com/pub/autside/p/fixing-the-mine-why-functional-behavioral

Let me know what you think.