Neuroaffirming ABA: Promoting Autonomy, Identity, and Well-Being in Autism

This presentation will provide participants with an overview of neuroaffirming Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), emphasizing how these principles differ from traditional behaviorist approaches. Participants will explore the historical use of ABA to better understand how past practices have shaped current conversations and informed the shift toward more ethical, affirming, and client-centered care. The session will define autistic masking and examine its potential social and emotional impacts, highlighting the importance of reducing the need for masking in therapeutic and educational settings. Participants will also learn and demonstrate practical, neuroaffirming strategies—such as choice-making and identity-affirming supports—that promote autonomy and independence for autistic clients. Finally, the presentation will include real-world examples illustrating the effectiveness of neuroaffirming ABA in supporting well-being and authentic self-expression.

Learning Objectives:

• The participant will describe the principles of neuroaffirming ABA and how they differ from traditional approaches
• The participant will demonstrate at least three practical strategies that promote autonomy, independence, and identify-affirming supports for autistic clients
• The participant will identify three examples that show the effectiveness of neuroaffirmng ABA
• The participant will be able to define masking in autism and identify its potential social and emotional impacts.
• The participant will be able to review the historical use of ABA and understand how past practices inform current neuroaffirming approaches.

Presenter Bio

Armando Bernal is a neurodivergent board certified behavior analyst who supports patients of all ages. In addition, Armando provides autistic consultation, parent and therapist consultation, speaking engagements for companies across the nation, and supervision and mentorship to other BCBAs and therapists. Armando has also participated in several collaborations with Vanderbilt University and the Suny Empire State University meant to further support self-advocacy and independence for individuals with autism.

Armando is also the founder of Autism International Consulting, PLLC, a self-advocacy-centered organization which provides in-home ABA, in-clinic ABA, and international consultation. He hopes to spread awareness and acceptance of autism by interviewing and sharing the stories of other individuals with autism.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autismintl/