Professionals and Poor Treatment

Hey there.  Today I want to talk about a serious issue a lot of autistic people face, and that is poor treatment by “professionals.”  For various reasons, an individual may not be fully equipped to truly aid an autistic person, even if they have a license or degree, and this can have catastrophic consequences for the autistic patient.  Unfortunately, the biggest problem is that many professionals seem to think they are doing a great job, and so they continue to exercise harmful behavior towards the very people they’re supposed to be helping.

One way autistic people can be hurt by professionals is the failure to take another perspective (related – This is My Reality.) Many autistic people find themselves the victim of bullying, abuse, other conditions, and more.  However, some professionals deny that there is any problem, instead placing the blame on the patient for their situation.  They may ask questions such as “What did you do to deserve it?” and “Could you have misinterpreted?”  This is incredibly invalidating to a patient and can lead to many adverse effects on mental health, including poor self-esteem, negative self-image, anxiety, depression, and trauma.  Some also believe that because they themselves could have “handled it,” the autistic person is also fully capable of doing the exact same thing.

Another issue is that many professionals are aggressive towards autistic people.  When the autistic person is upset or isn’t responding perfectly to treatment, some professionals get very frustrated and lash out at them.  This may take the form of yelling, cruel word choice, insults, and an angry tone, which can fall into the category of verbal abuse.  This can be extremely damaging to the psyche.  And often, it doesn’t stop there.  Some professionals feel a need to grab, push, pull, or otherwise touch an autistic person in a way that is very uncomfortable.  Professionals (or anyone, for that matter,) should never lay a hand on someone unless the person clearly expresses that they are okay with it.  An additional problem is the use of abusive therapies and techniques, such as applied behavioral analysis (ABA) and hand-over-hand.

Many professionals feel that since they are qualified on paper for their career, they are automatically proficient at it.  Some feel as though they are always right and refuse to address any mistakes that they may have made in their practice (related – hHelpful vs Harmful Ways to Respond When Someone Has Autism.) It’s important for professionals to recognize that a degree is no substitute for real-world experience and that they too have the potential to do something wrong.  It’s also crucial to recognize that a professional’s education may not be perfect – they may have been taught abusive techniques and/or been given poor definitions and examples of people on the spectrum.  A good professional is able to put their achievements aside, recognize how their education shapes their perspective, apologize for mistakes, always be open-minded and willing to learn, and be respectful and gentle towards their patients.

How can an autistic person find a professional that will help and not harm?  There are a couple methods you could use.  First, look at the individual’s education and experience.  What are they qualified for?  Second, talk to others who have consulted with this person and/or read reviews to see how this person’s treatment worked.  Focus on reviews from people with the same conditions you have as opposed to any third party, as these will be most relevant to your situation.  Once you find a professional and meet with them, pay attention to how they treat you.  If you feel they are using poor language, dismissing you, or making you uncomfortable, you are not obligated to stay, no matter what anyone else says.  You don’t deserve maltreatment and you owe it to yourself to find genuine help.

To all those who have had to deal with hurtful professionals, I am very sorry that you went through that.  No one should be harmed by people who are supposed to help them live their best lives.  If you are a professional, I encourage you to look at your practice, listen to your patients, and find ways you can improve.  Even if things seem to be going well, it’s always good to keep learning.  And if you’re someone searching for a professional, I hope you find someone amazing.