Melendez Julie L, Tan Isabella Maria C, Lau Jasmine C, Leung Jay
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA USA.
Behav Anal Pract. 2020 Nov 17;14(2):451-461. doi: 10.1007/s40617-020-00500-4. eCollection 2021 Jun.
As part of the child-rearing process, situations that invite difficult conversations will inevitably arise. Oftentimes, there are no guidelines or structure for how to discuss topics such as sex education, systemic racism, bullying, grieving, and gun violence. Accordingly, adults may feel at a loss for how to address difficult topics and may even avoid difficult conversations completely. When adults choose to have these conversations, they may imitate the conversations their caregivers had with them, and therefore further the cycle of systemic racism, often unknowingly and unintentionally. Racial injustice has been a core part of the American experience since the founding of the republic; hence, conversations about systemic racism are long overdue. The need has significantly increased, given the current socio-political climate. Social justice may be a sensitive topic for some, but it is a needed conversation for all, including children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Currently available curricula and teaching manuals in the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) literature include little or no resources for caregivers on how to address systemic racism with their children on the spectrum. Children with ASD should be educated about how they, and their families, can combat systemic racism in their everyday lives. The present paper addresses this gap in available treatment resources by offering practical suggestions and guidelines for how adults can address the topic of systemic racism with children on the autism spectrum to educate them and prepare them to contribute to a more equitable and just future.
作为育儿过程的一部分，引发艰难对话的情况不可避免地会出现。通常，对于如何讨论性教育、系统性种族主义、欺凌、悲伤和枪支暴力等话题，没有指导方针或框架。因此，成年人可能会不知所措，不知道如何处理这些棘手的话题，甚至可能完全回避艰难的对话。当成年人选择进行这些对话时，他们可能会模仿他们的照顾者与他们进行的对话，从而在不知不觉中延续系统性种族主义的循环。自共和国成立以来，种族不公一直是美国经历的核心部分；因此，关于系统性种族主义的对话早就该进行了。鉴于当前的社会政治气候，这种需求显著增加。社会正义对一些人来说可能是一个敏感话题，但对所有人来说都是必要的对话，包括患有自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）的儿童。目前应用行为分析（ABA）文献中可用的课程和教学手册几乎没有为照顾者提供关于如何与自闭症谱系的孩子谈论系统性种族主义的资源。应该教育患有自闭症谱系障碍的儿童，让他们了解自己以及他们的家庭如何在日常生活中对抗系统性种族主义。本文通过提供实用的建议和指导方针，填补了现有治疗资源的这一空白，说明成年人如何与自闭症谱系的孩子谈论系统性种族主义这个话题，以便教育他们，并让他们为更公平、公正的未来做好准备。
