Culturally sensitive treatment for children

To begin with, I would admit that I liked Professor Lai’s lecture very much; it is very practical for the young behavioral analysts as well as for the autistic kids’ parents and/or their caregivers. I would have never guessed that kids start to realize their diversity so early in their life; the same can be said about their understanding of their racial identity (diversity) at preschool. As to contingency, it is clearer, kids begin realizing it through their parents or caregivers. I was also surprised that gender plays a significant role in cultural diversity of children, especially their understanding the way the society reacts to their racial and facial differences. Adolescence is a difficult period of all kids’ life, no matter to what identity they belong, but by that time they are old enough to realize that friendly relationships with the kids who look like them is a better way to socialize in the multicultural society.

Learning styles also depend on the kids’ diversity and, consequently, their achievements during their school years, especially learning style is vitally important for the kids with disabilities, for example, autists, who needs special and constant support. It is particularly important for American education where the problem of racial diversity is and has always been an issue of the greatest importance. In this situation behavioral analysts should constantly adhere to the ethic practices to provide such kids with successful treatment and learning.

It is quite understandable that parents and/or the kids’ caregivers affect kid’s behavior the most, while behavioral analysts may use other ways (for example, mass media) to find out the best ways how to ease black autistic kids' life, for example, to socialize in the community where they live. Thus, it is extremely important to teach behavioral specialists the practice of resiliency and empowerment, whether it is an individual or a collective treatment. Also, it should not be forgotten that prejudice and stereotyping are serious problems for the disabled children. That is why it is vitally important to include resilience and empowerment widely and more effectively in the behavioral analysts’ practice. And the examples, presented by the professor, are vivid confirmation of the usefulness and efficiency of these practices.