Episode 15: Out of the Clinic and into the Chaos: Community-Based ABA

Are we setting our clients up for failure? In this episode of Rad N Bad, Sean and Mike welcome the fearless Shanti Bradley, a BCBA who is challenging the biggest lie in ABA: that real therapy only happens in a sterile clinic environment. They dive into why the "tabletop simulator" approach is ineffective and unethical, teaching compliance over competence and ignoring the beautiful, messy chaos of real life.The hosts and their guest get into the weeds of why skills don't magically generalize from a clinic and how an overreliance on rigid curriculums and direct-to-staff instruction fails clients in the real world. They discuss the professional, parental, and institutional barriers—including funding models and the "illusion of control"—that keep the field from prioritizing meaningful, community-based outcomes. This episode is a call to action to move past laziness and discomfort, advocate for what's right, and embrace the unpredictable learning opportunities that truly promote independence and long-term success.You can find Shanti on Linkedin at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanti-bradley-bcba-42893571/