Stop Taking The Train Away; Back to Basics in ABA with Michelle Burr (Part I)

Send us Fan MailABA on Tap is proud to present Michelle Burr (Part 1 of 2):The fastest way to lose what makes ABA powerful is to turn it into a checklist. Mike and Dan sit down with Michelle Burr, a veteran clinician with decades in autism services, to talk about what happens when real teaching gets buried under perfect data sheets, rigid protocols, and insurance-driven “progress” that doesn’t generalize.Michelle walks us through her origin story, the early in-home era, and the Wisconsin initiatives that expanded access through Medicaid while also creating new bottlenecks like long waitlists and unrealistic parent-presence requirements. We also get honest about the complicated legacy of Ivar Lovaas, what the old structure got right, and what modern training often misses: the why behind prerequisite skills, the purpose of imitation, and the point of manding beyond scripted trials.From there, we zoom out to the field today: BCBA credentialing pressures, private equity in ABA, and the push to standardize services until they feel like fast food. Michelle shares why Montessori education became a turning point in her work, and how developmental, individualized environments can strengthen ABA rather than weaken it. We also unpack “assent-based” practice, HRE (happy, relaxed, engaged), and why skill-based treatment (SBT) gets risky when teams stop progressing demands and accidentally reinforce escape.If you care about ethical ABA therapy, practical autism intervention, and training clinicians to have both technical skill and real feel, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share with a teammate, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.Support the show🔥 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform!📢 Connect with Us:🔗 Website: https://abaontap.com🎧 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aba.on.tap.podcast📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abaontap/ 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ABAonTap💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aba-on-tap💡 Support the Show:☕ Love what we do? Buy us a virtual drink! Support ABA on Tap🎙️ Interested in sponsoring? Partner with us🚀 Join the ABA on Tap Community! Stay updated on the latest episodes, live events, and exclusive content.🎧 Analyze Responsibly & Keep the Conversation Going! 🍻