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❄️ Don't Miss the Holiday Sale! Claim Special Pricing & Bonuses Now ❄️
I’ve talked with BCBA therapists and I’ve talked with individuals with autism, but it is not often I talk with a BCBA therapist with autism. Armando Bernal was diagnosed with autism at 3 years old in 1993. Now he is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and host of the podcast, A Different Path. We had a delightful conversation covering all about his diagnosis and treatment, things he faces now as an adult with autism, and how he works as a BCBA therapist as an individual with autism.
Armando, like my son Lucas, was diagnosed in the 90s. At that time, ABA was not as well known and researched as it is today, especially in Armando’s case. This was before the time of mandated insurance coverage, and Armando and his family did not qualify for ABA or really know much about it all. That did not stop his mom from fully captaining the ship. She brought him to the library with his older sister, read books, tried different approaches at home, and advocated for him every step of the way. Armando explains that he remembers being told about his diagnosis and it really helped him understand who he was and the why behind his differences, which was really empowering for him.
In public school, Armando really flourished at the hands of his principal and mother’s advocacy. When he was struggling in a classroom, they found a better fit for him. He notes this as an important time for himself and that he really owes a lot to the friends he made then for who he is now. Public School is also where he learned to mask. No, not COVID masks. Masking autism is when an individual minimizes or hides certain characteristics or habits related to their autism in order to fit in with social norms. This is something that was super prevalent in public schools and society in the 90s and early 00s. Now, however, many autism advocates speak out against masking and it’s way of decreasing self-acceptance and encouraging insecurity. Armando says, sometimes masking just makes things easier.
We’ve often discussed the controversy around ABA on this podcast. Armando says he often hears apprehensions about the therapy as well, but he is an advocate for understanding ABA and finding good providers. It’s important to have an open dialog on the topic, and many times the people who consider ABA abuse aren’t willing to hear the other side of it, and that is part of the problem. Armando provides ABA therapy to children across the spectrum. As someone with autism himself, his main focus is to make therapy discussions focused on the child and family, and he only discloses his diagnosis in situations where he lends hope to parents who are struggling with their new reality.
Dating and life is hard no matter who you are. Dating as an individual with autism brings about its own unique challenges. Armando talks about his fiancé with so much love and joy, it’s really so special to hear! The online dating world, he says, has made dating with autism so much easier, at least in his case. He found digital conversation the best way to be himself and get to know someone without the best social cues. Turns out he found his match.
Armando is an incredible person who is definitely going places. As someone on the spectrum with his achievements, he introduced his new podcast, A Different Path, in which he tells diverse stories of individuals diagnosed with autism. There are so many incredible people and stories to hear. Autism is a spectrum and there are people on all sides. Take for instance my son Lucas; he is 25 years old and lives a very different life from Armando. There is hope, there is treatment, but overall a spectrum of autism will create a spectrum of outcomes.
My goal in my work, this podcast, my book, is to help all individuals with autism regardless of their place on the spectrum, is to attain three things: safety, independence, and happiness. And that is going to look very different for everyone. I truly enjoyed talking with Armando today and look forward to hearing more from him on his podcast. You can find out more about him and the show at Autism International.
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