Social Validity and the Consideration of Neurodiversity in Relation to Ethics

The opinions and values of patients and clients are critical data for healthcare practitioners to evaluate the quality of services provided. In behaviour analysis, social validity is one of, if not the most important element in evaluating treatment efficacy and effectiveness. Montrose Wolf's seminal paper offered that the work of a behaviour analyst should be validated on three criteria: (1) social significance of the goals, (2) social appropriateness of the procedures, and (3) the social importance of the effects (Wolf in J Appl Behav Anal 11:203–214, 1978). This chapter discusses the value of social validity and the effects of systemic ableism that limit a practitioner’s ability to provide quality care that is both meaningful and individualized for the client.