WHAT IS ABA?
A
APPLIED
ABA WILL TEACH LIFE SKILLS
Principles applied to socially significant behaviours
B
BEHAVIOUR
Based on scientific principles of behaviour
A
ANALYSIS
Progress is continually measured and intervention adapted
WHAT IS ABA?
ABA is a discipline that employs objective data to drive decision-making about an individual’s program. That is, data is collected on responses made by the individual to determine if progress is being made or not; if there is no progress under a particular intervention, we need to reevaluate the program and change it so that the child begins to make progress
WHAT CAN ABA BE USED FOR?
The short answer is: almost anything. If it is a behaviour, and it can be observed, ABA principles exist that can be used to either increase or decrease that behaviour. As a discipline, ABA providers are charged with the improvement of socially significant behaviours. Socially significant behaviours include communication, social skills, academics, reading and adaptive living skills such as gross and fine motor skills, toileting, dressing, eating, personal self-care, domestic skills, and work skills.
ABA STEPS
POSITIVE INTERACTIONS
are first developed through the use of favourite activities and responding to any attempts to communicate.
MOTIVATION
is encouraged through the use of familiar materials and child-specific reinforces.
SUCCESS
is promoted through positive reinforcement of successive approximations and prompting and fading procedures.
PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
is critical. Parents are empowered through training and collaboration to create an environment in which treatment is provided most of a child's waking hours, at home, at school, and in the neighbourhood.
REQUESTING
this is developed as early as possible.
LANGUAGE
Learning to talk and understand vocal LANGUAGE is considered a fundamental part of social development
IMITATION
is also crucial, allowing a child to learn by observing other children learn.
And finally, social interactions and cooperative PLAY...
PLAY
are integral to treatment. Facilitated play occurs first with siblings and then with peers during play dates and at school.
HOW TO GET STARTED?
There are many providers of ABA services, many of whom are quite good. Frequently, a parent will choose a qualified provider with whom they share similar philosophical approaches in the application of intensive behavioral interventions.