Will ABA Help my son to be an Opera Singer?
Probably Not
Will ABA Benefit My Child?
Probably Yes
Is your child...
...having difficulty learning?
...having problems acquiring new
skills?
... having difficulty communicating?
...experiencing problem behaviors
that get in the way of functioning?
If your child has any of these or other
concerning behaviors, an ABA-based
approach to behavior intervention may
be useful.
Problem behaviors may include temper
tantrums, aggression, or self-injury.
Our Practice is limited to treating only those on the Autistic Spectrum.
What Does ABA Intervention Involve?
Effective ABA intervention for autism is not a "one size fits all" approach and should never be viewed as a "canned" set of programs or drills. On the contrary, a skilled therapist customizes the intervention to each learner's skills, needs, interests, preferences and family situation. For these reasons, an ABA program for one learner will look different than a program for another learner. That said, quality ABA programs for learners with autism have the following in common:
Planning and Ongoing Assessment
* A qualified and trained behavior analyst designs and directly oversees the intervention. * The analyst’s development of treatment goals stems from a detailed assessment of each learner's skills and preferences and may also include family goals. * Treatment goals and instruction are developmentally appropriate and target a broad range of skill areas such as communication, sociability, self-care, play and leisure, motor development and academic skills. * Goals emphasize skills that will enable learners to become independent and successful in both the short and long terms. * The instruction plan breaks down desired skills into manageable steps to be taught from the simplest (e.g. imitating single sounds) to the more complex (e.g. carrying on a conversation). * The intervention involves ongoing objective measurement of the learner’s progress. * The behavior analyst frequently reviews information on the learner’s progress and uses this to adjust procedures and goals as needed. * The analyst meets regularly with family members and program staff to plan ahead, review progress and make adjustments as needed.
What does our ABA Program Look Like?
Supervision
The program should be designed and
monitored by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)
or someone with similar credentials. Supervisors should
have extensive experience working with children with
autism.
Training
All participants should be fully trained, with
supervisors providing support, monitoring, and ongoing
training for the duration of the program.
Programming
The program should be created after
a detailed assessment has been conducted and tailored
to the child’s specific deficits and skills. Family and
learner preferences should be given consideration in
determining treatment goals. Generalization tasks should
be built into the program to ensure performance of skills
in multiple environments.
Functional programming
Goals selected should
be beneficial and functional to the individual and
increase or enhance his/her quality of life. A mix of
behavior analytic therapies should be used so that the
child has an opportunity to learn in different ways.
Data collection
Data on skill acquisition and
behavior reduction should be recorded and analyzed
regularly. This data should be reviewed by the supervisor
and used to measure the progress of the individual and
provide information for program planning.
Family training
–
Family members should be trained
in order to teach and reinforce skills. They should be
involved in both the planning and review process.
Team Meetings
that involve the therapists,
supervisor and involved family members are necessary to
maintain consistency, identify pertinent issues and
discuss progress