I. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) – What is it?
Applied-means that interventions are geared toward achieving socially-important goals, helping people be more successful in natural settings such as homes, schools, and communities. Behavioral means that ABA focuses on what people say or do, rather than interpretations or assumptions about behavior.
Analytic-means that assessments are used to identify relationships between behavior and aspects of the environment (e.g., screaming occurs most when Johnny is given a difficult task and allows him to delay or avoid that activity) before proceeding to intervention.
Popular practices based on the principles of ABA have incorporated some or all of these features. For example, reward systems, if/then boards, visual schedules, planned ignoring, and removing privileges are commonly used in the schools. When applied appropriately (e.g., making sure rewards are actually enticing to students), these strategies can promote positive behavior. Early intervention programs and programs for children with autism often emphasize arranging the classroom or home environments (e.g., using pictures, bins for items); these can be considered antecedent interventions.
Read more: www.autismsupportnetwork.com
II. Functions of Behaviors – Why do the children engage in the behaviors?
Remember EATS!!!
ESCAPE
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ATTENTION
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TANGIBLE
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SENSORY
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To escape/avoid an aversive
task or situation
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To gain attention from
another person, usually in shared attention situations.
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To access a desired item or
activity
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Automatically reinforcing
themselves bc feels good or to avoid unwanted stimulation.
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Jon is told to sit in a
group, it’s loud, crowded, etc. He screams and is removed from group to go
bounce on a ball
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Tim is in group worship,
starts to shake his legs, bump other kids, lay back on his back. Teacher continuous calls on Tim and
redirects him then staff come sit next to Tim and rub his back.
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Sue is denied a ball she
wants and screams then hits staff. She
then picks up the ball and plays.
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Paul is in a classroom during
free play, it is loud and child attempts to run outside of class
continuously. He receives small breaks
from the time the staff are having to get him.
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