ABA
(Applied Behavior Analysis)
Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is the use of a wide variety of techniques and principles to bring about behavioral changes. The goal is to either increase positive behaviors or decrease undesirable ones.
An ABA program will ultimately address all aspects of a child’s life. These areas include behavioral needs in addition to social skills, language/communication skills, cognitive skills, self-help/daily living skills, play skills and motor skills.
ABA METHODS SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS IN A VARIETY OF WAYS:
Teaching skills to replace problem behaviors-learning what to do, not just what to stop doing
Increasing positive behavior and reducing interfering behavior
Maintaining behaviors-teaching self-control and self-monitoring
Changing responses to your child’s behavior, especially those that could unintentionally be rewarding problem behavior
Increasing your child’s academic, social, and self-help skills
Improving ability to focus on tasks, complying with tasks, and increasing motivation to perform
Aiming to improve cognitive skills and be more available for learning
Generalizeing or to transfer behavior from one situation or response to another
"Applied" means that interventions are geared toward achieving goals and helping people be more successful in natural settings such as homes, schools, and communities.
"Behavior" means that the focus is on what people actually say or do.
"Analysis" means that actual research data is used to identify relationships between behavior and environment before determining the best mode of intervention.
ABA has been highly successful with children with disabilities, specifically individuals diagnosed with autism. It can be used to teach anything to anyone and should not be solely synonymous with this diagnosis. As with all Early Intervention services the methodologies that are selected are individual to the child and family. There is no one size fits all approach.
Courtesy of Autism Speaks
For additional information view the Autism Speaks Parent's Guide:
https://www.autismspeaks.org/docs/sciencedocs/atn/atn_air-p_applied_behavior_analysis.pdf
