Behavioral
therapy is my favorite teaching student with autism way so far because it can be used for a wide variety
of behaviors and skills. Applied Behavioral Analysis or
ABA is an autism teaching strategy to correct a child's
behavior (rather it is throwing a tantrum, getting eye
contact or teaching social skills) and includes these techniques: Discrete
trials are the giving of an instruction which has a definite
beginning and ending. The beginning is the actual giving
of the instruction and the end is the directed individual
following (or not following) the instruction within a certain
length of time (a few seconds). This would be one
discrete trial. Trials can include
mass (several) and expanded (several instructions) trials.
They use the following concepts:
- breakdown tasks into very small units
- systematic use of
reinforcement as reward (food, toy or praise)
-
very
clear simple language
-
errorless
teaching is used by prompting the person so they don't get
frustrated and get wanted reward
-
prompting
is done from most-to-least. You
do the most prompting when starting a new activity such as
hand over hand assistance. Least prompting for tasks
that are already or almost learned such as visual prompting
prompting
includes: physical (includes hand over hand), positional
(where it's placed on the table), gestural (pointing), verbal, and
visual (use of instructors eyes).
As
you might be able to tell prompting is very important.
Knowing when to use it and not use it is the hardest part for me
anyway.
It is used to teach:
- receptive language (to show an
understanding of language)
- expressive language (spoken
use of language)
- action on object command
("Put the toy on the chair.")
Incidental teaching or finding natural
opportunities is also very important. Finding that small
window of interest can get the ball rolling! It can assist
with focus and the student being able to sit still.
Try these books:
- A Work in Progress: Behavior Management, Strategies
and a Curriculum for Intensive Behavioral Treatment of
Autism by Ron Leaf and John McEachin, Published by DRL
Books, LLC, ISBN 0-9665266-0-0, 1999.
- ABLLS, Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills is
an assessment, curriculum guide and skills tracking system
for children with autism and developmental
disabilities. This is an expensive, but valuable
system that the school system should own. Ask them
about it!
- Behavioral Intervention for Young Children with
Autism: A Manual for Parents and Professional by
Catherine Maurice who saved two of her
children, 1996.
- Helping Children with Autism Learn: A Guide to
Treatment Approaches for Parents and Professionals, by Bryna
Siegel, 2003.
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