Here is a great YouTube video showing a beginner ABA session.  

A POWERFUL, SCIENTIFIC APPROACH TO LEARNING.

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) advances skills of learners by breaking down skills into smaller, teachable components.  The components are taught using errorless teaching methods and differential reinforcement to bring about meaningful and positive change in behavior.

ABA is widely recognized as a safe and effective treatment for autism and other developmental disabilities, with over 40 years of published articles citing its effectiveness. The principles and techniques can foster basic skills such as looking, listening and imitating, as well as complex skills such as reading, conversing and understanding another person’s perspective.

APPLIED:

Children can receive up to 40 hours of ABA per week of 1:1 teaching by a trained professional to teach a variety of individualized skills.  However, the exact number of teaching hours varies depending on needs of the student.

BEHAVIORAL:

Children do not need to be exhibiting extreme negative behaviors to benefit from this approach.  ‘Behavior’ in this case also refers to increasing positive behaviours such as communication and independence.

ANALYSIS:

Evidence suggests that children can make significant gains if this type of treatment is comprehensive in scope and learning expectations are consistent across all environments.  (See ‘Why ABA’ section for further details)

HOW ABA WORKS

• Skills are broken down into multiple components
• Each skill is taught through repetition and reinforcement
• Errorless teaching procedures are used to promote learning
• Most effective, least restrictive prompts are used to promote learning
• Differential reinforcement is used to promote skill development
• All decisions are data driven
• Literature-based teaching methods are adapted to meet the needs of individual students

ABA techniques can produce improvements in communication, social relationships, play, self care, school and employment. Studies have demonstrated that many children with autism experience significant improvements in learning, reasoning, communication and adaptability when they participate in high-quality ABA programs. Some preschoolers who participate in early intensive intervention for two or more years acquire sufficient skills to participate in regular classrooms with little or no additional support.  Click here for more information about various evidenced-based treatments.

Generally, studies found that children who receive intensive ABA treatment make larger improvements in more skill areas than do children who participate in other interventions. In addition, the parents of the children who receive intensive ABA report greater reductions in daily stress than do parents whose children receive other treatments.  Click here to learn more information about why ABA is your best choice.