Articles that focus on changing behavior (used to be called behavior modification) using positive reinforcement; applied behavior analysis is a teaching method used to help children with autism learn to their full potential.
After receiving your child’s diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), you probably felt a flurry of emotions. Perhaps you were shocked, thinking to yourself on the drive home, “but my kid talks.” Perhaps you were relieved, finally having confirmation that your sneaking suspicions about your child’s delays were valid. Whatever you felt, you took the […]
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It’s no secret that autism diagnoses of children are growing. In a new study just published in the journal Pediatrics, one in 40 children has autism spectrum disorder, and according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, diagnoses of boys outnumber girls nearly four to one (1/37 boys versus 1/151 girls). While there is […]
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What is an intervention? Intervention for autism involves taking action, often with outside help, to improve a specific condition or behavior. A successful intervention requires the cooperation of the child, parent, and therapist. With consistent practice and teamwork, interventions can make a difference. There are many interventions that address the many challenges parents encounter when […]
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His life was a routine. His life was a schedule. His life stepped. His day-to-day life was chronological. We evolve into the militant enforcers of a strict routine, a strict schedule, the strict followers of chronological order, and we do not delve from that line. Yet, in the physics of constant movement, in the physics […]
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People like to be rewarded for a job well done. Rewards can be as simple as a parent praising a child for picking up toys or as significant as getting a promotion after years of dedication and hard work. This reinforcement, known as a part of operant conditioning, helps an individual make an association between […]
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What constitutes forgiveness and the best pathway to achieving it is one of the most debated topics around. Some argue that in order to forgive, one must forget past transgressions and “take the high road” or “be the bigger person.” Others claim that forgiveness sets you free. What does all this mean and which philosophy […]
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What is depression? Psychiatry.org defines depression as a medical illness that causes “feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed.” People with autism, particularly teens and adults, are prone to depression. At this stage of their lives, autistic teens and adults have more social experiences. As a result, they can go […]
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Over the years as a behavior analyst, I have been able to work with a varying number of parents and caregivers who have son or daughters diagnosed with developmental disabilities. During these interactions, it has become prevalent that strategies that have been recommended by helping professionals to reduce challenging behaviors are tough to remember and […]
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When not fully understood, applied behavior analysis (ABA) may seem like an overwhelming treatment option for children diagnosed with autism. Many people are unsure what ABA is, what it can do and why it is used. Simply put, ABA is a science that uses reinforcement strategies to increase or decrease socially significant behavior. Based on […]
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What is a weighted vest? A weighted vest is a garment worn over clothing with extra weight added within the vest. This is done either by using heavy fabric or filling the vest’s pockets with weighted objects such as steel bars or sandbags. It is designed to add between five to ten percent of a […]
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