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.
Applied behavior analysis (ABA) interventions have been proven to be extremely effective for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), increasing their skills and reducing problem behavior (National Autism Center, 2015). There are a variety of ways ABA can be provided, but the way it is often delivered, through intensive 1:1 therapy, has come to be […]
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He began to flap as the speech therapist cleaned the room dry of anything that would distract the little boy. Then she began her session, today’s lesson: pronouns. She began to struggle. She showed him stick figures pointing to themselves and pointing to other people. “My redshirt,” she repeated to him. He stared at her, […]
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A Conversation with Patrick… Patrick, now 27, is a kind, candid, and wickedly funny young man. I counseled him beginning in his teens, and was later able to share his story in The Loving Push, which I coauthored with Dr. Temple Grandin. Patrick and I spoke recently by phone. We hope some of his story […]
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As the years have progressed in my career working with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families, I have had the privilege to work with more and more teenagers. I have met some remarkable young men and women with autism who have taught me a lot, and I have had the honor of […]
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The new school year can be a source of stress for many children and even more so for children with autism. There are new people to meet, new routines to learn, and all the while having to navigate this real-world environment we call school. Communicating with your child’s teacher is critical to your child’s success. […]
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I am a broken record when it comes to talking about learned helplessness! I think it is one of the most dangerous and damaging traps that kids or parents can fall into. Learned helplessness may be a term unfamiliar to you as well, so let me give you the basics, and 10 practical ways to […]
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The Spark: A Mother’s Story of Nurturing Genius, by Kristine Barnett, recounts her story as a mother of a child diagnosed with Asperger’s. Kristine narrates how she “lost” her son Jake to autism and her family’s journey to get him back. Jake worked with experts at home and in school, but progress was lacking, and […]
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I’m struggling with my son remembering the things he has learned. I teach him one thing and he forgets. Any tips? –Matsepo Hey Matsepo! What you’re experiencing is very common for people with developmental disabilities. Research shows that children with autism require significantly more learning opportunities to gain a new skill than other children. On […]
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For children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), head banging is a common way to self-soothe and communicate needs. Both neurotypical and autistic babies and toddlers seek to recreate the rhythm that stimulated their vestibular system while in utero. Other rhythmic habits that fuel a child’s kinesthetic drive include head rolling, body rocking, biting, and thumb […]
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Dr. Stephen Shore once said “If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.” As many of you know, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention reports that there are now 1 in 68 children living with autism in the United States. What this means for each child and his/her family […]
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