Changing behavior (used to be called behavior modification) using positive reinforcement; applied behavior analysis (ABA) is a teaching method used to help children with autism learn to their full potential.
Applied Behavior Analysis has become a hot topic in the autism community. In this special guide, we discuss everything you to need to know. Controversy about ABA therapy Despite its popularity, ABA therapy has received some criticism from parents and advocates with the way some practitioners apply certain strategies that can be considered inhumane and […]
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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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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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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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Learning that your child has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be very difficult for family members. One of the most important things to remember is that your child is still the same child that he/she was prior to the diagnosis. As you learn about ASD and begin to use resources and find […]
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As parents, we are usually the first to discover if our child has autism, a behavioral problem, or a learning disability. We do our very best to help our child overcome whatever he/she is going through but sometimes we just need help. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is a great resource that could help kids […]
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What is Pivotal Response Training? Pivotal Response Training (PRT), also known as Pivotal Response Treatment, is an evidence-based intervention developed by Dr. Robert Koegel, Ph.D. and Dr. Lynn Koegel, Ph.D. to provide a more naturalistic approach to the principles of applied behavioral analysis (ABA). PRT is child-led and rewards positive behavior with direct and natural […]
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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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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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Recently Autism Parenting Magazine received a question about an 8-year-old boy with autism who engaged in challenging behavior in a school. Specifically, a grandparent was worried about the child’s meltdowns which included kicking, hitting and saying some bad words. The person had concerns regarding the effectiveness of what was being done by a Behavior Therapist […]
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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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Help! I am going to be starting Applied Behavior Analysis for my son who has autism. Can you tell me things to ask and what to look for in an ABA provider? — Jane I am so glad you asked this. Within the autism community there are mixed feelings about Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). But, […]
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How do you handle high anxiety of a child on the spectrum? My son is 12 years old and where we live there is a hurricane coming soon. Everyone is talking about it and he is terrified. He gets upset when it rains and he cries because he’s scared. With others he appears angry and […]
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A grandfather from Singapore asks… My eldest grandson (age 5) is autistic. His parents work full-time so I am his caretaker. He is very picky about his food, does not talk, is hyperactive, walks on his toes, has difficulty concentrating, wakes up in the middle of the night, is not potty-trained, and fiddles with his […]
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Hi, I am the parent of a 13-year-old boy with Asperger’s syndrome. He was unable to cope with school so he now has a tutor come to the house each day for one hour. He is very withdrawn and this is worse when his tutor comes. How do I get him to engage with the […]
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Interview with Dr. Maria Wynne Leslie Burby: Hi, thanks for joining me, I’m Leslie Burby, editor-in-chief of Autism Parenting Magazine and today we are here with Dr. Maria Wynne of Wynne Solutions and today we are going to talk about Tele-health. Thanks for joining me today doctor. Dr. Maria Wynne: Thanks for having me. Leslie […]
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