Sleep challenges are common in children and can cause stress for parents and family members. Some simple straightforward strategies may help your child develop good sleep habits. In some cases, however, intensive treatment strategies are needed. What does the Research Say? Researchers have studied sleep disturbances in the autism population and have found that 52% of Read more about Tackling Sleep Challenges[…]
Reinforcement is one of the most powerful strategies available for teaching your client. A reinforcer is anything that your client enjoys (praise, hugs, candy, preferred toys, etc.) that when provided following the occurrence of a behavior increases the probability that the behavior will increase or happen again. For example, a child points to a cookie. Read more about What is Reinforcement?[…]
Halloween has always been one of my most favorite holidays, the weather is just getting cooler, and getting to watch all the kiddos running around having a great time, is just the icing on the cake. Halloween can also be a very challenging time for our friends with ASD. So here are some tips that Read more about Tips for Getting your Child with ASD Through Halloween[…]
When I was first starting out in the field, I met someone who asked me what I do. When I told her that I am in the field of Applied Behaviour Analysis, she responded with something like, “Oh, that doesn’t work. It just makes kids robotic and learn to clap on demand.” I was floored. Read more about What is ABA?[…]
What is Theory of Mind? Theory of Mind is the ability to attribute mental states to the self and to others, and to understand that others have beliefs, desires, and perspectives different than one’s own. For a person who has developed a theory of mind, they will be able to understand that people’s interests are Read more about Teaching Theory of Mind and Perspective Taking[…]
We were recently observing a student working and he had the right pieces in place – classroom rules, behaviour contract, etc. but his lack of attending was really interfering with his ability to keep to the rules and get his work done, especially in the classroom. Even with positive behaviour supports in place, there was Read more about Momentary Time Sampling and Data Collection[…]
The ability to use communication to get basic needs met is of major importance to our students. Verbal requesting (AKA: manding) is a skill that we emphasize from the beginner all the way through to the advanced learner. It is an underlying theme taught in direct instruction, in NET and in play. Requesting should remain Read more about Teaching Verbal Requesting[…]
In this post, we are going to take you back to ABA 101. Why? Because getting these reinforcement and punishment terms sorted in our head is important to what we do. For instance, take the term, ‘NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT.’ What does this mean anyway? Does this mean taking something away to increase a behaviour or does Read more about Types of Reinforcement and Punishment[…]
I recently sent an email to a client’s team with a line that read as follows: “All staff will continue to follow through with demands and deliver consequences (punishers and reinforcers) as applicable.” One of the team members took offence to the word “punisher” and was concerned that the approach wasn’t a positive one. I Read more about The Behavioural Definition of Punishment[…]
We BCBA’s love our acronyms! Here’s another one for you: DRO. This stands for the Differential Reinforcement of Other (behaviour). It essentially means that we are providing reinforcement for THE LACK of a behaviour. Why would a DRO be useful? Many problem behaviours have a positive opposite that we can reinforce. So instead of telling Read more about What is a DRO and How to Implement One[…]