When working with a student who is just acquiring language, we spend a lot of time teaching how to answer questions. “What does a dog say?” “What’s your name?” “What’s this?” “What do you do with a shoe?” The answers to these questions are often simple 1-word answers, which is a great place to be Read more about Expanding Language Skills – Part 1[…]
Direct Instruction is an evidence-based teaching approach that falls under the umbrella of ABA. We use at least one (or a combination of a few) DI programs with many of our students. We even have some students who have loved the books so much that Language for Learning became a leisure activity! Direct Instruction operates Read more about Direct Instruction (DI) Programs[…]
A Behaviour Intervention Plan (BIP) is what takes the observations from a functional assessment and turns them into a concrete plan of suggestions. It is also sometimes known as a behaviour protocol or behaviour treatment plan. It should be based on a functional assessment or a functional analysis so that the suggestions made are function-based. Read more about Writing a Behaviour Intervention Plan (BIP)[…]
Behaviour is communication. It is our students’ way of telling us how they feel or what they need. Behaviour can have many different forms but what it looks like is not as important as what it’s trying to tell us. The function of the behaviour is the part that tells us WHY the behaviour is Read more about Function Over Form: Functional Communication Training[…]
Having trouble with or feeling timid about transitioning your client with autism from diapers to the toilet? Fret not! Follow the steps below – it’s the approach we’ve used for many years to successfully toilet train our clients. Remember: Be patient, be consistent and be your kiddos biggest cheerleader as she learns to use the Read more about Toilet Training 101[…]
In the first year of children’s lives, they rely on their parents and caregivers for everything. As children approach 2 years of age, however, the journey towards independence should start with teaching them how to do simple self care tasks, such as using the potty and taking off their hats. We encourage starting to Read more about How To Teach A Young Child Self Care Skills[…]
As Behaviour Analysts, it is our job to put programs and protocols in place for therapists to carry out. This means that a program is often only as good as the therapist implementing it. A therapist who is able to follow programming, take data, and implement protocol is going to be essential to the success Read more about What to Look for When Hiring an ABA Therapist[…]
Materials for an ABA program don’t have to cost a ton of money. We’re big fans of keeping it simple and doable. Fancy, laminated cards look pretty but if something else can get the job done for a fraction of the time and cost – that’s a winner! Besides for a few materials that we Read more about Top 5 Must-Have ABA Program Materials[…]
We can’t ignore that children have emotions. As behaviourists, we are trained to treat behaviours and not private events like thoughts and feelings. But how can we ignore that some of the little people we work with are struggling with managing how they’re feeling? We need to allow for our students to have these emotions Read more about Teaching Emotional Regulation with a 3-Point Scale[…]
Before I had kids, I swore that my children wouldn’t be raised on television and media and I would never use a screen as a babysitter. For many years, we did not even have a television in our house. I imagined that we would do enjoyable things together like baking, arts and crafts, and puzzles. Read more about Technology – Love it or Hate It?[…]