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A New Opportunity
Why ABA works
What is Applied Behavioural Analysis?
Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA), also known as behavioural
intervention or behavioural treatment, utilises methods based
on scientific principles of behaviour to bring about comprehensive
and enduring improvements in a wide range of skills for most
people with Autism.
Children with Autism have great difficulty learning the way
their peers do in traditional environments, but can learn
a great deal when given the right kind of instruction. In
an ABA programme, every skill the child cannot demonstrate
is systematically broken down into manageable steps which
can then be chained together to form more complex and functional
achievements. As each of these steps is being taught, a correct
response is rewarded, thereby increasing the likelihood of
the child responding the same way again. Incorrect or problematic
responses, such as tantrums, self-stimulatory behaviours and
self-injury, are definitely not reinforced. The child is prompted
to respond appropriately and then reinforced for maintaining
the correct answer, leading to the extinction of the problematic
behaviour.
Language, social, play, academic and self help skills are
all addressed. Children are taught, for example, how to pay
attention, imitate, use communicative language, and show and
receive affection, all of which are things other children
learn naturally. Whilst a programme will start with the child
working one on one with a therapist, as skills are acquired
they are generalised into everyday situations and environments.
As ABA is a home based programme, it enables the whole family
to contribute to the therapy for the child with Autism. Parental
involvement is particularly important and their training is
provided in the establishment stage of the programme to allow
for consistency inside and outside therapy hours. The therapy
is supervised by a qualified ABA practitioner and is conducted
by trained therapists within the child's home, until such
time as the child has acquired sufficient skills to enable
them to be integrated into a mainstream school. A therapist
remains with the child during this integration/socialisation
phase, and is gradually phased out as the child learns to
cope independently.
Next: Why
do children with Autism need ABA? >
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