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Written by: Elizabeth Hardesty, MA, BCBA, Kassidy Ashbeck, MS, BCBA, and Thomas Zane, PhD, BCBA-D Department of Applied Behavioral Science, University of Kansas Caregivers of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may often feel a sense of urgency to find an intervention that will help their loved one. According to self-advocates, autistic people may socialize,…
Whether you’re a behavior analyst weighing a potential employer or a family choosing a provider for your child, the ABA landscape can feel overwhelming — there are many companies, and the distinguishing factors between them aren’t always obvious. Are there ways for clinicians and families alike to identify high-quality ABA organizations from the rest? Answered…
Ensuring my child with autism has a high quality of life is very important for our family. Her current therapy focuses on reducing interfering behaviors and building skills. Even with this progress, I find myself questioning whether these changes actually address her happiness and day-to-day experience. How can I tell if these supports are truly…
Elizabeth Hardesty, MA, BCBA, Kassidy Ashbeck, MS, Isabelle Sharp, BA, and Thomas Zane, PhD, BCBA-D Department of Applied Behavioral Science, University of Kansas The authors and editors would like to thank Scott Myers, MD and Thomas Challman, MD for their review of the draft of this article. Deficits in social communication are a key diagnostic…
After my child’s recent autism diagnosis, we were referred for therapy services, including applied behavior analysis (ABA). Since I was unfamiliar with ABA, I looked for more information online and encountered mixed perspectives, with some sources strongly supporting ABA and others raising concerns about its appropriateness for use with autistic children. How can I determine…
Kate McKenna, MEd, MSEd, MS, BCBA Association for Science in Autism Treatment Frank Cicero, PhD, BCBA-D (Certified School Psychologist) Seton Hall University History School psychology, as a field, emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when the laws requiring compulsory schooling increased the number of children attending public schools. As the need for…
Answered by Stephen R. Anderson, PhD, BCBA, LBA The Summit Center While most children seem to acquire foundational social and cognitive skills effortlessly through everyday experiences, many children with autism face significant challenges in developing these same abilities. Most children enter the world with natural abilities that provide the foundation for healthy social and intellectual…
As the parent of a child with autism, the holiday season can often feel daunting: breaks or changes in schedules, large gatherings of people, even special foods and clothing. Are there strategies you might be able to share to best prepare my child, and myself, for this season? Answered by Ashley Inoa, MA, BCBA, LBA-NJ…
Alexandra LaRue Rutgers University-Camden Kristina Mira, MEd, QBA Association for Science in Autism Treatment Introduction Photographed by Pavel Danilyuk (pexels.com) Comorbidity – the co-occurrence of two or more medical or psychological conditions in the same individual – is highly prevalent among people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disorders (O’Connell, 2021). Individuals with…
Organization for Autism Research. (2019). Life Journey through Autism: A Guide for Military Families (2nd ed.). https://researchautism.org/resources/a-guide-for-military-families/ Reviewed by Avi Jaiswal, Extern Association for Science in Autism Treatment Introduction Each family manages the challenges that come with an autism diagnosis differently. As a military family, you navigate many distinct challenges. Some common struggles include…
I am the parent of a newly diagnosed boy with ASD. He is my third child and is verbal, presents with some behavioral challenges along with many neat qualities as well. How can I explain autism to friends and family and ultimately to my son? Answered by Ashleigh O’Connor, BSpHSc, Grad Cert (Autism), MEd (ABA),…