Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

Kristin S. Bowman, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCBA-D Endicott College & Grace Effect Therapy Services Examples: Sign language, pictures, speech-generating device, voice output communication aid Description According to the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA), Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is an umbrella term that encompasses all communication modalities other than vocal-verbal communication (i.e., talking; ASHA, n.d.-a). As the…

Video Modeling

Updated by Kait Evoy, MS, LBS1 Association for Science in Autism Treatment Description: Video modeling is a form of the more general practice of modeling. Video modeling is an intervention effective for teaching social skills (e.g., Buggey et. al., 2011), play skills (e.g., Lee et. al., 2017; Petursdottir & Gudmundsdottir, 2017), daily life skills (Shipley-Benamou…

Self-Management Interventions

Kimberly B. Marshall, Ph. D., BCBA-D, University of Oregon Jessica L. Rohrer, Ph. D., BCBA-D, Endicott College, The Center for Children with Special Needs Description: Self-management interventions are classified under the umbrella of applied behavior analysis as they focus on improvements in socially significant behaviors. Self-management interventions teach individuals to engage in actions that change…

Reinforcement Systems

Description: Reinforcement systems are methods to provide consequences following particular behaviors. The purpose of these consequences is to make it more likely that these behaviors will occur again in the future. There are several examples of reinforcement systems: token economies, behavior contracts, and group-oriented contingencies. In a token economy, a person is taught that an…

Functional Communication Training (FCT)

Updated by: Frank Cicero, PhD, BCBA Seton Hall University and the Association for Science in Autism Treatment Description Functional communication training (FCT) is a behaviorally-based procedure used to increase effective communication behavior and reduce inappropriate/challenging behavior that is not effective because it does not communicate the person’s wants or needs clearly and/or does not fit…

Direct Instruction

Alice Shillingsburg, PhD., BCBA-D; University of Nebraska Medical Center, Munroe-Meyer Institute & Sarah Frampton, PhD., BCBA-D; University of Nebraska-Omaha Description: Direct Instruction (DI) is an approach to teaching that consists of a carefully designed sequence of instructional material and an explicit approach to delivering instruction to students. Although the techniques are continually being improved upon,…

Description of Service Providers

Individuals with autism often receive services from multi-disciplinary teams. In addition to educators and early interventionists, you will find descriptions of many of these service providers below. Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) Board certified behavior analysts conduct behavioral assessments and provide interpretations of the results of such assessments. They design and supervise behavior analytic interventions…

Classroom Application of Functional Analysis

  Bloom, S. E., Iwata, B. A., Fritz, J. N., Roscoe, E. M., & Carreau, A. B. (2011). Classroom application of a trial-based functional analysis. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 44(1), 19-31. Reviewed by: Laurie Brophy, LCSW, BCBA Why research this topic? Researchers have shown that interventions for problematic behaviors are safest and most effective…

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

Updated by Kate McKenna, MEd, MSEd, MS, BCBA Association for Science in Autism Treatment Description: Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is the application of the science of behavior analysis to real-world problems with the goal of effecting lasting and positive change in socially important behavior (Baer, et al., 1968; Fennell & Dillenburger, 2014). At the heart…