Applied Behavior Analysis

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is one of the most widely recognized and sought out treatments for persons diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). ABA is based upon more than 50 years of scientific investigation with individuals affected by a wide range of behavioral and developmental disorders (Skinner). It is an ABA based approach that contains the fundamental characteristics to educate those effected with ASD.

According to Baer, Wolf & Risley (1968) ABA is the process of systematically applying interventions based upon the principles of learning theory to improve socially significant behaviors to a meaningful degree, and to demonstrate that the interventions are responsible for the improvement of behavior. Since the 1960s, there has been a wide range of research demonstrating the efficacy of ABA in the reduction of disruptive behaviors typically observed in children with autism. Interventions and treatments, such as Discrete Trial Instruction, Pivotal Response Training, Antecedent-Based Interventions (ABI), incidental teaching practices and fluency based instruction are evidence-based practices/treatments supported by research and fall under the umbrella of Applied Behavior Analysis. The National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders (NPDC-ASD) identified twenty-two other evidence based practices that are considered evidence-based research rupported practices.

Although the specifics can vary from program to program, one can be confident that in choosing an ABA based approach, the instructional techniques have a rich empirical support base. Baseline data is collected, analyzed and used to make program decisions. Data is taken and analyazed throughout the intervention to decide if the int...

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... and hundreds of studies to support, ABA Therapy can not be compared to other interventions. ABA uses methods of analysis that yield convincing, reproducible, and conceptually sensible demonstrations of how to accomplish specific behavior changes (Baer & Risley, 1987). ABA based approaches provide professionals and families with information which then in turn is used to make crucial decisions for the individuals educational program. It is important to remember that each individual diagnosed with ASD is effected differently and the level of disability varies from person to person. As research increases, ABA based programs are evolving to teach higher more complex skills. With this in mind, one must remember that although ABA is a discipline that employs objective data to drive decision-making about an individual’s program, it is not a “one size fits all” approach.