What is ABA for Autism?

ABA is short for Applied Behavior Analysis. ABA is the application of the science of human behavior that works to understand and improve socially significant behavior. Programs are designed by a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) that are evidence-based and focus on teaching skills based on individualized needs. These can range from communication, adaptive skills, self-care, self-management, social skills, and more depending on the needs of the learner and their family.

A Board-Certified Behavior Analyst holds a graduate-level degree and national certification and may be the direct supervisor of a Board-Certified assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) or Registered Behavior Technician (RBT).

A BCBA will assess your child’s specific needs. BCaBAs and RBTs assist in implementing intervention under the direct supervision of a BCBA within their scope of practice as determined by the board. After receiving a referral from a medical professional or diagnosing provider and collecting supporting information, an assessment will be conducted to learn about your child’s skills. We collaborate with other professionals, including speech therapists and occupational therapists, to gain understanding of your child’s needs.

Providers will implement targets within natural environment teaching opportunities. Therapy is child-led and looks very similar to play. The goal is to introduce more functional, appropriate, and safer alternatives to challenging behaviors by using positive reinforcement.

ABCs of Behavior - Antecedent. Behavior. Consequence.

Antecedents are events that occur immediately before a behavior that give an insight into the function (or reason) of a behavior. They take into consideration the people, places, tasks presented, noises, etc. that are in the environment.

Behaviors are observable actions that are both objective and measurable. Examples include sitting in a chair for two minutes, verbally requesting a wanted tangible “I want ball”, yelling, etc.

Consequences are events that occur immediately after a behavior that influence future occurrences of behaviors.

Ethics

BCBAs and RBTs are held to ethical guidelines, as outlined by the certification board. At KidsChoice we hold ourselves to high ethical standards to ensure the best treatment possible for our clients. Some examples taken from the Compliance Code include:

·       Relying on scientific knowledge (1.01)

·       Maintaining boundaries of competence (1.02)

·       Delivering services within the bounds of a defined professional relationship (1.05, 1.06)

·       Protecting the confidentiality of clients (2.06)

·       Maintaining a responsibility to work in the clients’ best interest. (2.0)

·       Being familiar with the compliance code (10.06)

 You can find more information on ethical guidelines here

Written by Helene Potter, M.Ed., Behavior Analyst Intern

---

Learn more about Applied Behavior Analysis by checking out the ABA Fact Sheet below!

---

Getting started with ABA!

Step 1: Make sure that your child’s diagnostic paperwork is up to date within the past 2 years.

Step 2: Email a copy of your child’s diagnostic paperwork to contact@kidschoicetherapy.org or fax it to 405-857-8489.

Step 3: Call us at 405-857-8280 to fill out the KidsChoice Intake Form. Once completed, our Patient Care Supervisor will work with you to schedule your child’s ABA Assessment.

Call Now! 405-857-8280