What is ABA?
Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA, is a group of scientific principles that are used to modify human behavior. ABA therapy uses these principles to produce socially significant change in individuals. Socially significant behaviors include communication, social skills, academics, self-care skills, etc. An important aspect of ABA is direct observation of behavior, data collection and interpretation, and determining relations between the environment and behavior.
The basic framework of ABA therapy is manipulating the things that occur in the individual's environment in order to teach new skills, replacement behaviors, and eliminate inappropriate behaviors.
The basic framework of ABA therapy is manipulating the things that occur in the individual's environment in order to teach new skills, replacement behaviors, and eliminate inappropriate behaviors.
Who benefits from ABA?
The populations that have benefitted from ABA principles include children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Aspergers, other developmental disabilities, mental illness, and typically developing kids with problematic behaviors.
How does ABA work?
ABA encompasses a variety of techniques depending on the individual and the target skill. Most aquisition skills, such as communication, language skills, and academics occur in one-on-one sessions in center or at home with a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), Board Certified Assisstant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA), and/or a trained and supervised behavior technician. Social skills are often taught in a group setting with appropriate models and peers. Other sessions can be conducted in the home, in the community, or at school depending on the child's needs.
