Systematic Instruction

The treatment with the greatest research base is applied behavior analysis (ABA). ABA uses behavioral principles such as positive reinforcement, to teach children skills and teaches the skills in a planned, systematic manner. Children receive repeated opportunities across the day, across settings, people and materials to practice new skills. Thus, if an interventionist is going to teach a child to give an item to someone else, the teacher would tell the child clearly, "Give the ball to mommy." The teacher would then help the child give the ball to mommy and then provide the child with praise, a favorite toy or maybe tickles for following the instruction. Through repeated practice of hearing the instruction "Give the ball to mommy" and receiving a reward for doing it, the child learns what "Give the ball to mommy" means.

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The National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders. Lots of great information on ABA and autism. Leaf, R., & McEachin, J. E. (1999). A work in progress: Behavior management strategies and a curriculum for intensive behavioral treatment of autism. New York: DRL Books.