How ABA Helps with Dentist Waiting Room Behavior

Learning patience and how to wait is hard for any child, yet they are essential skills for daily life. Not only are these skills vital for social interactions, they can affect a child’s safety as well. There are many times when children will have to wait and be quiet and behave appropriately while doing so. […]

How to Talk About Autism with Extended Family without Shame

Family support is critical in raising a child, no matter what that child’s development abilities are. It becomes even more critical, though, when a child is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Parents of children with autism may need more help and support — both physical and emotional — than those of neurotypical children. This is because […]

The Emotional Stages Parents Experience During ABA Treatment

When parents first hear that their child has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), they likely experience a wide range of emotions all at once. This can range from shock and surprise, to sadness, anger and everything in between. It can be quite overwhelming to receive an autism diagnosis, even for those who were […]

How ABA Therapists Collaborate with Pediatricians

Holistic approaches to well-being have become commonplace today, as the benefits of an all-encompassing plan are immense. The same is true of children who have developmental challenges such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Applied behavior analysis (ABA therapy) is considered the leading treatment for children on the autism spectrum, but it doesn’t just treat patients […]

Preparing for the Holidays with ABA-Friendly Strategies

The holidays are an exciting time of year. Extended families and friends get together, celebrating traditions that have been passed down for generations. With so much being different during these celebrations, though, holidays can prove to be very challenging for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The change in routine, the noisy environments and the […]

How to Help Grandparents Participate in ABA Learning

Parental and caregiver involvement is a key driver of success in applied behavior analysis (ABA therapy). The reason for this is quite simple: Parents and caregivers spend the most time with their children, so they need to know the strategies that ABA therapists use during sessions so they can best support their children outside of […]

What Eye-Tracking Studies Reveal About Autism

Studying autism spectrum disorder (ASD) presents a unique challenge to researchers, since many children with autism face deficits in social interaction and communication. In other words, unlike with other groups of people, researchers may not be able to get accurate information from children on the autism spectrum by asking them questions. Yet, advanced research has […]

Reinforcer Inventories in ABA

You may have heard that applied behavior analysis, or ABA therapy, is so effective because every treatment plan is customized to the individual patient’s unique strengths, challenges, needs and preferences. This personalization is used to create targeted interventions for every patient, since no two children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are exactly alike. There is […]

Cultural Competence in ABA

Every individual who has autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is unique. While most people with autism share common characteristics and face common challenges, there are varying degrees to which they are affected. Applied behavior analysis (ABA therapy) is the leading treatment for children on the autism spectrum, in large part because it is personalized to each […]

Why Reinforcement in ABA Fails (and How to Fix It)

Positive reinforcement is an integral part of applied behavior analysis (ABA therapy). It is used as a way to reward patients for successful attempts and completions of new tasks and behaviors that are being taught, as well keep them engaged in the therapy and motivated to do more. In ABA therapy, reinforcers can be anything […]