Autism Spectrum Disorder by Francis Tabone

Author:Francis Tabone [Tabone, Francis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Published: 2016-11-26T05:00:00+00:00

A Final Word on ABA

Try and think of ABA as a science in which the techniques are all geared toward the purpose of increasing desirable behavior. There are many types of tracking methods and types of planning that go into this comprehensive work. There are also many types of reward distribution and methods of withholding them. There are many books on the subject that an educator needs to be familiar with before engaging in the practice. Becoming a specialist in ABA requires specific course work and certification.

ABA is sometimes controversial. There are those who believe that ABA relies too heavily on extrinsic motivation. When you teach a dog to sit, you have a cookie in your hand ready to reward. This is often equated with ABA methods. Many critics say it leads to robotic skills that don’t transfer well into the real world. However, because those with ASD may have difficulties establishing relationships in which information is transferred back and forth, it is effective in getting the ball rolling. For students with higher needs, ABA can be exceptionally positive in increasing desired behavior. In addition, those with self-injurious behavior or behavior in which they harm others may need a fast and effective method to keep them safe. Students do make remarkable progress using ABA (and many other methods as well). Trained educators need to have a variety of tools in their tool kit when working with special needs students because as teachers have seen repeatedly, no two people are alike.

Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)

PECS is a nonverbal communication system widely used with students with ASD. Developed in the 1980s, PECS is visible in almost any classroom; because most of the materials are free or easy to create, PECS is readily available for use in almost any situation. You have read about using photos or pictures during an ABA lesson. Generally, these lessons involve a form of PECS to get the ball rolling. In addition, having a picture in many cases, even when a student can read, allows for a faster processing and redirection of the student’s attention, making it easier for the student to comply.3 PECS was developed as a communication tool for nonverbal children; however, PECS is now widely used as a prompt for verbal students as well.

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