This week is the start of a new blog series about the specific approach of behavior therapy we use: Verbal Behavior. There is a lot to break down when we talk about Verbal Behavior, so we will be doing several posts about what it is and how to effectively use it in therapy. The first thing we want to talk…
In a recent post, we talked about the meaning of a Functional Behavior Assessment, or FBA. As we said in the post, it’s the beginning of the behavior therapy process. The FBA is a comprehensive assessment that helps determine the function of the child’s behavior. It was founded on the principle that behavior serves a function, meaning that there is…
More abbreviations, they never end! Today we are going to focus on two very important parts of the ABA field: Functional Behavior Analysis (FBA) and Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP). These are two parts of a child’s plan that come at the beginning of the therapy process. Let’s dive in! The FBA is the initial assessment of the child. The FBA…
How many of you have trouble with your children’s behaviors after school? The after school hours can be challenging for a lot of kids. They want to come home and relax, but have what seems like an endless amount of homework to do. This could cause some behavior problems and possibly meltdown. There are a lot of factors to look…
We all thrive on routines. We use calendars to keep our schedules in order and planners to help remember what assignments we need to do. As much as we thrive on routines, so do kids. Their schools have a schedule of the day that they are expected to follow. They mentally establish routines for waking up, getting ready, and going…
ABA therapists are one part of a very important team of people that coordinate and execute therapy for their clients. Depending on the child, members of these teams may vary. This means that students with different needs will have different related service providers on their therapy teams. In schools, these teams are called Individualized Education Plan (IEP) teams. Typical team…
By now you’ve seen us use all types of abbreviations and certifications in our posts. Worry no longer, STEPS is here to help! Today we will be looking at the different titles you can hold when working in ABA and what those titles entail. All information in this post was gathered from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB, www.bacb.com). The…
At this point, you may be wondering about how ABA can help your child. Luckily, there has been extensive research about the effectiveness of ABA for different children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Today, we are going to present STEPS’s Top 10 Reasons ABA can help your child. Let’s dive in! 10. All decisions are data-driven. Whenever we provide recommendations…
What is behavior? Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines behavior as A: the manner of conducting oneself, B: anything that an organism does involving action and response stimulation, C: the response of an individual, group, or species to its environment. In today’s post we are breaking down the definition of behavior into simpler terms. On the surface, behavior seems like a very self-explanatory…
Do you dread the after school “witching hour?” Hate asking the question, “how much homework do you have?” Wish for peaceful evenings playing and relaxing with your kids, instead of fighting over studying spelling words or the Spanish Inquisition? STEPS is here to help! The practices we use in ABA can help you and your child get through the dreaded…