WHAT IS ABA

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a research-based therapy that works to increase positive

behaviors and decrease negative behaviors. It is most commonly a therapy prescribed for

children and adolescents with autism.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, ABA therapy is a type of behavioral therapy for people with

autism and other developmental disorders. It’s based on the idea that if you reward certain

behaviors then children will repeat those behaviors. In other words, when you reinforce specific

behaviors, those behaviors will increase. When you don’t reinforce certain behaviors, those

behaviors will decrease and may eventually go away altogether. ABA may help people with

autism:

● Improve social interactions.

● Learn new skills.

● Increase positive behaviors.

● Lessen challenging behavior.

WHAT ABA IS NOT

● Forcing those with developmental delays to be “normal” or change who they are. In practice,

○ the primary focus of ABA is to address socially significant behaviors: those that

impact the safety and independence of the client.

● Focuses only on behavior problems: While ABA does aim to reduce challenging

behaviors,

○ effective ABA programs focus on socially significant behaviors and work to

reduce dangerous and disruptive behaviors and replace them with behaviors that

are safe and less disruptive.

● ABA uses bribery to teach kids: those who oppose ABA suggest that children are bribed into “being good.”

○ ABA uses positive reinforcement, your child is presented with the expectations in

advance. With bribery, your child is often already engaged in challenging

behavior when a reward is offered.