3/20/2018

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ABA – Love it or Hate it,

but first:Understand it!

(Title borrowed from Ronald Leaf & John McEachin)

Maryann Trott, MA, BCBA

Michele Iemolo, PsyD., BCBA

Safe Zone

WARNING!!!!Attention ALL Participants!

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Outline:

• Introductions: Why your presenters hate ABA (and why they love it)

• Myth or Fact: ABA anonymous quizDiscussion of each Myth or Fact

• Research – Why is it important and why should I care?

• ABC’s of Behavior

(AKA your visual schedule)

Objectives:

Participants will:

1. Identify at least three facts in relation to Applied Behavior Analysis

2. Identify at least one way in which the concepts/tools of Applied Behavior Analysis influence their professional and/or daily activities.

3. Identify one or more (or no) misconceptions they may have had regarding ABA.

Michele’s Story

Sunflower Creative Arts

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Why Michele Hates ABA

Why Michele Loves ABA

Maryann’s story

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Why Maryann hates ABA

Why Maryann loves ABA

The Learner is always right!

It is very respectful of learners.

ABA

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ABA: Myth, Fact or Opinion???

Anonymous Response Game!

ABA: Myth, Fact or Opinion?

• ABA utilizes the same principles to train animals

ABA: Myth, Fact or Opinion?• Most ABA interventions employ some type of

punishment procedure

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ABA: Myth, Fact or Opinion?

• Reinforcement is a technique aimed at controlling the learner.

ABA: Myth, Fact or Opinion?

• ABA is unnatural! AND it turns children into robots!

ABA: Myth, Fact or Opinion?

Behavior Analysts are “Anti-sensory”

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ABA: Myth, Fact or Opinion?

• Behavior Analysts recognize that:• All of us are motivated (toward or away from)

sensory input, sensory variation, movement and pressure

• Some behaviors (including challenging behaviors) are “automatically” reinforced – they feel good• They may need to be replaced with behaviors that serve a

similar function

• Some escape behaviors may be related to “pain attenuation” – getting away from aversive stimuli• They may need to be replaced with other “escape”

behaviors or strategies to “tolerate” the aversive stimuli

ABA: Myth, Fact or Opinion?

• Behavior Analysts also recognize that:• Some activities used as Antecedent Based

Interventions or Reinforcements (e.g. jumping on a trampoline, swinging, pushing, pulling or carrying a heavy load) may be effective for some students (and will not harm any student)

• Activities such as the ones above (or the opportunity to escape from activities) contingent on what is often perceived as inappropriate behavior of the individual serves to reinforce the behaviors they are intended to resolve

ABA: Myth, Fact or Opinion?

=

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ABA: Myth, Fact, Opinion?

• ABA therapists are taught to be non-emotional

ABA: Myth, Fact, Opinion?

• ABA is the only treatment for all individuals with autism

http://www.nationalautismcenter.org/national-standards-project/

ABA: Myth, Fact, Opinion?

• ABA is primarily used for children with Autism

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ABA: Myth, Fact, Opinion?A partial list of areas in which ABA interventions have been shown to be effective

• General and Special education (all levels)

• Autism spectrum disorders

• Intellectual and Developmental disabilities

• Attention Deficit disorder

• Movement disorders

• Brain injuries and diseases

• Behavior disorders

• Substance abuse disorders

• Dementia

• Feeding disorders

• Home and workplace safety

• Vehicular and pedestrian safety

• Organizational behavior management

• Animal welfare and training

• Conservation

• Parenting

• Child welfare

• Sports

• Health and fitness

Association of Professional Behavior Analystswww.APBAHome.net

ABA: Myth, Fact, Opinion?

• Only a Behavior Analyst can do ABA

Not only a BCBA can use Applied Behavior Analysis

• ABA is a science – we don’t “do” physics or medicine –we use the science.

• There are different levels of expertise

• There may be occasional cases in which a bigger, more specialized tool chest is needed

• We know how to use science because experts teach us

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ABA: Myth, Fact, Opinion?

• BCBAs are ARROGANT?!

Research: Why is it important and why should I care?

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Saturday Night Live!

• http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/kaitlin-at-the-mall/n11863?snl=1

Here is what we know from the science of behavior (Applied Behavior Analysis)

1. All behavior is LEARNED

2. Behavior serves a purpose (is logical)

3. Behavior is communication

4. Behavior is a function of the interactions between the person and the environment

5. A behavior cannot be eliminated without being replaced

6. If a behavior persists (even a problem behavior), it is being reinforced.

7. One more thing . . . .

All behavior has a function – to get something or to get out of something

• Escape – from a person, task, environment, etc.

• Tangible –specific item or activity

• Attention – attention from peers, adults, etc.

• Automatic (sensory) – the behavior produces internal reinforcement (it feels good).

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How does that work? ABC’s of Understanding Behavior

A

B

CAntecedent

Behavior

Consequence

What comes right beforeWhat comes right after

Let’s talk about those consequences

R+ R-

P-P+

How about some examples?!• Joe was texting while driving. He ran a red light and was hit by

another car. He never texted while driving again.

• Dad took both of his kids to the grocery store on a Saturday afternoon. They kept whining for cookies, candy, ice cream! He got each a treat so he could finish shopping in peace. • What was the consequence of whining for the kids ?

• What was the consequence of giving the kids a treat for Dad?

• Sue was mad that her electric bill was so high! She decided not to pay the bill. Her electricity was turned off and all the food in the refrigerator spoiled!

• Maryann finished a big project very quickly. Her boss gave her a big box of Peppermint Patties. Next time she finished more slowly. (Hint – Maryann does not like Peppermint.)

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How does that apply to learning?

Before you ask your learner to do something, ask yourself, “Why should he?”

The learneris always

right!

Building a Bridge

“All Religions, Arts and Sciences are branches of the same tree.”