Searching for the right job in ABA, or any field, can be a challenging and sometimes frustrating experience. How does one prepare for an interview? How do you ascertain if the agency you’re interviewing with is a good fit for you, your values, and how you work? When we connect with people who are pursuing…
We are honored to have received this note from one of the valued parents we work with. #AutismAwareness From the Parent: I wrote this short post below for autism awareness day and wanted to share because each of you is part of the community that supports my kiddo. Thank you for choosing to work with…
There are many advantages to using a token economy with your child with autism. Token economies help you to shape your child’s behavior by providing quick and motivating reinforcers. If done at home and on a limited scale, they can be easily and economically implemented. Additionally, your child’s participation in your token economy can help…
Perhaps you recently got an autism diagnosis and are seeking funding for services. Alternatively, you may have just started services and are learning more about how Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) works. Either way, one of the most basic, evidence-based teaching practices that ABA leverages is Discrete Trial Training (DTT). You may see your ABA therapist…
We took a moment to speak with Animate Behavior Clinical Director, BCBA Hailey Purvis, about the importance of respecting the dignity of people with autism. If you are a caregiver, educator, parent or clinician, exhibiting true empathy and respect for people with ASD will nurture lasting relationships and create a positive, safe place for learning.…
Addressing problem behavior before it even happens? Is this possible? Sounds to good to be true but it is possible if your team of educators and ABA professionals takes the correct measures. Of course, addressing and reducing problem behavior does not happen overnight but if you commit to your own awareness of the evidence-based practices…
Becoming aware of symptoms of autism in your child is the first step toward getting effective treatment and helping them live up to their fullest potential. There is much information on the internet about what parents should and should not be doing and navigating this content feel overwhelming. In efforts to provide caregivers with relevant…
The old saying goes, “nobody likes a sore loser.” Dealing with losing is a social skill that your child with autism may find more challenging than their neurotypically-developing peers. There is a variety of reasons why this is so including, difficulty regulating emotions, or a deficit in perceiving other’s social cues. Dealing with losing is…
In our last article on how to reinforce desired behavior we defined reinforcement and identified the four types of rewards one could use. In this article, we’ll share tips, from our experienced clinical staff, on how to effectively use reinforcement. If done thoroughly, the following tips will help you replace problem behaviors with wanted behavior.…
Studies have shown that positive reinforcement is as effective, if not more effective, than punishment. When using punishment, you run the risk of accidentally encouraging problem behavior and damaging the parent/caregiver and child relationship. Reinforcement is a beneficial alternative. Reinforcement, as we’ll refer to it here, is defined as an action one takes to increase…
