To relay behavior analytic information to parents, teachers, and non-behavioral professionals through fun, engaging, and easy-to-understand content. We believe that the science of ABA and aim to make behavioral knowledge more accessible to our community.
As a parent, we always want to ensure that the quality of any service we are getting for our children is of good quality. This should be no different for the ABA clinic and services your child is receiving. The question that can sometimes be hard to answer is “what should my expectations be?” It is important to know what you should expect when receiving ABA services.
Empathy is a complex social skill involving verbal and non-verbal cues. For a person with Autism, this skill does not come naturally. These skills start to develop with typically developing children in their toddler years. Children with autism may need extra training and reinforcement to show empathetic behavior.
Thinking about the future for your child with a disability can be difficult especially when there is so much time and effort going into what needs to happen today or in the short term. Where to start with this process can be daunting.
Despite this, it is important to ensure that you start to plan for your child’s future as soon as possible. This will ensure that things like guardianship for children with autism are done in a timely manner as well as allow for more financial stability and protection of your child’s access to government assistance in the future.
We had the pleasure of being able to ask Kim Hegwood of Hegwood Law Group some questions regarding attaining guardianship and special needs trusts. Kim also has a child with a disability and has personally gone through the process of obtaining guardianship and planning for the future for her child.
Positive reinforcement is often confused with bribery. But, is it important for parents (especially for those with children on the autism spectrum) to distinguish the difference between bribery and reinforcement. Equally important is the knowledge of HOW to practically use positive reinforcement to help everyday behaviors.
After working all day, cleaning up after your kids, you’ve spent the past hour cooking an amazing meal for your family, and you put it in front of your toddler and tell him to take a bite. He immediately starts to cry and demand chicken nuggets. Thinking quickly, you say “Hey, I’ll make you a deal, you stop crying and I’ll go make you some chicken nuggets.” Your sigh of relief is palpable as the crying stops, and it’s quiet once more. For many parents, this is a common occurrence, and most of us don’t pause to analyze what we may be teaching at that moment. Read more
Daily, independent living skills or self-care skills are those skills that people use every day to maintain their appearance, health, and hygiene. These small tasks include brushing teeth, showering, chores, and getting dressed. These are arguably some of the most important skills in a person’s repertoire. These skills provide a person with the autonomy to live on their own or with minimal support.
Many of our learners with autism may need extra support to learn these important skills. For some families, caregivers have to complete these tasks for their child, adding to additional stress on the family. By their children with autism learning these skills, stress can be reduced for the caregivers. Read more
Social Skills – This one item should be on the to-do list of any parent who has a child with Autism
Having a child with autism can add a lot to a parent’s list. We know all parents want to do the best they can for their kiddos, and the list of things is seemingly endless. We are also sensitive to the fact that the ‘list’ for families with kiddos on the Autism spectrum, or special abilities/needs, can be twice as endless. From doctor’s appointments, speech, occupational therapy, and nutrition to just typical needs like a haircut. Read more