#Applied Behavior Analysis

Contrary to popular belief: gestures, sounds, and one-word requests ARE communication. 💡Respond to the EFFORT and then demonstrate the next step. If you like my videos, you’ll LOVE my book! 📖 On March 17th, HarperCollins will release the second edition of ✨Life on the Bridge✨ as a hardcover AND audiobook! Click the link in my profile to pre-order TODAY! 🥰 #autism #autistic #neurodivergent #autismawareness #autismmom #autismacceptance #appliedbehavioranalysis #abatherapy #slp #ot #speechtherapy #therapist #specialeducation

These are NOT communication RULES ❌ …they’re TIPS. ✅ Not all autistic people need this level of directness…however, if the autistic person in your life struggles with: ▪️answering yes/no questions ▪️breaking big tasks into small parts ▪️understanding subtext ▪️waiting for specific activities ▪️making choices …then you might consider trying some of the tips in this video or the ones in my book! 🥰 #autism #autismawareness #autistic #neurodivergent #specialeducation #autismmom #autismacceptance #teacher #therapist #appliedbehavioranalysis #ot #slp

Behaviorism is not just theory… it’s the foundation of everything we do in ABA 📚🧠✨ From Pavlov’s pairing 🔔 To Watson’s focus on observable behavior 👀 To Thorndike’s Law of Effect 🐭 To Skinner’s operants and schedules 📊 To Lindsley’s precision and fluency 📈 These aren’t just names for the exam… they’re the roots of our practice 🌱 If this cheat sheet helps you connect concepts faster, think more clearly, or feel more confident walking into your exam… 💾 Save it for later 📤 Share it with your study partner ➕ Follow for more ABA content made simple We grow stronger as a field when we grow together 🤝💙 Shaping Minds… one student at a time ✨ #BCBA #RBT #ABA #BehaviorAnalysis #StudentAnalyst

I’ve seen this (well intentioned) mistake time and time again. 😕 While I was never bothered by social questions as an autistic kid myself…SO MANY of my clients are. They just don’t find connection that way. 🤷🏼‍♀️ 📝 Through my 9 years of clinical experience supporting kids on the autism spectrum…here’s some things to try instead: ▪️Narrate/describe their actions ▪️Play with similar objects nearby ▪️Copy what the child does ▪️Be responsive to their movements, sounds, and words ▪️Make STATEMENTS about what you see/hear/feel/think #autism #autismawareness #therapist #teacher #specialeducation #aba #ot #slp #autistic #appliedbehavioranalysis #autismacceptance #inclusion #therapy #neurodivergent #pda #autismmom #autisticadult

SAVE FOR STUDYING 📚 The Four Main Functions of Behavior: The four functions of behavior describe why someone may engage in any behavior; in other words, why any learned behavior has been selected by its consequences. The four functions traditionally include access to tangibles, access to attention, access to sensory input, and escape/avoidance. Individuals select/choose behaviors to include in their repertoire because they serve one or more of these purposes in their life. COME LEARN MORE WITH US BROOO. 😜 The next BCBA test prep Live Collective is starting Monday, March 30th!! Comment: “PASS” for direct link to sign up! #bcba #bcaba #bcbaexam #appliedbehavioranalysis #behavioranalysis

Independence is built through intentional, structured support.✨ In ABA, we use a prompt hierarchy to guide learning—starting with the level of support each child needs, then gradually fading prompts over time to promote independent responding. Each step is purposeful, helping skills transfer beyond guided sessions. Because meaningful progress means responding with confidence—on their own. . . . . . #ABAtherapy #instareel #autismsupport

Tips for a new Behavior Analyst (BCBA) 📝 •Always carry a healthy level of skepticism. Even “evidence-based practices” shouldn’t be taken at face value (I’ll discus further on another post). •Be open to new research and new perspectives ABA has evolved from the days of rigid Behavior Modification methods and it’s important that as clinicians, we are always looking to evolve as well. •Collaborate with other disciplines, keep a pulse on what is working and what isn’t, and use the foundational knowledge you’ve acquired in behavior science to shape your own therapeutic approach. Instagram LIVE: 🗓️March 27th ⏰9pmEst Let’s connect and learn more about how “myBehavior NETWORK”will support families and clinicians on their journey! 🤝🏼 • • • Interested in Early Access to MBN? Families: tag your fav therapist below and share this post on your story. Clinicians: tag a colleague in the comments and share this post on your story. Make sure to tag me so that I can repost you! See you all soon 🤝🏼 Its a new day in ABA #mybehaviornetwork🌎 #behavioranalysis #bcba #behavioranalyst #tips #behavior #therapy #aba #behaviorscience #multidisciplinary #speech #ot #psychology #asd #autismparents #adhd #community #therapist #autismo #psicologia #terapia #comunidad

🌤️🌈 Cool, calm, & 𝒃𝒆𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒚𝒕𝒊𝒄 🧘🏼‍♀️ Disclaimer: This video is for humor and educational purposes only. In Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), we never ignore dangerous behavior or signs of distress. Safety and emotional well-being always come first! The “ignore” strategy applies only to minor, attention-seeking behaviors—never to behaviors that could cause harm or signal that a child needs support. 💙

So many interventions that use ABA methods are disguised these days. I’ve been caught out too! Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is a therapy based on the science of learning and behavior. The emphasis on routine can limit a child’s ability to adapt to new or unexpected situations out in the real world. Overemphasis on Compliance: ABA therapy has been criticised for its focus on compliance and “normalizing” behavior, which can undermine the child’s individuality and discourage self-expression. What to look out for… 🚩 a lack of individualized plans 🚩 overly rigid 🚩 punitive techniques 🚩 a focus solely on behavior control without addressing underlying needs 🚩 the aim to mask behaviours to conform or appear more neurotypical What to look for instead… ✅ emphasis on communication and social skills linked to the child’s wants and needs ✅ ongoing assessment and adaptation of individualised plans ✅ a caring and compassionate approach centred around the individual and their desires and needs ✅ focus on trust and relationship building ✅ child-centered focus ✅ Autism or neurodivergence affirming There is lots of talk about long standing and recommended methods such as TEACCH system and PECS and Attention Autism. All three i use to some degree in my classroom. I am constantly researching autism affirming approaches and speaking to autistic adults to learn and do the best I can by my learners. My method is to not be afraid to make adaptations, if something feels like the 🚩 , then change it, adapt it, individualise it, make it child-centered and autism affirming- and if you can’t …. DITCH IT. #specialeducationteacher #abatherapy #autismacceptance #autismmom

When a child experiences challenging behavior in therapy, a good therapist will respond with empathy, validate the child’s feelings, and maintain a calm and objective demeanor. They may use techniques like active listening, positive language, and de-escalation strategies to address the situation. Here’s our therapist meeting the child where he is. She is calm, validating his needs and giving him time to express himself. When a child experiences challenging behavior in therapy, a good therapist will respond with empathy. Here’s a more detailed look at how a good therapist might respond: Empathy and Validation Calm and Objective Communication Redirect the child’s attention to the activity they are working on when the time is right ! There are so many ways to help a young child dealing with stress or trauma. Getting down, leaning in, just as our therapist is doing looking into their eyes, and being deeply attuned can be the gentle touch that they need. Do contact us if you need any training or support to manage challenging behaviours. #ableuk #ableukdubai #childdevelopment #occupationaltherapy #sensoryintegrationtherapy #overwhelmedchildren #tantrums #meltdowns #aba #ableukfamily

Practicing as psychologists and behavior analysts, we have to change our language often depending on the context. Psychologists can have a range of theoretical orientations, including developmental, cognitive, social, and behavioral. While all behavior analysts have a behavioral orientation, they can vary in their emphasis on radical behaviorism, ACT, verbal behavior, or many other micro orientations within the discipline. Behavior analysts and psychologists can approach the same question very differently. The behavior analyst may focus on specific technologies (task analysis), outcomes (shoe tying completion), and mechanisms (reinforcement) while the psychologist may focus on topics like developmental level and self-esteem/efficacy. Here’s the thing - they are both frameworks with a common goal. Neither answer is right or wrong. In fact, both responses would benefit from content from one another. This was one of the realizations that motivated us to write our book, “Psychology Essentials for Behavior Analysts”, which comes out next month through Routledge. If you’re a behavior analyst who is open to learning more psychology concepts and principles to enhance behavior analytic practices, check it out!

Happy Applied Behavior Analysis Day to all the dedicated behaviorists out there! Although this field has its faults, it also has the power to change lives. Let’s continue to learn grow as a science together💛 #appliedbehavioranalysis #appliedbehavioranalyst #bcba #rbt #aba #abatherapy #abalife