Efficiency… this is what our kids really need. We have kids- kids with disabilities, behavior challenges, social delays- kids that are working every day to “catch up” to their peers. These kids have various access points: special education, counseling, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Behavior Analysis, the list goes on. But these kids are being asked to do all of these things in a vacuum. They go to school. Then go to the doctor. Then go to therapy. Then start a new day and do it again. Sometimes, many times, they engage in these activities on the weekend too, because 5 days aren’t enoug ..read more

Joining in the Olympic Fun One of our guiding philosophies is that ABA incorporates into our everyday lives and that ABA is fun. We value that the kids we serve get to have a blast while they are learning skills and making strides to their goal of self-advocacy and independence. Our amazing team put together the Step-In Olympic Games! The kids had the opportunity to try out the games or not, depending on their preference. But they all ended up participating in one way or another and it was such a great experience. And in true Step-In spirit, families were welcome and siblings participated too ..read more

Choosing an ABA provider can be complex  We are passionate about behavior analysis. However, providers across the field are just as different from one another as the children they serve. This field does not have a uniform, cookie-cutter formula for treatment. Quite the opposite, each provider you meet will have their own way to approach the science of behavior. Sometimes the provider will align with your needs and sometimes they will not. Just remember, you are the expert for your child! As a parent of a child with Autism or an individual with autism, here are some considerations: Consi ..read more

Review of Part 1: Prepping for your Daily Routine In part 1, we introduced steps for creating consistency. The Pandemic has disrupted our routines. As areas are beginning to come out of the COVID shutdowns, it is important to remember that consistency is a necessity for parenting sur-thrival at all times. As your routine adapts, yet again, to return to in-person school or work, you may need to revisit part 1. This will allow you to update the process and create a refreshed plan which incorporates the newly added outings or activities. If you haven’t had a chance to review Part 1, check it out ..read more

The COVID-19 Pandemic has caused mass disruption and challenges. Things that we once took for granted are challenging, and those things that were once challenging are now overwhelming. Combining COVID and Autism can lead to additional stressors for all parties. Most children with autism thrive on consistency and routines, which has all but deteriorated for many families across the country. While there is no magic or resource which can eliminate these impacts, there are a few things that can be done to support our routine-thriving children. First and foremost, we need to create a ‘new routine ..read more

Stop that reinforcer! In this mini-course we have discussed why behaviors happen and how to help your child learn which behaviors are preferable. Now you are ready to learn about extinction. “Extinction” – I don’t like the sound of that Extinction sounds a bit threatening because we are used to hearing it for things such as: Dinosaurs: The end of their existence = extinction Fire Fighting: A fire extinguisher is used to put out a threatening and scary situation Rare species: We are trying to “protect them from extinction” These general-use terms mean that we have a pre-existing opinion of the ..read more

Why do we behave? This seems like a philosophical quandary: what are the functions of behaviors? One which could lead to a variety of debates similar to ‘what is the meaning of life’. However, for now let’s break it down simply in a way that can help us in our everyday parenting. Behaviors occur for a variety of possible reasons (in #behaviorspeak we call these the functions of behaviors). Attention Access Escape Sensory Over the years in Behavior Analysis, there have been other considerations and discussions of terms. These four are the OG Functions. They are also relatively easy to explain ..read more

Help a kid out: Teach him what IS okay We have spent the first part of this course on increasing appropriate behaviors. This focus has been intentional. Step-In Parenting looks at childhood as a time for exploration and development. Children use trial and error to find out what works in this crazy world. Intentional reinforcement helps us help them learn the appropriate behaviors. Unintentional reinforcement and, sometimes, automatic reinforcement are important for us to be aware of in order to minimize situations where the child learns that an inappropriate behavior is the ‘right choice’. But ..read more

Reinforce, not bribe One of the most difficult concepts that many parents struggle with is the use of reinforcement vs. bribery. First consider when the item/activity is presented. Has a behavior occurred that you want to see more of? Is there something happening that you are trying to make stop? These questions can help you decide if your technique is utilizing reinforcement or using bribery. Accidental Bribe I was at the store and saw a little something for my Little Miss at home. She had stayed home with Daddy and they have been having a good day. When I get home, I am excited to give Li ..read more

“He doesn’t like reinforcers” Parenting is hard, there are all sorts of decisions that need to be made. There are times of frustration and, most of the time, there are a lot of aspects that are completely out of your control. Parenting with Behavior Analysis doesn’t mean that the decisions are necessarily easier or that you feel (or are) in control all of the time. Rather, it means that you get to make decisions that are based in a solid foundation of methods that do work. Reinforcement falls in line, but we do need to appropriately select the reinforcers. After all, reinforcement is reinforc ..read more