ABA applies an understanding of how behavior works to real life situations. But how do we determine what that behavior is, and more importantly, what is causing the behavior? In simple terms, we go back to the ABCs…the antecedent, behavior and consequence. The ABCs are also known as three and four term contingency. This is Read more about Three and Four Term Contingency in ABA ..read more

We’re answering another question from the community around our opinions on ACT and AIM. ACT stands for Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. It’s a branch of behavioral psychology that’s been adopted by the field of ABA. AIM is an acronym for Accept, Identify, Move, which is an ABA curriculum that’s based on the principles of ACT. Read more about Episode 041: ACT and AIM with Shira and Shayna ..read more

Today, we cover all things related to staff hiring and training. When hiring, sometimes personality means more than what’s on a resume or how many years of experience a person has. How someone presents themselves and how prepared they are goes a long way. Asking the right questions in an interview is key. When interviewing Read more about Episode 042: Staff Hiring and Training with Shira and Shayna ..read more

Welcome to Part 2 of our “sneak peek” series where we give you a behind-the-scenes look into our monthly mentorship meetings. Every month, members of the How To ABA community get together to discuss what’s going on in the field. It’s a great place to share resources and connect with other professionals. In this second Read more about Episode 034: A Sneak Peak into Monthly Mentorship Meetings Part 2 with Shira and Shayna ..read more

Steps to Developing an FBA A Functional Behavior Assessment, or an FBA, is a vital part of identifying problem behaviors and then developing a plan to improve those unwanted behaviors. Developing an FBA does not have to be a daunting task. The process allows the team to dig deep into what is causing the behavior Read more about Developing an FBA ..read more

Part three of our “sneak peek” series showcases more from our monthly mentorship meetings. In this session, we share our thoughts on using timers for transition periods. We also share resources on addressing challenging behaviors around tolerating peers. To wrap up, we discuss working with the PECS system. This series has been loaded with great Read more about Episode 035: A Sneak Peek into Monthly Mentorship Meetings Part 3 with Shira and Shayna ..read more

Today, we’re discussing contingent and non-contingent reinforcement, including the difference between the two and how to know which one to use. Reinforcement is a huge focus as an ABA practitioner. It can also be a slippery slope. When all reinforcement becomes contingent, a child can feel like they have to earn everything. Parents often get Read more about Episode 037: Contingent and Non-Contingent Reinforcement with Shira and Shayna ..read more

Today, we’re discussing behavior, more specifically, how to develop a functional behavior plan (FBA) and assessment. While behaviors often seem random, there’s always a reason behind them. A good FBA helps you figure out what those reasons are so you can replace undesired behavior with new skills. Many times, a behavior is learned because at Read more about Episode 036: Developing a Functional Behavior Plan (FBA) with Shira and Shayna ..read more

W Reinforcement is defined as increasing the future likelihood of behavior.  We use it to increase behaviors we want to see more of in the future, often within the context of skill acquisition.  For example, if I want a student to complete his math worksheet every time he receives it, I might choose to offer Read more about The Difference Between Contingent and Noncontingent Reinforcement ..read more

Leticia Moreno is the Clinical Director and CEO of Within Me Therapy in Maryland. Before becoming a BCBA, she was a special education teacher working in an early intervention setting. Her aunt introduced her to ABA, inspiring her to blend it with early learning in her own practice. She works to incorporate the natural environment Read more about Episode 038: Company Culture, Underserved Populations, and Natural Environment Teaching with Leticia Moreno ..read more