It is that time of year again! Gatherings, food, and games. If you are a parent of a child who has Autism, it can also mean an overwhelming time of year for you and your child. For a few days, your child may be out of their routine and out of their comfort zone. You may be having guests over, or you may be traveling. Sometimes I think it is easier to avoid all the possible behaviors my child can present and stay home. But then that won’t do my child nor me any good. Therefore, at Brighter Days ABA, we have created some tips and tricks to help you and your child get through the Thanksgiving wee ..read more

Halloween is right around the corner, which can be an overstimulating event for some children with Autism. At Brighter Days ABA, we utilize specific tips to help prevent maladaptive behavior from occurring, and you can use them too! Think of your child’s sensory needs! Pick a costume that is comfortable and simple. Your child may not feel comfortable wearing a hat, costume jewelry, a jacket that matches the pants, or have paint on their face, and that is okay! You can always try again next year. Coordinate with your neighbors ahead of time. We want this to be a fun event for your child, and we ..read more

It is training week at Brighter Days ABA! Every other week, Brighter Days ABA trains a handful of therapists to get them ready to see their clients and go into their homes. Our training consists of one-week instruction with one of our BCBA's and overlaps with experienced technicians and supervisors. Our topics cover the fundamentals of ABA; reinforcement, ABC charting, data taking, prompt levels, ethics, boundaries with families, behavior intervention plan implementation, role-playing, and much more! The training at BDABA teaches our staff members to work with individuals with a variety of dia ..read more

ABC data, also known as the 3-term contingency, is a form of data collection used to help determine the possible functions of behavior. Remember, SEAT?  It is an objective narrative of precisely what happens before, during, and after a behavior. If the BCBA notices a recurring behavior, then they can begin to create a behavior intervention plan. An ABC chart can also help determine if environmental changes need to occur. “A” is for antecedent, which describes an event before a behavior. “B” is for behavior, which objectively defines what the behavior looks like, and “C” is for consequence ..read more

Attention-seeking behavior is when an individual engages in a behavior to gain access to an individual or social interaction. Individuals seek positive and negative attention. For instance, if a student repeatedly disrupts the classroom and the teacher tells him to “Stop!” then the student laughs, attention-seeking behavior would be the function of behavior. A nonverbal child with Autism may throw his toy on the floor every time they want their mother because they cannot say, “Mom.” In instances like this, the staff at Brighter Days ABA may teach the child to tap their mother on the shoulder t ..read more

Sensory stimulation, also known as automatic reinforcement, is defined as your child engaging in a behavior that satisfies an internal feeling. For example, a child with Autism may rock back and forth, flap their hands, pull their hair, bang their head, scream, bite their nails, or pick their skin. We do not know precisely why they do this, but something feels good to them on the inside. The point of Applied Behavior Analysis is to increase socially acceptable behaviors and decrease inappropriate behaviors. The most important concept to keep in mind is if you need to reduce a behavior, be sure ..read more

To implement an effective behavior intervention plan, we need to know the "why" of a behavior. At Brighter Days ABA, our BCBAs utilize scientifically proven tools to determine a client's function of behavior. The way you respond to desired or undesired behaviors will decide if your child will engage in those behaviors in the future. The acronym SEAT will help people remember the functions. You can use the functions of behaviors to apply it to all individuals, those with Autism, ADHD, ODD, and any living organism, with or without a disorder.  Sensory – Defined as when someone does so ..read more