Safe Zone. WARNING!!!! Attention ALL Participants! ABA Love it or Hate it, but first: Understand it! 3/20/2018

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1 ABA Love it or Hate it, but first: Understand it! (Title borrowed from Ronald Leaf & John McEachin) Maryann Trott, MA, BCBA Michele Iemolo, PsyD., BCBA Safe Zone WARNING!!!! Attention ALL Participants! 1

2 Outline: (AKA your visual schedule) Introductions: Why your presenters hate ABA (and why they love it) Myth or Fact: ABA anonymous quiz Discussion of each Myth or Fact Research Why is it important and why should I care? ABC s of Behavior Objectives: Participants will: 1. Identify at least three facts in relation to Applied Behavior Analysis 2. Identify at least one way in which the concepts/tools of Applied Behavior Analysis influence their professional and/or daily activities. 3. Identify one or more (or no) misconceptions they may have had regarding ABA. Michele s Story Sunflower Creative Arts 2

3 Why Michele Hates ABA Why Michele Loves ABA Maryann s story 3

4 Why Maryann hates ABA Why Maryann loves ABA The Learner is always right! It is very respectful of learners. ABA 4

5 ?? Anonymous Response Game! ABA utilizes the same principles to train animals Most ABA interventions employ some type of punishment procedure 5

6 Reinforcement is a technique aimed at controlling the learner. ABA is unnatural! AND it turns children into robots! Behavior Analysts are Anti-sensory 6

7 Behavior Analysts recognize that: All of us are motivated (toward or away from) sensory input, sensory variation, movement and pressure Some behaviors (including challenging behaviors) are automatically reinforced they feel good They may need to be replaced with behaviors that serve a similar function Some escape behaviors may be related to pain attenuation getting away from aversive stimuli They may need to be replaced with other escape behaviors or strategies to tolerate the aversive stimuli Behavior Analysts also recognize that: Some activities used as Antecedent Based Interventions or Reinforcements (e.g. jumping on a trampoline, swinging, pushing, pulling or carrying a heavy load) may be effective for some students (and will not harm any student) Activities such as the ones above (or the opportunity to escape from activities) contingent on what is often perceived as inappropriate behavior of the individual serves to reinforce the behaviors they are intended to resolve = 7

8 ABA: Myth, Fact, Opinion? ABA therapists are taught to be non-emotional ABA: Myth, Fact, Opinion? ABA is the only treatment for all individuals with autism ter.org/national-standardsproject/ ABA: Myth, Fact, Opinion? ABA is primarily used for children with Autism 8

9 ABA: Myth, Fact, Opinion? A partial list of areas in which ABA interventions have been shown to be effective General and Special education (all levels) Autism spectrum disorders Intellectual and Developmental disabilities Attention Deficit disorder Movement disorders Brain injuries and diseases Behavior disorders Substance abuse disorders Dementia Feeding disorders Home and workplace safety Vehicular and pedestrian safety Organizational behavior management Animal welfare and training Conservation Parenting Child welfare Sports Health and fitness Association of Professional Behavior Analysts ABA: Myth, Fact, Opinion? Only a Behavior Analyst can do ABA Not only a BCBA can use Applied Behavior Analysis ABA is a science we don t do physics or medicine we use the science. There are different levels of expertise There may be occasional cases in which a bigger, more specialized tool chest is needed We know how to use science because experts teach us 9

10 ABA: Myth, Fact, Opinion? BCBAs are ARROGANT?! Research: Why is it important and why should I care? 10

11 Saturday Night Live! Here is what we know from the science of behavior (Applied Behavior Analysis) 1. All behavior is LEARNED 2. Behavior serves a purpose (is logical) 3. Behavior is communication 4. Behavior is a function of the interactions between the person and the environment 5. A behavior cannot be eliminated without being replaced 6. If a behavior persists (even a problem behavior), it is being reinforced. 7. One more thing.... All behavior has a function to get something or to get out of something Escape from a person, task, environment, etc. Tangible specific item or activity Attention attention from peers, adults, etc. Automatic (sensory) the behavior produces internal reinforcement (it feels good). 11

12 How does that work? ABC s of Understanding Behavior A Antecedent What comes right before B Behavior C Consequence What comes right after Let s talk about those consequences R + R - P + P - How about some examples?! Joe was texting while driving. He ran a red light and was hit by another car. He never texted while driving again. Dad took both of his kids to the grocery store on a Saturday afternoon. They kept whining for cookies, candy, ice cream! He got each a treat so he could finish shopping in peace. What was the consequence of whining for the kids? What was the consequence of giving the kids a treat for Dad? Sue was mad that her electric bill was so high! She decided not to pay the bill. Her electricity was turned off and all the food in the refrigerator spoiled! Maryann finished a big project very quickly. Her boss gave her a big box of Peppermint Patties. Next time she finished more slowly. (Hint Maryann does not like Peppermint.) 12

13 How does that apply to learning? Before you ask your learner to do something, ask yourself, Why should he? The learner is always right! Building a Bridge All Religions, Arts and Sciences are branches of the same tree. 13