Applied Behaviour Analysis
Applied Behaviour Analysis(ABA) has come far differently from how it was originated. This page provides you a brief introduction of what ABA really is and what we do in present-day.
What is ABA?
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a therapy based on the science of behavior designed to help students learn individually and eventually in a group setting by the positive reinforcement in Learning Theory. At With You ABA, we apply ABA principles to teach anything from language and cognitive skills to daily living skills and social/self-regulation skills. We value teaching through our learners’ interests and through play/activities time, which naturally provides many opportunities to learn essential social and emotional skills. We believe that the ultimate purpose of our teaching is to eventually be able to step back and let our learners go about their lives as independently as is appropriate for their age.
What is NOT ABA?
* ABA does NOT use aversive techniques to teach!
We acknowledge and do not condone the frankly appalling and dark history of ABA in the mid-1900s’, when punishment allowed(or even encouraged) to intervene with inappropriate behaviors. ABA has since shifted away from using punishment and other aversive techniques towards supporting learners through positively reinforcing appropriate behaviors and analyzing any challenging behaviors. It helps us understand the functions of these behaviors and then design interventions based on positive reinforcement to replace them with appropriate behaviors. Let’s assume that we have a learner who screams often in class. Does he/she scream because of wanting to get away from the class? Wanting to get attention? In pain? Different purposes of behaviours need different intervention plans that are individualized and use reinforcements to motivate the learners!
What is NOT ABA?
* ABA is NOT the table work for the whole instructional time!
In the past, ABA involved a heavy amount of table-time instruction, where the Behavior Interventionist and the student would remain at the table for hours at a time, learning skill after skill. ABA as a field has since moved towards creating opportunities through play for our students to learn, while still teaching specific cognitive skills at the table. At With You ABA, we emphasize the need to teach through a combination of play and table time, allowing us to have a dynamic and fun approach to help our students learn.
