Ray's Hope

“It is the application of the naturally occurring principles that guide everyday life…that are part of nature. These aren’t theories about behavior. We are using them to get better outcomes for children with autism” (Carbone ABA Video, Carbone Clinic). Many people often mistakenly refer to ABA as “behavior modification.” In actuality, ABA, or Applied Behavior Analysis, is the practice of applying behavioral principles to everyday situations in order to bring about behavior change. Rather than modify behavior, ABA practitioners modify variables in the environment to produce these changes. ABA is an age-old science that has been proven to be widely effective in promoting positive behavior change and skill acquisition (self-help, language, and play skills). Techniques and principles of ABA are used for increasing useful behaviors and reducing those that may cause harm or interfere with learning. Furthermore, it is a discipline that relies on objective data, which is used to drive the decision-making process of tailoring an individual’s program to their unique needs. 

 

Applied: Interventions are geared toward achieving socially-important goals, helping individuals be more successful in natural settings such as homes, schools, and communities 

 

Behavior: ABA focuses on what people say or do, rather than interpretations or assumptions about behavior 

 

Analysis: Assessments are used to identify relationships between behavior and aspects of the environment before proceeding to intervention