September 5th, 2007 at 10:25 am
Last week while at the house I was given the extreme crash course in ABA instruction. I’ve done three sessions now. I still don’t know everything, but I’ve learned some interesting stuff:
Applied Behavior Analysis (also known in some circles as IBI and other names) is a series of elemental activities grouped into several categories, or “programs.” Programs include topics like nonverbal instruction with objects, colors, receptive language, and fine motor skills. The fine motor skills program contains activities such as touching the palm of one hand with the index finger from another, touching finger to thumb, making two “thumbs up,” etc.
The activities are used in discrete trials. A discrete trial has ten tests. If the child is learning an activity for the first time, the ten trials may be the same activity so that the child learns by repetition. As activities are learned, a trial may mix activities so that the child shows the ability to switch and perform the correct activity. As the child masters activities, more complex activities are added. An activity is considered “mastered” when two different instructors get the child to perform the task correctly 85% of the time or greater.
The instructor has to collect a lot of data, but it is organized in a way that progress can be tracked. Before working with the child, the instructor has to review the records from previous instructors to see what has been accomplished and what needs to be done. This takes about 15-20 minutes, or a half hour for a first-timer. 
After an hour to 1½ hours, the child gets a 15-minute break. The instructor may use the time while the child is playing to catch up on paperwork. During some breaks the instructor participates with the child in interactive play.
One of the reasons why we enrolled the kids in private school is that the school district’s ABA-like program assigns more than one child per instructor in a session. Granted, I’m no expert in ABA instruction, but it is hard for me to see how an instructor can appropriately prompt a child without accidentally prompting another child in this situation. False positives can give the impression that a child can perform a task when they can’t yet.
I have heard criticism of the ABA program that it turns kids into robots. I have not observed this in our daughter. In fact, she has started imaginative play with several sets of toys and actually making them talk. I like the proof of advancement that ABA offers.
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...
September 6th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
There is a difference between ‘programming into robots’ and ‘training how to do the right thing’. Some people have the idea that kids must be allowed to learn what the right thing is for themselves, but what if the child never learns the right thing? Isn’t it better to teach children the right way first?
If we do not train our children in the basic principles of something then there is no way for them to know what right or wrong is in that instance. Whatever theychoose their first time becomes right in their eyes. Or, everything they do becomes wrong and they start viewing themselves as never being able to do right.
Apply this to autistic children and the problem is often multiplied.