Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA)

 

Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is a collection of strategies and techniques derived from the science of learning. ABA is an evidence-based therapy (i.e. based on widely-accepted scientific research and clinical evidence) used to help a person learn socially-significant behaviours. A socially-significant behaviour is a behaviour that when taught, will improve and enhance the quality of life of a person. Examples include learning to communicate, learning to share a toy or take turns while playing with friends, or learning to wash one’s hands after using the washroom.

 

 

Parent Training

 

Our ABA Services include Parent Training at no additional cost. Parents attend treatment sessions and learn specific ABA strategies and techniques used to teach their child. We do this because we know that when parents are empowered and know how to help their children, everyone in their family benefits. In fact, research has found that treatment is more effective and longer lasting when parents and caregivers have been trained in the skills, strategies and techniques necessary to help their children. These are some of the things we help parents learn how to teach their children:

 

Communication Skills

 

Social Skills

 

Play and Leisure Skills

 

Daily Living Skills

 

School-readiness Skills

 

Attention and Memory Skills

 

Executive Skills

 

Academic Skills

 

 

ABA: Skills Building

 

ABA focuses only on teaching and increasing skills that will improve the quality of life of a person. As indicated above, some examples of these behaviours include:

 

Communication Skills
Social Skills
Play Skills
School Readiness

 

We teach these skills using errorless learning techniques and positive outcomes. This means that we use strategies and techniques that minimize the number of errors a child makes, and make sure the child is able to feel happy or content when they learn a skill. This is called reinforcement, and is a very important component of ABA.

 

Learning is a Choice

 

At every step, there is choice in learning. Every skill we teach is guided by the choices families make and by goals that families have chosen for their children. As a child grows and becomes more self-aware, their input is also important in choosing the goals of therapy, and we make every effort to provide these choices. As children grow and mature, they will choose to use one skill over another, when that skill helps them attain a valued goal. This is both important and healthy, as it allows a person to have agency, make choices and develop control over their life. This is our job as therapists: to teach skills that help people become their potential through their choices. Learning is indeed a choice.