If you are the parent or teacher of a child with ASD (autism spectrum disorders), you are probably quite familiar with the term ABA training. This is because it is the preferred treatment approach for even the most difficult autism symptoms, and it is also one of the only treatments approved or recommended by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
It is helpful to understand that ABA training is what a teacher or parent is looking for, and that they will then use to develop learning strategies for the autistic child. The reason it is such a commonly used approach is because it is based on a science that focuses on altering pre-existing behaviors to those that are most positive and meaningful to the individual.
What does that mean exactly? Someone who undergoes ABA training will learn treatment strategies that are far outside of traditional school teaching methods. This is because an autistic child must first be taught how to learn before he can actually begin to receive the required information.
This is one of the main reasons many schools will implement ABA training for all of their staff. It will enable teachers and aides to understand the needs of a child with ASD and ensure that this child does not fall behind when it comes to academic levels and abilities.
The overall structure of an ABA strategy will involve two key factors: positive reinforcement and very precise teaching procedures. They will work together to ensure that a child with ASD begins to develop the kinds of academic, cognitive, social, speaking, and self-help skills or behaviors that they will need to enjoy a relatively independent life.
Why is this necessary? It all has to do with ingrained behaviors in a child with any form of ASD. For example, a very young child with autism may show a tendency to avoid social interaction, play alone, and even avoid making a lot of direct eye contact. This is not a chosen or voluntary behavior, but a symptom of your condition. They will need to learn to behave differently, and this will require a completely different approach to teaching than the average teacher learns during their own educational process. Often, it means observing that child to identify what might prevent him from speaking, and then creating special teaching strategies to begin altering his behavior.
