CONTEMPORARY ABA AT HAWKSWOOD SCHOOL

CORNERSTONES OF CONTEMPORARY ABA

  • Antecedent-Based Interventions

  • Differential Reinforcement

  • Structured Teaching

  • Task Analysis, Chaining, Shaping, and Total Task Instruction

  • Extinction

  • Functional Behavior Assessment

  • Functional Communication Training

  • Naturalistic Intervention (Interaction techniques and behavioral strategies designed to encourage specific target behaviors based on the learner’s interests)

  • Prompting

  • Reinforcement Response Interruption/Redirection

  • Social Stories, Scripts, and Narratives

  • Augmentative Communication

  • Visual Supports

WHERE DID CONTEMPORARY ABA COME FROM?

  • Contemporary ABA grew out of current research on social development, communication, and learning styles in both typically developing students and students with learning differences and autism spectrum disorders.

  • Consideration was also given to the core skill deficits in autism spectrum disorders (specifically, social, communication, and behavior regulation).

WHAT IS CONTEMPORARY ABA?

  • Contemporary ABA is a practice that has been heavily influenced by language and play development.

  • In this model, emphasis is placed on individualized and positive approaches in regard to both academic and self-care skill acquisition and managing challenging behaviors.

  • It is similar to other developmentally based practices including as it encourages and supports incidental teaching and positive behavioral supports.

  • A way of looking at skills and behaviors that acknowledges that every behavior or skill takes place in a given environment, under certain conditions, and with the expectation that some reaction will occur afterward.

WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES IN CONTEMPORARY ABA?

  • Functional and spontaneous communication

  • Social skills instruction in the natural environment as well as specifically designed learning opportunities

  • Play skills that include both peers and recreational/ leisure activities

  • Instruction that leads to generalization and maintenance in the Natural Environment

  • A functional approach to academics that will support real-world life skills

WHAT CONTEMPORARY ABA IS NOT…

  • Discrete trial teaching

  • Isolated, teacher-led instruction

  • Compliance training