Applied Behaviour Analysis

Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is a science devoted to the understanding and improvement of human behaviour. ABA focuses on objectively defined behaviours of social significance and interventions are centred on improving these behaviours.

ABA is an approach to autism with the most comprehensive and extensive research supporting the efficacy of an early intervention. Early research (Lovass et al; 1987) investigated the benefits of implementing the principles of ABA. They found profound differences between children being taught using ABA methodology in IQ and the degree of inclusion in mainstream educational settings compared with two control groups.

Subsequent research has focused on specific strategies for improving language and social skill acquisition, successfully mainstreaming children with autism, working with teens and adults, and vocational preparation, as well as curriculum sequencing, staff training, cost-effectiveness, and the dimensions of service delivery such as frequency and duration. As a whole, ABA has the best documented data supporting this approach when compared with other methods (Jacobson, 2000).

In addition, ABA has emerged with widespread recognition beyond the limited community of academic and behavioural psychologists and special educators’ for example; ABA was recognized by the Surgeon General of the United States as the treatment of choice for autism in his mental health report for children (Department of Health and Human Services, 1999).

Our ABA curriculum is developed to meet each individual child’s needs, each skill is carefully broken down into simple parts and students are presented with multiple opportunities to practice the skills. All skills are taught in a manner that serves meaning and purpose to the child, within the context of which that skill is most likely to be used. We ensure that children learn through their motivations so that learning is fun and increasing opportunities to learn skills.