| are a member of a school staff or school board, | | | | way to receive a response. |
| you likely have experience with students who | | | | When looking to reinforcement, the answer is to |
| have a form of autism spectrum disorder. If you | | | | use positive reinforcement only. This ensures |
| have taught these students, you also know how | | | | progress and will keep children from feeling that |
| difficult this can be without a proper treatment | | | | negative behavior will grant them the attention |
| and teaching plan. ABA therapy offers a highly | | | | they desire. When a child behaves or responds |
| effective teaching method for autistic students | | | | appropriately, offer a pat on the back, a sticker, a |
| that can unlock a wealth of hidden learning | | | | snack, or time with a favorite toy. This will foster |
| potential and teach social skills and learning | | | | an understanding of the benefits of positive |
| methods that will benefit these children for life. | | | | actions and will create a more receptive and less |
| While other treatment methods offer limited | | | | frightened environment. Children with autism are |
| success in sporadic cases, ABA training is proven | | | | remarkably bright and capable, but because their |
| to offer results for every child regardless of the | | | | brains function differently, a different teaching |
| degree to which they suffer from an autism | | | | method is required. |
| spectrum disorder. | | | | Positive reinforcement is an excellent tool for |
| If your school teaches ABA therapy, it is | | | | school systems and homes alike. No matter what |
| important for every member of the staff and | | | | setting a child is in, these methods are the best |
| support teams to understand the concept of | | | | way to teach social skills and behaviors. When |
| reinforcement. Time and again, progress is lost | | | | everyone involved in the child’s life uses |
| due to frustration or even negative reinforcement | | | | the same methods and skills, teaching is more |
| such as scolding. Children with autism learn | | | | effective and children are happier. When it comes |
| differently than other children, and staff must | | | | to training and teaching children with autism, every |
| understand that this means that their reactions | | | | moment of teaching is important. Using techniques |
| must be different as well. Rather than scolding or | | | | like positive reinforcement offers the best |
| punishing, negative behaviors must simply be | | | | environment for positive results and can truly help |
| ignored. This will teach children that inappropriate | | | | everyone involved to unlock the potential that lies |
| behaviors garner no reaction or attention and will | | | | inside every student. |
| help them learn that positive behavior is the only | | | | |