| p>Most parents of a child with autism spectrum | | | | appropriate responses. |
| disorder are familiar with the concept of Applied | | | | It is also important to note that while positive |
| Behavior Analysis or ABA therapy. ABA serves | | | | reinforcement is offered for appropriate |
| to help children with an ASD realize their full | | | | responses and answers, negative reinforcement is |
| potential by serving as an intensive form of | | | | not doled out for inappropriate behavior or |
| therapy based in part on a series of repeated | | | | responses. On the contrary, negative behavior is |
| commands and a positive reinforcement system. | | | | ignored completely, teaching the child that no |
| While science soundly backs the therapy and it is | | | | attention or reinforcement can arise from the |
| currently the only scientifically proven and | | | | behavior and fostering a sense that only good |
| recommended therapy for helping children with an | | | | behavior will result in rewards. This helps to teach |
| ASD achieve levels of functioning comparable to | | | | a child a code of values to which they will adhere |
| their non-autistic peers, many parents are still | | | | for the rest of their lives. While the methodology |
| unsure just how the therapy works or why there | | | | of teaching children with autism is different than |
| is such a strong need for a positive reinforcement | | | | with most children, the values and lessons are |
| system. | | | | much the same. |
| With autistic children, differentiating between | | | | A reinforcement and reward system helps teach |
| different stimuli is difficult and many children do | | | | children not only simple responses and skills, but |
| not understand the concept that some stimuli, | | | | helps them to learn to pay attention and enables |
| such as commands or requests from parents and | | | | them to learn more complex lessons such as |
| teachers, should be given more importance than | | | | basic concepts and rules. This system is the |
| other stimuli, such as sights and sounds in the | | | | foundation for much of ABA, and is largely |
| room around them. Reinforcement serves to help | | | | responsible for fostering the learning potential that |
| children understand that there is benefit to | | | | makes intensive ABA such as success. Applied |
| choosing some stimuli over others. Reinforcement | | | | Behavior Analysis can help children reach their full |
| does not have to be expensive or unhealthy, in | | | | potential, many times allowing them to learn on |
| addition to candy and toys, simple things such as | | | | par with others in their peer group, and early |
| a sticker, a walk, or even a gentle rub on the | | | | reinforcement is largely responsible for that |
| back may be enough reinforcement to foster | | | | success. |