ABA Terms
This is an antecedent intervention in which an appropriate behavior to communicate is taught to replace problematic behavior. This intervention uses differential reinforcement of an alternative behavior (DRA).
Functional Communication Training
This intervention involves manipulating the environment prior to a target behavior occurring. This environmental manipulation increases or decreases the likelihood of someone engaging in a target behavior.
Antecedent Based Intervention
This is when we use opportunities in the client’s natural environment for teachable moments.
Naturalistic Environment Teaching
A way of teaching developed by Lovas where a teacher prompts a learner to engage in a behavior with the delivery of a clear Sd, often completed at a table.
Discrete Trial Training
A technique used to teach complex, multi-step skills (like brushing teeth, washing hands, or tying shoes) by breaking them down into smaller, individual steps.
Chaining
an evidence-based technique where a therapist, parent, or peer demonstrates a desired behavior for a learner to observe and imitate.
Modeling
An antecedent stimulus added to the environment to help an individual respond to the correct signal/antecedent in the environment.
Stimulus prompt
A teaching procedure that helps individuals learn to distinguish between different stimuli
Discrimination training
Special antecedent stimuli that are added to help an individual respond appropriately to the antecedent stimulus that will eventually control the response on its own naturally.
Response prompt
An Antecedent strategy that fills a setting with diverse, engaging, and highly preferred stimuli.
Environmental enrichment
Teaching individuals how to effectively communicate, interact with peers, and navigate social environments.
Social skills training
an evidence-based, instructional method used in ABA to teach new skills to learners, therapists, and caregivers.
Behavioral Skills Training
Attention, Access, Sensory, Escape
A behavior change procedure in which successive approximations to a final goal/performance are systematically reinforced while less optimal performances are but on extinction.
Shaping
Tools such as pictures, written words, or objects that help individuals communicate, follow routines, and understand expectations
Visual supports
a system of reinforcement in which small arbitrary stimuli are delivered frequently for desired behaviors. The smaller stimuli can then be exchanged at certain points in time for more valuable “backup” reinforcers.
Token System
an ABA technique where a therapist interrupts a challenging behavior and redirects the individual to an appropriate, functional replacement behavior.
Response Interruption and Redirection
The amount of time between giving a student an instruction and providing a prompt to help them follow the instruction
Time-delay
Methods, tools, and systems (devices) used to supplement and facilitate communication
Augmented & Alternative Communication
The idea that we can sometimes see higher rates of behavior when we start by asking someone to complete simple, easy-to-do tasks prior to a more challenging task.
Behavior momentum
This schedule of reinforcement provides reinforcement for the non-occurrence of the problem behavior. Any other behavior can occur during the interval except for the problem behavior.
Differential Reinforcement Other
The Author of the Verbal Behavior
B.F. Skinner
This procedure is used to decrease problem behavior by reinforcing appropriate alternative behaviors and withholding reinforcement for any instance of the problem behavior. It is important to pick an appropriate alternative behavior whose function matches the problem behavior.
Differential Reinforcement Alternative
A compassionate, trauma-informed ABA approach pioneered by Dr. Gregory Hanley
Skill Based Treatment (SBT)
This schedule of reinforcement provides reinforcement for a behavior that is incompatible with the problem behavior. This means the two behaviors are not able to be emitted at the same time.
Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible Behavior