Behavior Intervention

Data Driven – Positive – Promoting Independence – Hopelight Teaching Strategies

ABA, or Applied Behavior Analysis, is an evidence-based treatment which has been proven effective in building positive skills and reducing problem behaviors for a wide variety of individuals including those with autism and other developmental disorders. In ABA programing, behavior-environment interactions are analyzed to determine why individuals engage in problem behaviors and how best to teach them new appropriate behaviors. ABA focuses on decreasing inappropriate behaviors, such as tantrums and aggression, and increasing appropriate behaviors, such as communication, socialization, and instruction following.
Our ABA programs are data-driven and individualized. A highly skilled BCBA plans and supervises each ABA program.  Individual program goals are set for each client based on extensive initial and ongoing assessment.  Detailed program plans are based on the chosen individual goals.  Then data is collected on all goals as programing is implemented so that progress can be monitored and changes to the teaching strategies can be made if needed.

Behavioral methods utilized in our ABA programs include systematically teaching and rewarding desired behaviors, such as following instructions, sharing, and using sounds/words to communicate, while at the same time making sure not to reward children’s problem behaviors, such as noncompliance, engaging in tantrums, and aggression. The goal of our ABA treatment is to find out what motivates and interests each individual child so that these enjoyable items and activities can be used to encourage the child to learn new skills and to ultimately become more independent!

Discrete Trial Teaching (DTT):
•    Specific instructions or cues are given
•    A specific response is taught
•    That response is then rewarded
•    Each trial consists of a cue or instruction, a response, and a reward for the correct response

Several trials are presented sequentially so that the skill can be practiced repeatedly in a block of many learning opportunities.  Discrete Trial Teaching is a great way to learn new skills!

Natural Environment Teaching (NET):
•    Skills are taught in a natural settings
•    Sessions are set up to revolve around the client’s interests
•    Using natural cues and situations, the therapist teaches goals as they are relevant

Examples of skill that may be developed and strengthened in NET include putting on shoes, following instructions, initiating conversations with peers, answering questions, and taking turns playing games.

Verbal Behavior Training:
•    Focuses on teaching language according to different purposes or “functions”
•    Teaches different domains of language, including requesting (“mands”), labeling (“tacts”), repeating sounds/words (“echoics”), and answering questions (“intraverbals”)
•    Uses the principles of ABA such as prompting and reinforcement to teach these different domains

Language is essentially a behavior that functions like all other behaviors, so language is learned based on the purpose it serves.

Hopelight Behavioral Health Services Include:
•    Behavior assessment and design of behavior treatment plan by our BCBA
•    Individualized 1:1 ABA treatment provided in the child’s home, our center, and/or community settings
•    Comprehensive curriculum targeting  the improvement of socialization, communication, self-help, play, academics and more …
•    Techniques to reduce challenging behaviors
•    Caring parent support, training, and participation in behavior intervention methods

With Hopelight your family will experience evidence based effective ABA therapy in a caring Christian environment!