What is ABA?

---

ABA stands for Applied Behavior Analysis which incorporates a wide range of teaching protocols and techniques. ABA is applying the principles of behavior analysis to socially significant behaviours. There are many service models that fall under ABA, we follow an approach called Verbal Behaviour. 

To us, ABA and Verbal Behaviour means: 

Our Verbal Behaviour approach is a play-filled and positive approach to teaching. Our goal is for our learners to look forward to our sessions, enjoy our time together and experience learning filled with reinforcement and positive experiences.

Our approach to ABA has a big focus on building language whether it be vocal language, sign language, picture exchange, or using a tablet or iPad to communicate.  Teaching communication is the best alternative to challenging behaviour and opens the door to more opportunities and reinforcing experiences. 

We meet the learner where they are at -- we teach according to developmental level and then build their skills up from there. In this way, learning follows a natural developmental pattern and is more organic and enjoyable. 

This means we use approaches based on client preference, current scientific research and best practice. 

We acknowledge that in the past ABA has excluded important perspectives and voices but we have seen how much ABA has changed over the years...just like so many other things have changed and developed over time, so has ABA.  As the science responds and adapts, we as a team are committed to continue to listen to our families and learn to meet the needs of our families in a way that is ethical, positive, and compassionate.  

There are so many new skills we can teach.  Some of them include:

• Communication
• Language and speech
• Play
• Social skills
• Academics
• Self-help skills (toileting, chores, etc)
• Decrease challenging behaviors by replacing them with new functional replacement behaviors.
• Sleeping problems
• Eating problems