ABA:
Evidence-
Based
Treatment for
Autism
(download Autism
brochure in PDF Form)
Applied Behavior Analysis
Is the most effective treatment for individuals with autism. It is the
only treatment that has been endorsed by the New York 
State Department
of Mental Health as having sufficient research to be recommended as a
method for children under three who have been diagnosed with autism.
The Behavior Analytic Approach
Is based on scientific, data-based, applied re-search over the past 30-years.
This research has been published in peer-reviewed journals and has been
validated in schools, homes and treatment clinics in the United States
and internationally.
If Your Child Has Been Diagnosed with Autism
You will want to find a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) who can
design an in-home, behaviorally-based 
treatment plan. This plan will consist
of instructional programs and, if needed, behavior reduction programs. The
BCBA will show you how to deliver instruction to your child and how to address
challenging behaviors. The BCBA may also train others who you hire as therapists
to work with your child according to the plan.
Functional Assessment
Behavior analysts are uniquely qualified to carry out functional behavioral
assessments to determine why certain challenging behaviors occur. During
a functional assessment, the behavior analyst will observe your child
and conduct short-term trials of interventions to determine what works
best for your child.
- Assess the child's current functioning using skill-based assessments.
- Target the most important skills.
- Teach everyone who works with child to use instructional prompts and reinforcement.
- Collect data to evaluate effectiveness of the instruction. If a technique is not working the data will show this and modifications will be made to assure effectiveness.
- Promote the generalization of skills.
Based on the assessment, the behavior analyst will develop a treatment plan specific to your child's needs. The treatment plan will outline procedures for preventing your child's challenging behaviors and addressing these behaviors should they occur.
Find a Qualified Therapist
The most important thing you can do for your child is find a professional
who specializes in human behavior and who is qualified to carry out treatment.
The best advice is to seek out a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. These
professionals have received their training specifically in the study of
human behavior and have completed an approved curriculum including rigorous
hands-on experience and supervision and who abide by a rigorous Code of
Ethics.
Beware of fads, frauds and hoaxes
Currently, there is no cure for autism. As a result, autism has become
a “fad magnet” for promoters of potentially dangerous and
untested treatments who prey on the fear and anxiety of parents. Be wary
of therapies that have no research basis. Go to BehaviorCanChange.com
for a list of these risky and questionable “therapies” and
for academic references supporting our con-cerns and skepticism.
Brochure developed by: Mae Barker, PhD, BCBA, and Jon S. Bailey, PhD,
BCBA, FABA Media Coordinator
Useful Autism Links:
ABA Autism SIG Guidelines - PDF Document
Intensive Behavioral and Educational Intervention Programs - Clinical Practice Guideline Report of the Recommendations
Assoc for Science in Autism Tx
Related Research Journals
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
Behavior Analysis in Practice
Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Journal of Early and Intensive Behavioral Interventions
The Journal of Behavioral Assessment and Intervention in Children