include:Because of its grounding in these broad principles of ABA, the IAP chooses to implement many approaches associated with
ABA, including:
- Discrete trial instruction
- Instruction based upon B.F. Skinner's analysis of Verbal Behavior
- Visual/Video-based strategies
- Picture-based communication
- Experimental methods of functional analysis
- Natural environment training
- Incidental teaching
- Fluency-based instruction and charting
- Comprehensive and standardized data collection system: A hallmark of ABA and any solid approach to instruction requires accurate and ongoing measurement of student progress. Data on all skills are collected daily, and learner progress is graphed daily across all stages of skill acquisition.
- A focus on fluency-building across skills: The IAP recognizes the role of skill fluency (beyond mere accuracy), and therefore incorporates teaching and data collection methods to build skill fluency (including fluency timings to promote skill application that is functional and transferable).
- Enhanced collaboration with BHRS: Tight coordination is maintained between IAP services and BHRS (Wrap-Around) programming and personnel to ensure consistent programming throughout the learner's day and across environments.
- Enhanced staffing patterns: The IAP is designed to provide 1:1 instruction for skill acquisition at many points throughout the day for each learner.
- Increased opportunities for parent involvement: Parents are encouraged to be active and regular participants in their children's programs. They are invited to regularly-scheduled clinical meetings, where their children's programs are reviewed and discussed with teaching staff, therapists, and BHRS personnel.
- Comprehensive staff training: All IAP staff members are provided with enhanced staff training opportunities, including an intensive summer orientation/topical seminar for all IAP staff and ongoing, weekly clinical support from supervisory staff, who are Board Certified Behavior Analysts.
- Expert curriculum consultation: In addition to developmentally-based curricular content that is related to accepted standards of learning, IAP students are provided with individualized curricula that target skills specific to the core deficits associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
- Experimental functional analysis of severe problem behavior, including use of a state-of-the-art audio/video system in clinical environments designed for conducting functional analysis
Increased focus on intensive instruction, active learner responding, and extended practice of skills related to IEP goals and objectives: Teaching methods are used that directly and explicitly teach skills and sub-skills. Active student responding is a hallmark of instruction, and students are provided with thousands of learning trials per day across settings.
Click here for more detailed information on the Intensive Autism Program.
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