The How to ABA Podcast

Morgan van Diepen, founder of ABA Visualized, discusses developing accessible behavior expertise. Topics include creating behavior plans, overcoming imposter syndrome, and insights from a pilot study. Learn about ABA Visualized's journey and the benefits of using visual aids in behavior interventions.

Students aren’t always intrinsically motivated in the classroom. It’s important to include some type of reinforcement for these students to motivate them and encourage more positive behaviors. One of the most common objections we get from teachers is that reinforcement isn’t needed, but there will always be those few learners who have challenges or just can’t keep up. An extra push to get through the day helps those who might be too tired or unmotivated.Another objection is that classroom reinforcement doesn’t work, but that’s often due to not understanding the key components of a reinforcement system. We discuss how these components help make reinforcement effective and why reinforcement isn’t bribery. We also talk about individual reinforcement systems, group and individual contingencies, and the do’s and don’ts of successful classroom reinforcement programs. What’s Inside:Common objections to classroom reinforcement.The difference between bribery and reinforcement.Do’s and don’ts of successful classroom reinforcement programs.Mentioned In This Episode:HowToABA.com/joinHow to ABA on YouTubeFind us on FacebookFollow us on Instagram

As ABA practitioners, we’re familiar with the terminology of FFCs, which stands for feature, function, and class. Here, we dive into what comes after we teach FFCs and how to assist learners who have a hard time with those “WH” questions. In many cases, we simply teach learners to memorize responses to these questions, but they don’t actually understand what they mean. When we then start to mix and vary questions, it sometimes causes confusion.We discuss how language develops, the importance of comprehension, and why we need to teach across operants. Sometimes this approach takes a bit longer, but learners can really grasp what’s being taught instead of memorizing an answer. We cover how to handle error correction, how to utilize matching and visuals, and provide information on our upcoming webinar. Want to go even further on teaching WH questions? Join us on Wednesday, December 6th at 12pm EST for our CEU event Beyond Rote Responding: The Progression of WH Questions.What’s Inside:Why teaching across operants is key when teaching WH questions.How to utilize matching and visuals.Information on our upcoming webinar.Mentioned In This Episode:HowToABA.com/joinHow to ABA on YouTubeFind us on FacebookFollow us on InstagramYouTube Video – Strategies to Teach WH QuestionsWH Questions eBook

The holidays are fast approaching and we’re starting to plan for the upcoming busy season. Parties and gatherings with a lot of people can be stressful and overwhelming for many of our learners. Here, we dive into ways we can help decrease stress throughout the holiday season. The first thing we discuss is how to use a visual schedule. The unpredictable nature of the holidays can really throw off a child’s routine. A schedule provides structure and having it in visual form keeps things front and center.It also helps if you have time to practice skills or visit locations ahead of time. For example, if holiday plans involve taking a lot of pictures, have a photo shoot beforehand to minimize overwhelm and confusion. We also share tips on how to say no to invitations, designating a safe space for kids to take a break, and how to handle transitions smoothly.  What’s Inside:How a visual schedule can reduce holiday overwhelm.How to use priming to practice skills ahead of time.How to handle transitions smoothly.Mentioned In This Episode:HowToABA.com/joinHow to ABA on YouTubeFind us on FacebookFollow us on InstagramIdeas for Successful Transitions

Chris Collins is the Executive Director of Ability to Include, and he joins us here for a chat about what he’s been up to in the field. Since the last time we spoke to Chris, he’s expanded his business ventures. Today, he’s focused on social skills within team sports. As an RBT, Chris coached soccer and realized there was room for ABA strategies on and off the field. Currently, Chris works with a variety of different children, including those on the spectrum.Chris shares insights into inclusion, which has become sort of a buzzword. While many define inclusion as mixing autistic children into a regular classroom setting, for Chris, it goes beyond autism. Kids with medical complexities, learning disabilities, and trauma also face unique challenges and inclusion should be extended to them as well. Our conversation with Chris also includes how he obtains funding, his thoughts on the future of ABA, and why we need better training and development for RBTs. What’s Inside:Why Chris believes inclusion should extend beyond kids with autism.How Chris obtains grants and funding.Advice for BCBAs looking to run their own programs.Mentioned In This Episode:HowToABA.com/joinHow to ABA on YouTubeFind us on FacebookFollow us on InstagramAbilitytoInclude.org

In the past, we’ve touched on how to teach basic social skills. However, with some learners, we have to go beyond simple contingency management and reinforcement techniques. We’ve been exploring how to teach social skills using ACT – Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. ACT is rooted in Relational Frame Theory (RFT), which you may be familiar with as a BCBA. When we teach using ACT, we can build skills that require indirect experiences and abstract thought. We can also build psychological flexibility with our learners. It helps keep them in the present moment, create space for their values, and more.Instead of relying on reinforcement, values-based teaching can sometimes be much more effective. We discuss how to help students take action towards their values while learning social skills along the way. We provide some real-world examples of how this works and how to use the DNA-V curriculum. For our next CEU Event, we’ll dive deeper into teaching social skills with an ACT-based approach. The CEU event will be held on November 16th at 12:00 pm EST for The Bx Resource Pro Members. Sign up here to attend!What’s Inside:How to use ACT to teach social skillsWhy values-based methods can sometimes work better than reinforcementInformation about our upcoming webinarMentioned In This Episode:HowToABA.com/joinHow to ABA on YouTubeFind us on FacebookFollow us on Instagram

Working with clients is just one part of our jobs as ABA professionals. Another important part is communicating with supervisors, parents, co-workers, and other stakeholders we interact with day to day. Here, we’re covering all things related to professional communication and feedback. Communication isn’t always easy, especially when it involves an emergency or a program that is not working. When it comes to working as an RBT, sometimes you’ll know a learner better than the BCBA, and it’s your right to provide feedback, positive or negative.We discuss giving and receiving feedback and how to approach those interactions appropriately, including timing, format, and demeanor. In the professional feedback model from the Princeton Childhood Institute, there are several key steps to follow, and we walk through each of those. We also talk about common communication obstacles, what to do if you feel defensive when receiving feedback or criticism, and tips for communicating with parents. What’s Inside:How to give and receive feedback.Common communication obstacles.Tips for communicating with parents.Mentioned In This Episode:HowToABA.com/joinHow to ABA on YouTubeFind us on FacebookFollow us on InstagramEpisode 116: How to Communicate with Parents Effectively About ABA SessionsBx Blueprint

Being a fantastic ABA instructor goes way beyond the duties listed in the job description. Here, we cover the qualities that help you move from good to great. The first thing on the list is forming strong relationships. Really engaging with parents and kids and what motivates our students goes a long way. Showing empathy and being compassionate go hand in hand with being professional. As an ABA therapist, you also want to show you’re committed to learning and developing healthy coping strategies.Going the extra mile to come up with solutions helps us stay motivated, and reaching out to collaborate with coworkers and team members is key. In our roles, we also have plenty of opportunities to accept and give feedback. We discuss how to stay open to feedback and how to deliver it to others. We also talk about the importance of being detail-oriented, using your intuition and thinking on your feet, and how to be fun and creative.What’s Inside:The top qualities of an awesome ABA instructor.How to give and receive feedback.The importance of creativity and fun.Mentioned In This Episode:HowToABA.com/joinHow to ABA on YouTubeFind us on FacebookFollow us on InstagramBx Blueprint

Social stories, or social narratives, are a great tool to use in ABA. However, there’s no documented evidence to suggest they eliminate negative behavior. Here, we discuss why we still use social stories and how to utilize them correctly. In ABA, we typically use social stories as a piece of a larger treatment puzzle. It’s important to note that social stories by themselves don’t eliminate behaviors or teach skills. However, when paired with other interventions, they are effective. We share some examples of how to use social stories and how to measure progress and collect data. We’ve also linked a couple of past blogs on social stories and emotional regulation below.What’s Inside:The origin of social stories and how we use them in ABA.How to use social stories to decrease negative behavior.Examples of social stories in action.Mentioned In This Episode:HowToABA.com/joinHow to ABA on YouTubeFind us on FacebookFollow us on InstagramBlog – Teaching Emotional RegulationBlog – Do Social Stories Change Behavior?

ABA professionals play a significant role in helping individuals achieve their goals and improve their quality of life. We should all be aware of what an appropriate level of professionalism is and how we can show it in our roles as ABA therapists, RBTs, and paraprofessionals. Here, we start out by defining professionalism, which goes beyond simply dressing well and having a fancy title. True professionalism is a wide range of attitudes, behaviors, ethical considerations, and more.One of the core ways of showing professionalism is to leave your personal problems at the door before you walk into a classroom or client’s home. We discuss how to identify and manage those times when you might need a break, as well as how to put together a professional appearance. We also talk about showing professionalism towards families, how to maintain boundaries with coworkers and clients, and the importance of communicating effectively.  What’s Inside:The definition of professionalism and how it applies to ABA.How to maintain a professional appearance.How to set boundaries with coworkers and families.Mentioned In This Episode:HowToABA.com/joinHow to ABA on YouTubeFind us on FacebookFollow us on InstagramEthical Compliance Code for Behavior AnalystsThe Bx Blueprint