Blog Post

What are the verbal operants and why do they matter?

Verbal behavior seems like the newest buzz word in the world of Autism. Parents ask me almost every day what it is and how it is different from applied behavior analysis (ABA). Truthfully, it is usually used interchangeably. Technically speaking though, it is the part of ABA that teaches children how to use language to communicate. Verbal behavior was developed…

6 Sensory Friendly Stocking Stuffers for Under 10 Dollars!

It is so hard to believe that the holiday season is already upon us.  This year just flew by. If you are anything like me, standing in long lines at the mall fighting for the best deals is not how you want to spend your holiday.   While some people enjoy holiday shopping, for busy moms like yourself who have…

Tips for an Autism Happy Halloween

Halloween is many children’s favorite day of the year. However, for children with Autism it can be more spooky than a treat. They are being forced to communicate with potentially dozens of unknown strangers which can be both challenging and stressful. Children with Autism often like routines, may have sensory preferences that make costumes difficult and may not fully understand…

Starting School With Autism

Congratulations! Your child is about to start school. It is exciting, but it can also be scary. Sending any child to school for the first time is hard for any parent, sending a child with special needs to school, especially one that has a difficult time communicating can be even scarier.  Fortunately, there are things that you can do to…

An interesting "spin" on Reinforcement.

Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is the most well researched and scientifically validated methods for teaching children with Autism new skills.  It is based upon the behavior principle that what happens before a behavior and what happens after a behavior will determine if it happens again. If a person engages in a behavior and they do not get what they want,…

What to do If Your Child Keeps Getting Bored of Their Reinforcers!

This week’s blog post is based upon a conversation I had this week with a friend who has a young child with Autism. With her permission, I will share a bit of her story. Her son has been fully potty trained for almost six months but recently started having accidents again.  It is definitely not a medical issue. It is…