Teaching children HOW to learn
What is ABA?
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the science of human behavior that began with the work of B.F. Skinner over 70 years ago. Skinner discovered that the social and physical environment teaches us how to behavior. The teaching that we do is based on the principles of ABA. If you really understand behavior analysis, then you can understand the real causes of human behavior. If you apply that knowledge to an understanding of children with Autism who have difficulties with communicating, learning, and challenging behaviors and you use the tools developed through behavior analysis (referred to behavior modification), then you can have success teaching individuals how to communicate and learn.
What is VB?
In Verbal Behavior, B.F. Skinner outlined his analysis of Verbal Behavior (VB) which describes a group of verbal operants, or functional units of language. Skinner explained that language could be analyzed into a set of functional units, with each type of operant serving a different function. He coined terms that didn’t exist (to separate these operants from anything described by traditional linguistics) for these operants. VB is ABA with a focus on Skinner’s analysis of verbal behavior; it is the application of the science of behavior analysis to teach verbal behavior.
What is NET?
The Behavior Analysis Center for Autism (BACA) provides a special program called Natural Environment Training (NET). Families are eligible for this program while your child is enrolled at the BACA and receiving all in center clinically indicated services as recommended by your child's therapy team. Our hope is to provide support to all BACA families in their home environment and in their community. We encourage all families to take advantage of this opportunity because we understand that all gains of our clients need to be generalized across all settings, situations, and people and this will only be accomplished through educating our parents.
The NET program is designed to show the family how to create meaningful language
opportunities while successfully promoting appropriate behavior. Our goal is to
coach parents how to create a language-
Therapy @ BACA
Therapy sessions are broken up into 2 one-
Daily Schedule
8:30 -
8:30-
11:30-
1:30-
4:30 -
AM Therapy Session
The primary therapist picks the client up at 8:30am and works with their client in
a 1-
Midday Sessions
All full day clients have 2-
PM Therapy Session
The secondary therapist picks the client up at 1:30pm from their midday group and
works with their client in a 1-
What is a primary therapist?
Each client, either full time or part time, is assigned a primary therapist who works
under the client’s consultant. The primary therapist is responsible for providing
direct therapy during the AM session. Primary therapists work directly with the
consultant while creating an individualized treatment plan through VB-
What is a secondary therapist?
Each full time client is assigned a secondary therapist. The client’s secondary therapist is responsible for providing direct therapy during the PM session, and implementing directions given by the primary therapist. During the PM session, the secondary therapist collects and records maintenance probe data once per week. Secondary therapists also update program planning sheets, skill tracking sheets, picture cards, note cards, and all other materials used for targets that have been mastered.
BACA’s Yearly Schedule
BACA has a schedule independent of the surrounding school districts. BACA has a total of ten scheduled days off each year, two of which are staff development days.
BACA‘s only extended vacation time occurs around Memorial Day which coincides with ABAI’s annual conference. This allows consultants and administrative staff to be abreast with current research and developments within the ABA field.
Calendar
Click to download the 2013 BACA Clinic Calendar.
Check us out on our Facebook page for the most up-
Snow Day Policy
In an event that it is determined by the BACA administration that it is too dangerous
for our staff and families to drive to the center, BACA will close for a "snow day".
This will be determined by 6:30 am and a message will be placed on the WTHR Channel
13, BACA answering machine (317-
Resources
Check out our resources page for suggested links, books, etc.