Positive Behavior Analyst

My goals to complete the Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis are both, personal and professional. On a professional level, I want to advance my graduate studies by becoming a certified Behavior Analyst. For this I must complete the courses required by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. On a personal level, this certificate means several things: providing an example of improvement for my family, and providing my family with the adequate financial resources in the furure. I have been the first in my family to obtain a university degree. Being certified as a behavioral analyst would make me a specialist in this field. It is my hope that the completion of my professional career stimulates other family members to aspire higher educational goals and become productive professional citizens in society.

Applied behavioral analysis (ABA) is the leading scientific method that helps patients with Autism to overcome their condition. In order to improve their condition, ABA specialists focus on a system of reward, which encourages positive actions like speech, social activity and life skill improvements. This works mostly with children as they are more likely to absorb and accept new challenges; this is commonly referred to as "positive reinforcement" in the literature and has become one of the leading directions for treatment. ABA therapy was devised and implemented by Dr. O. Ivar Lovaas at UCLA in 1987. Since then, ABA therapy has become a leading branch of psychology - behaviorism.

Applied behavior analysis previously known as behavior modification is the application of behavior that modifies human behavior, especially as part of a learning or treatment process. Applied behavioral analysis can provide changes and improvement in social behavior including communication, social skills, academics, toileting etc. These applied behavior analysis is used to promote meaningful and positive behavior. Once you have identified what the issue is the next step would be to identify goals and objectives. Design and implement a plan. Continue evaluating the progress and modifying to goals to meet the need of the individual. One of the techniques used is positive reinforcements as a reward for positive

Another program would be the applied behavior analysis department (ABA) this program provides behavior diagnostic services to the children with developmental needs. This program is also connected to the board certified behavior analysts (BCBA). The BCBA are intense therapy treatment that is based on scientifically tested behavioral principles and procedures. The ABA involves steady evaluation of treatment progress and clinical decision-making based on each child. ABA is the only treatment approach with rigorous scientific evidence to support its effectiveness as both comprehensive and focused treatment. The psychology services pay attention to attention deficit hyperactivity disorders, autism spectrum disorders, developmental delays, behavioral; disorders, learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and difficulties associated with genetic disorders. They start evaluating the students by reviewing their historical background and looking at their past academic history. The Child Development Clinic (CDC) is another program that is provided. It is a multidisciplinary clinic that includes a psychologist and social worker. The psychologist may administer rating scales, cognitive, language, and/or developmental screeners as well as the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 (ADOS-2). Afterwards, the psychologist provides the family with a diagnosis (there may be more than one),

Positive behaviour support (PBS) is an approach to providing services to individuals who exhibit challenging behaviour. Since the early 1990s, PBS has received increasing attention from the behaviour-analytic community. Some behaviour analysts have embraced this approach, but others have voiced questions and concerns. Over the past dozen years, an approach to delivery of behavioral services known as positive behavior support has emerged as a highly visible movement. Although PBS has been substantially influenced by applied behavior analysis, other factors are also part of its

ABA is a scientific process of examining what causes and maintains behaviour, in order to bring about positive change.

My enthusiasm for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) in kids and pre-adults began in the midst of my journey for a graduate degree in teaching. When I graduated with my Bachelors in Psychology, I noticed there were many available instructing positions in teaching. I chose to seek after a graduate

Pursuing a career in applied behavioural analysis is motivated by my focus and interest in working with people. A Board Certified Behavior Analysis (BCBA) commonly work with children to alter behaviour, which I do find an interest in due to my love for children. Initially, I do wish to use my training to help children in need of behavioural changes by working in schools for special

When evaluating a client you are wondering and determining the type of treatment or intervention you would like to introduce. As each client is different, what works for client A may not be effective with client B. In determining the type of intervention there should be a certain level of research along with the gained professional and educational knowledge obtained. While researching treatments there are bound to be a multitude of fad treatments. It is important to research and steer away from alternate treatments also known as AltTs. These treatments are those that attempt to mimic ABA interventions but are not scientifically found. There has been little or no research provided, they have no scientific data, or they may be unsupported. Very few if any have cohesive research studies on entire treatment packages. Using any of these treatments would be deemed unethical. That is why research is key. A lot of AltTs disguise themselves as ABA; when in fact ABA is a science and science is “the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment.” ABA seeks to understand and alter behaviors by observation, study, and proven scientific techniques. Using such treatments could, potentially, do more harm than good. We must remember to respect our practice and bestow our best interest and maintain its

Applied Behavioral Analysis Applied behavioral analysis (ABA) uses scientific principles of behavior management to execute meaningful changes. Schools and private programs use applied behavioral analysis because it provides education structure, a consistent monitoring system and helps teachers calculate progress levels. The purpose of applied behavioral analysis is to empower children with skills that they can use in

After researching and reading articles on PBS and ADA, I found that it was difficult to determine what the difference is, how and what the controversy surrounding PBS and ADA was all about. I found that the major difference between PBS and ABA is the training required, availability of the program, and easiness of implementing the behavior support systems. PBS has received lots of support from the Federal Government and teachers alike, where ABA did not received that support. PBS focuses on changing challenging behavior by changing the environment, the causes, and reasons for the behavior. Also, PBS is used in many schools as school wide behavior support systems. PBS is easy to implement, requires little training or support, but requires does

Since Skinner’s time there has been much research done and many new techniques made in ABA especially in regards of teaching people how to increase behaviors associated with learning and decreasing those that may inhibit learning. These new techniques have been used to help successfully treat or improve the lives of several people with various degrees and types of disabilities and learning disorders. These techniques have been adapted from being used exclusively on adults and modified for children. These techniques can be formally initiated, meaning that they are done in a classroom or a behavioral analysts’ office, or they can be taught to parents or caretakers and are often used to develop skills such as learning theory of mind, eye contact, social skills, and other necessary skills (Renna, 2004).

Behavior analysts should be aware of the values their clients’ have. The behavior analyst should be clear about the methods to be used and the underlying conceptual basis for the procedures when explaining them to the client or clients. This clear explanation may prevent conflicts from arising.

As quoted from an article by Sugai et al (2010), PBIS is a viable approach for improving school behavior and offers a framework for practices that may improve behaviors directly related to academic performances (Johnson et al, 2013). PBIS is typically organized as a multitiered model focusing on three overarching goals: (1) prevention of new cases of challenging behaviors by creating clear and predictable environments throughout a school (or facility), (2) early intervention for emerging behavior problems, and (3) intensive intervention for youth who exhibit chronic or sever behavioral difficulties (Scheunemann et al, 2013). For Amber, she (and hopefully other peers from her school) will be implemented in to PBIS program to assisted in shaping and improving her current behavior. To do so, five strategies will be implemented as to foster a positive behavior.

By the 1960’s autism was finally identified as a disorder of its own; in 1965, Dr O. Ivar Lovas and colleagues at a university developed a treatment for autism called applied behaviour of analysis (ABA) (Freedman, 2009); ABA is the use of techniques and principles to bring about a good change in behaviour (Freedman, 2009). ABA focuses on the principles that explains how learning takes place e.g. through positive reinforcement; if good behaviour is followed by a reward the behaviour is more likely to be repeated. This technique could be used not only in the classroom but at home by parents (Freedman, 2009). ABA has become a very popular and widely known treatment for autism through the years especially through the last decade where it has been used to help autistic people lead normal and productive lives.