Autism - ASD
ABA ProgramOur ABA PROGRAM for children on the Autism Spectrum
Up Wee Grow, Inc. provides the highest quality A.B.A. programming (Applied Behavior Analysis) at the direction of our Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Licensed Psychologist (Ph.D.).
Collaborative efforts are sustained between your family, administrative team, teachers, therapists, and service coordinators. At Up Wee Grow, our main objective is to cultivate and enrich the services we deliver through ongoing training and professional consultation. We develop programs specifically designed for each child and we then continuously evaluate to maintain the most appropriate and functional goals for each child over time.
Our comprehensive programs will incorporate components of A.B.A. that have been proven to be effective in the acquisition of skills across all developmental domains. Components of the Up Wee Grow Comprehensive ABA programs for learners on the autistic spectrum include:
Intervention overseen by behavior analysts
Ongoing objective measurement of progress
Instruction in all developmental areas
Skills broken down into small parts
Enable learners to be independent
Planned opportunities naturally occurring learning
Abundant positive reinforcement
Use of techniques to generalize skills
Parent training and monthly meetings
At Up Wee Grow, Inc. we compiled the following to help filter the vast array of information on the internet. We hope you find this to be a useful resource in as you educate and empower yourself about Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorder. In accordance with the New York State Clinical Practice Guidelines for Autism/PDD, at Up Wee Grow, Inc. we recommend individualized and intensive “Applied Behavior Analysis” (ABA). More specifically, at Up Wee Grow, Inc. we advocate the “Verbal Behavior” (VB) approach to ABA.
What is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)? According to Wikipedia.org, Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is the science of applying experimentally derived principles of behavior to improve socially significant behavior. ABA takes what we know about behavior and uses it to bring about positive change (Applied). Behaviors are defined in observable and measurable terms in order to assess change over time (Behavior). The behavior is analyzed within the environment to determine what factors are influencing the behavior (Analysis).
What is the ‘Verbal Behavior’ approach to ABA? At www.AutismUSaba.de you can read about the major components of a Verbal Behavior (VB) approach, and a comparison of the VB approach to Ivar Lovaas’s ABA. VB language training focuses on teaching children to request items through use of natural motivation (“mand” training). VB considers a word to be mastered if a child can use the word in several ways (e.g., asking for a ball, answering questions about a ball, etc.).
How does Up Wee Grow assess a child’s progress?
In addition to using standardized test instruments in accordance with New York State Early Intervention Guidelines, Up Wee Grow, Inc. evaluates on-going progress of children in our ABA/VB programs using the ABLLS: Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills, which is considered the gold standard in the field of ABA and early child development. www.Behavior-Consultant.com)
Useful & Trustworthy Links
New York State Department of Health Clinical Practice Guideline on Assessment and Intervention Services for Young Children (Age 0-3) with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD): 2017 Update, Report of the Recommendations, New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Early Intervention, July 24, 2017 https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/20152.pdf
New York State Department of Health Clinical Practice Guideline on Assessment and Intervention Services for Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), 2017 Update, A Quick Reference Guide for Parents and Professionals, New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Early Intervention, July 24, 2017 https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/20152.pdf
New York State Clinical Practice Guideline on Assessment and Intervention Services for Young Children (Ages 0-3) with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Update – 2017 Report of the Research of Evidence, New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Early Intervention, July 24, 2017 https://www.health.ny.gov/community/infants_children/early_intervention/autism/docs/report_of_the_research.pdf
Verbal Behavior at Wikipedia
www.VerbalBehaviorWikipedia.com
This site offers frequently updated, state-of-the-art ABA/VB information and resources. It refers to books, videos, consultants, journal articles, and other helpful information. There is virtually no ABA/VB topic that is not discussed in detail at Wikipedia.
Association for Behavior Analysis An International Organization:
www.abainternational.org
Association for Behavior Analysis New York State Chapter (NYSABA):
www.nysaba.org
Association for Science in Autism Treatment:
www.asatonline.org
Autism National Committee:
www.autcom.org
Autism Society of America:
www.autism-society.org
Autism Research Institute:
www.autism.com/ari
B.F. Skinner Foundation:
www.bfskinner.org
Christina Burk, MA
www.ChristinaBurkABA.com
A comprehensive, well-organized ABA/VB website. Includes a definition of all VB verbal operants (mands/requests, tacts/labels, intraverbals/conversation), how to teach in the natural environment (NET), and effective teaching procedures (i.e., errorless learning; mixing and varying targets; how to avoid prompt dependency; fluency teaching)
Cody Center at Stony Brook:
www.codycenter.org
Different Roads to Learning:
www.difflearn.com/
Doug Flutie Foundation:
www.dougflutiejrfoundation.org
Dr. Bobby Newman PhD BCBA:
www.room2grow.org
Dr. Carbones BCBA Website
www.drcarbone.net
Elija Foundation:
www.elija.org
Families for Early Autism Treatment:
www.feat.org
National Alliance for Autism Research:
www.naar.org
Nassau/Suffolk Autism Society of America:
www.nsasa.org/
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY):
www.nichcy.org
NY Autism Network:
www.albany.edu/psy/autism/autism.html
POAC (Parents of Autistic Children):
www.poac.net
The Autism Coalition:
www.autismcoalition.org
Unlocking Autism:
www.unlockingautism.org
Organizations
Autism Info:
Provides information to parents, doctors, teachers, tutors, caregivers, and anyone interested in learning more about autism and autism spectrum disorders.
www.autisminfo.com
BBB Autism:
Positive support and information regarding Autistic Spectrum Disorders. This site offers an online club and message board for siblings, spouses, and ABA therapists on various topics relating to Spectrum Disorders.
www.bbbautism.com
Long Island Autism:
The mission of the LI Autism is to promote lifelong access and opportunity for all individuals within the autism spectrum, and their families, to be fully participating, included members of their community. This site offers on line chats, forums for discussion and related articles.
www.liautism.com
North Shore Long Island Jewish Heath System-Center for Autism:
The Center for Autism offers the significant medical resources of the North Shore-LIJ Health System through a coordinated Health System-wide Autism Steering Committee so the patient and family are provided a comprehensive and integrated treatment plan.
www.northshorelij.com
The Elija Foundation-Empowering Long Island’s Journey Through Autism:
The ELIJA Foundation is a not-for-profit organization serving parents, educators, professionals and caregivers of children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) on Long Island.
www.Elija.org
Useful Books & Manuals
Mariposa School Employee Training Manual
MariposaSchool.org offers a 140 page, downloadable Verbal Behavior training manual. It is an excellent resource for individuals at all levels of familiarity with VB concepts, ranging from beginner to expert. The manual explains not only what to teach, but supplies detailed information on how to teach each target behavior. It is based on the ABLLS: Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills (What is the ABLLS? www.Behavior-Consultant.com) Additionally, the manual provides detailed proactive, positive procedures to handle difficult to manage behaviors.
The Verbal Behavior Approach: How to Teach Children with Autism and Related Disorders by Mary Lynch Barbera, Tracy Rasmussen, Mark L. Sundberg This is an excellent, thorough, parent-friendly book, which helps parents and therapists effectively and practically use the ABA/VB approach. Major topics include, definitions of basic ABA/VB concepts, teaching manding and other expressive language functions, teaching receptive language functions, toileting, and important self-help functions. (Available at most libraries or at www.BarnesAndNoble.com
Educate Toward Recovery: Turning the Tables on Autism – A Teaching Manual for the Verbal Behavior Approach to ABA by Robert Schramm This is an outstanding book for parents as they first begin ABA/VB therapy with their children. It is also an invaluable resource to therapists. The author describes ABA/VB principles in a very parent-friendly and compassionate way that will encourage hope and optimism, and set the stage for continued parent involvement. Major topics include: understanding the purpose of your child’s behavior, detailed positive procedures to gain instructional control over your child’s behavior, and detailed methods to use your child’s motivation to increase language. (Available at most libraries or at amazon.com)