When you first dive into the world of ABA to see if it’s the right fit for your family, it can feel completely overwhelming. Sifting through the jargon and trying to make sense of the clinical methods described can feel a bit like trying to learn a foreign language overnight.
As behavior analysts, we believe it is our job to be the translators. Because at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter if an intervention can be perfectly described by a complex behavioral definition. What matters is that our interventions are understood, accepted, and genuinely feasible for the family who will be living them out every day.
At AB Spectrum, we meet with caregivers on a weekly or bi-weekly basis to do just that. We unpack the behavioral interventions used in our clinic setting and repackage them into understandable, practical ideas that can be effectively implemented at home. To help jumpstart that process, let’s unpack four commonly used ABA words and phrases together.
First up is Naturalistic Teaching (or Incidental Teaching). This happens when the environment becomes the teacher! Rather than using flashcards or sitting in highly structured, rigid learning settings, we teach by allowing our clients to engage in their everyday environment. We then use those natural experiences to create learning opportunities. This is something we highly value at AB Spectrum, as it sits at the very core of our Reggio Emilia approach to therapy. We follow the child’s lead, and as they explore their world, we teach language, play skills, social skills, and independence.
Next is Mand. This is definitely not a word you hear in everyday conversation, but you actually encounter the concept constantly. To put it simply: a mand is a request! Anytime someone asks for something, whether they are using their words, or using non-verbal language like reaching and pointing, they are manding.
Then we have Reinforcement, which is the absolute key to everything we do! Reinforcement means providing a rewarding consequence immediately after a behavior occurs, which makes that behavior much more likely to happen again in the future. In our clinic, we focus heavily on reinforcing the positive behaviors we want to see grow, like communicating, sharing, eating new foods, and trying new things. While working directly with our clients in the clinic is incredibly important, collaborating with families is the true power of what we do. When we work together to bring these concepts to life at home, we unlock the door to long-lasting, meaningful progress for your child.