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ABA Therapy

What is Applied Behavior Analysis?
Applied behavior analysis is the process of systematically applying interventions based upon the principles of learning theory to improve socially significant behaviors to a meaningful degree and to demonstrate that the interventions employed are responsible for the improvement in behavior (Baer, Wolf & Risley, 1968; Sulzer-Azaroff & Mayer, 1991).  

"Socially significan behaviors" include reading, academics, social skills, communication, and adaptive living skills.  Adaptive living skills include gross and fine motor skills, eating and food preparation, toileting, dressing, personal self-care, domestic skills, time and punctuality, money and value, home and community orientation, and work skills. 

ABA methods are used to support persons with autism in at least six ways:
1.  to increase behaviors;
2.  to teach new skill;
3.  to maintain behaviors;
4.  to generalize or to transfer behavior from one situation or response to
     another;
5.  to restrict or narrow conditions under which interfering behaviors occur;
     and  
6.  to reduce interfering behaviors.  

Evaluating ABA Programs 
There are many ABA providers and often parents do not known which provider is the best one for their child.  Numerous providers claim to have expertise in the field of autism.  Though a provider may have ABA training, it is very important that the provider also have experience with the autism population and can develop an individualized program for your child. 

Here are some suggested program guidelines to follow:

Individualized Programming

·         Does the provider work within the child’s areas of strength?

·         Are adaptations to the curriculum made when needed?

·         Avoidance of “cook book” programming”. 

·         Does the agency incorporate the latest research findings into their
      treatment plans?

 

Emphasis on Generalization

·         Does generalization work begin immediately?

·         Is there an emphasis to generalize skills across people?

·         Is there an emphasis to generalize the way instructions are given?

·         Is there an emphasis to generalize skills across learning
      environments?

·         Is there a push to transition to a naturally occurring reinforcement
      schedule?

 

Supervision

·         Is regular supervision considered crucial to the program success?

·         Are behavioral excesses and reductive strategies reviewed at each
      supervisory meeting?

·         Is school progress reviewed and are there shadowing goals
      outlined?

·         Are all drills reviewed and demonstrated at each supervisory
      meeting?

·         Are the children’s programs adapted to their individual needs?

·         Are the necessary referrals provided when needed?

 

Intensity & Consistency

·         Are the hours recommended consistent with research findings?

·         Are steps taken to ensure consistency?

Ø  Parent / Nanny / Extended Family Training

Ø  Frequent Consultation with School Staff

Ø  Frequent Consultation with other providers

 

Acknowledgment of Biomedical Factors Impacting Treatment

·         Are parents encouraged to explore medical treatments?

·         Is information regarding dietary changes provided?

·         Are pre-screened referrals provided when necessary?

 

Specialized Programs for Particular Learners

·         Are Social Skills Training / Executive Function Training / Theory
      of Mind Work part of the program?

·         Is adequate programming for non-verbal children available if
      needed?

·         Are other programs brought in to aide the child’s pattern of
      acquisition (PECS, Social Stories, etc.) 


The above information has been taken from The Report of the Maine Administrators of Services for Children with Disabilities (MADSEC )Autism Task Force (2000)  


Abstracts/Studies
Intensive Behavioral Treatment at School for 4 to 7 Year Old Children
With Autism: A 1-Year Comparison Controlled Study

By Svein Eikeseth-Akershus College, Tristram Smith-University of Rochester, Erik Jahr and Sigmund Eldevik-Akershus Central Hospital

Outcome for Children With Autism Who Began Intensive Behavioral Treatment Between Ages 4 and 7: A Comparison Controlled Study
By Svein Eikeseth, Akershus University College, Norway, Tristram Smith, University of Rochester, NY, Erik Jahr, Akershus University Hospital, Norway and Sigmund Eldevik, Nordvoll School & Autism Centre, Norway

Early Intensive Behavioral Treatment:  Replication the UCLA Model in a Community Setting
By Howard Cohen, PhD,Valley Mountain Regional Center, Stockton, CA, Mila Amerine, Dickens, M.S., Central Valley Autism Project, Modesto, CA and Tristram Smith, PhD., Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY

Outcome of comprehensive psycho-educational interventions for young children with autism
By Svein Eikeseth, Akershus University College, Norway

Report of the Surgeon General - Executive Summary
Chapter 3: Autism

ABA Therapists in Tennessee
Leigh Grannan, MS, BCBA
Phone: 615-974-4840
Email:
leighkg@hotmail.com
www.toilettrainingkids.net

Cheatham County
Behavioral Consulting Associates, Inc.

Davidson County
ABA Nashville, LLC.
Kate Rauscher, M.S.Ed, BCBA
Nashville, TN  37211
Phone: 615-442-7988
Email:
kate@abanashville.com 

 

Autism & Behavior Consulting Services, LLC 
Jane Lott, Owner
4731 Trousdale Dr., Suite 14 
Nashville, TN 37220 
Phone: 615-331-1141 
Fax: 615-331-1142 
Email:
jane@abcservicesllc.net 

Kari Gray
Advance Beyond Autism 
Provides autism consulting services
and aba therapy services
Phone: 615-415-3517
Email:
kathrynmgray@comcast.net 

Mariposa Behavioral Health Services
Jenne Nesbitt-Decker
208 Dockside Court
Hermitage, TN  37066
Phone: 615-519-1160

Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt
Division of Developmental Medicine and Cognition
11204 Doctors' Office Tower
2200 Children's Way
Nashville, TN 37232-9903
Contact: Jordan McLain, M.Ed.
Behavior Consultant
Nashville, TN 37232
Dept. of Pediatrics-Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Phone: 615-936-0249
Fax: 615-936-8064
Email:
jordan.e.mclain@vanderbilt.edu

The Brown Center for Autism
2702 Greystone Road
Nashville, TN 32702
Phone: 615-385-7994
Fax: 615-385-7996

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development 
Behavior Analysis Clinic at Vanderbilt
Nea Houchins, M.A.
18010 Edgehill Avenue
Nashville, TN 37232
Phone: 615-322-9007
Email:  
n.houchins-juarez@vanderbilt.edu

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center
406 MRL Building
21st and Magnolia Circle
Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: 615-322-8239

Dickson County
Behavioral Consulting Associates, Inc.


Fayette County
Behavioral Counseling & Services, LLC 
Dr. Michael Rohr
550 Lazenby Drive
Somerville, TN 38068
Phone: 901-466-9226
Email:
info@behavioralcounselingservices.com

Hamilton County
Autism and Behavior Services
3309 Cummings Hwy
Suite E-1
Chattanooga, TN 37419
Phone: 423-386-5355
Contacts: Co-Director, Jenni Hampton
Email: jennidhampton@charter.net
Co-Director,Laura Forkum-Berryhill, M.Ed, BCBA
Email:
laura.forkum@gmail.com

Knox County
Behavior Consultants
601 Concord Street
Suite 114
Knoxville, TN 37919
Phone: 865-523-6273

Kim Cooper Consulting
Kim Cooper-Brown M.S., Ed., BCBA
1221 Appaloosa Way
Knoxville, TN 37922
Phone: 773-706-7494
Email: kcooperconsulting@hotmail.com

Parent-Child Services Group, Inc.
Lynne F. Harmon, M.A., CCC-SLP
1225 E. Weisgarber Road
Suite 180 South
Knoxville, TN 37090
Phone: 865-584-5558
Fax: 865-584-6607
Email:
lynneellen@aol.com

Montgomery County
Behavioral Consulting Associates, Inc.
136 Dartmoore Drive

Clarksville, TN 37043
Phone: 931-368-1660
Email:
help@behaviorsupport.org

Robertson County
Behavioral Consulting Associates, Inc.

Rutherford County
Felicia K. Burk, M.Ed. (Behavior/Autism Consultant)
3024 Silver Springs Court
Murfreesboro, TN 37128
Phone:  615-896-0505
Fax: 615-217-0700
Email:
burkf@comcast.net
 

River Oaks Leaning Center
Contact: Julie Allison or Amy Laird
Phone: 615-594-4840
Email:
juliea1998@aol.com

Shelby County
The Autism Solution Center, Inc.
9282 Cordova Park Road
Cordova, TN
Phone: 901-759-8288
Email:
info@autismsolutioncenter.com 

Weakley County
WTN Applied Behavior Analysis, LLC
Laura Plunk, BCBA
109 Ramer Street
Martin, TN 32837
Phone: 731-819-2417
Email:
wtnaba@yahoo.com

Williamson County 
ABA Nashville, LLC.
Kate Rauscher, M.S.Ed, BCBA
Nashville, TN  37211
Phone: 615-442-7988
Email:
kate@abanashville.com 

Carrie B. Camp, M.A., BCBA
Camp Behavioral
P.O. Box 682371
Franklin, TN  37068
Phone:  615-772-3245
Email: 
carrie@campbehavioral.com
In-home aba therapy serving Williamson County and parts of Davidson and Rutherford Counties. 

Dian R Bridges, BCBA
175 Broadwell Cir
Franklin, TN 37067
Phone (615) 778-9101
Cell (615) 513-6924
Email: 
DBrdgs@aol.com 

ABA Therapists in Kentucky
Christian County
Behavioral Consulting Associates, Inc.

Logan County
Behavioral Consulting Associates, Inc.

Todd County
Behavioral Consulting Associates, Inc.

ABA Courses To Purchases:
Maximum Potential Kids
Atlanta, GA
Toll Free: 877-629-7654 (USA Only)
Email: info@maximumpotentialkids.com
Maximum Potential Kids provides training courses to empower parents, teachers and caregivers with the ability to provide at home or at school ABA therapy.