Summary of ABA research, good for tribunals!

[sickofsocalledexperts]

Another great blog from Professor Richard Hastings, with a good summary of all the research (yet again showing how ABA gets better results than "eclectic"). Wish someone in a government education dept would take note!

profhastings.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/the-most-significant-and-original-data.html

Blimey! 30% of ABA'd dc increased their IQ by >27 points, and 20% of them increased their Vineland score (life-skills-quotient) by >20 points.

In fairness, a few of the control dc did too (6% and 5% respectively).

If I'm reading the methodology correctly, any smaller increases in IQ and Vineland scores weren't analysed because only the big gains could be definitively attributed to the ABA. Little gains are more common and can be influenced by a range of factors (bet there was a 'non-statistically significant trend' towards positive outcomes though)

Yes I have seen a small minority of kids do awesomely well on ABA, even to the extent of now flying solo at mainstream secondary school. My own boy has just done well, but that will do fine!

SickOf, Mareeya - Do you guys have any resources I can use to introduce ABA to the day care? I dont want to take too much information. just a couple of A4 sheets:)

Very good question - I think that a two page brief intro to ABA for schools is much-needed. Not sure if there is one, as they tend to be a bit academic. There is an intro to ABA on the BeyondAutism website that is fairly plain English, also one on VB on there which goes into mands etc. Could be worth a look.

Hi salondon, is This any good?

Tbh, though, ABA at base is just looking at 'behaviours' in the context of 'reinforcement'. As is toddler taming, but in a more systematic way. Similarly, breaking down a skill to teach bits and then chaining it back together, is nursery education. So is gradually shaping an existing behaviour. Like how they teach children to use a cutlery, for example.

So early-years staff often 'get' ABA in a way that big-school teachers don't

That's not a bad book Maryeea although I prefer Robert Schramm as a gentle readable intro to ABA that resonates with real warmth and kindness and humanity.
(Apologies for sounding like Miss World contestant but it really does.)

Thanks Moondog and Mareeya. This is very useful