The Top Reasons for ABA
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a great tool for autistic kids. It really helps them get the help that they need in order to be successful and learn properly. It covers so many topics, ideas, and curriculum. At first, I was scared of this program because I was still in denial about my child being autistic. I am not certified in any of this, this is all my opinion from a parent standpoint.
This program takes some time before you see results. Nothing will happen overnight and for the longest time I had to keep telling myself that. Here are the top 4 reasons why I would recommend ABA for anyone who is autistic:
- They still get social interaction: There are other kids in the program and they do circle time in addition to fun activities. Most of the time people claim the children don’t get the interaction they need, but that couldn’t be further from the truth!
- Non-verbal communication: Before we started ABA, communicating was a complete mess. We tried sign language. We tried a lot of things. Now, we are able to actually communicate either with pictures or sign language. Obviously, our end goal is verbal communication but we were able to really gain a lot from this and not be as frustrated!
- Celebrate small victories: You can see the progress that your child makes. The program keeps you updated and lets you know what they are working on. This way, when your kid does it at home you can celebrate and keep track of each accomplishment!
- Get a break: This might sound kind of rude, but parents need breaks. Especially when you have a special needs child. When I send my kid to ABA, I know he is in excellent care and is receiving the 1 on 1 he needs that sometimes I am not able to provide.
I am not an expert when it comes to ABA, I am just a parent who has her own personal thoughts and feelings. I’d love to hear how you feel about ABA and what has worked for you!
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I learned about the basics of ABA while taking courses to earn my special education minor in college, and it’s really been handy since I have a son with Angelman Syndrome. I’ve never sent my son to a special ABA class (we live in the boonies!), but I’m able to use the strategies at home to try and discern the why behind the behaviors. It reminds me to look for patterns instead of getting frustrated, and to try to solve the problem instead of just slapping a bandaid on.
Thanks for sharing some of the benefits you’ve noticed with your child!
thank you for sharing this story, I love this! It is def hard for sure.
I have never heard of ABA. It sounds like a great program!
it sure is!
Not rude at all parents need breaks and shouldn’t feel guilty for wanting to take a break. Learning the non verbals is so important and they are different in everyone.
thanks for the kind words.
ABA has definitely made a difference in my boys, especially in the frequency and intensity of their problem behaviors. All of the visual aids have also helped my younger son begin to communicate much better! There are positives and negatives to ABA, and it all depends on the therapist you get. As long as they show respect to your child as they would a NT child, there should be good results.