Behaviorism2

=Website Exemplifying Behaviorist Instructional Features =

[|Autism Speaks]
 Autism Speaks is the nation’s largest autism science and advocacy organization. They are involved in autism research, prevention, treatments, and cures. They use a scientific approach to understanding behavior and how it is affected by the environment. One type of treatment they believe in is Applied Behavior Analysis. This is the use of Behaviorist techniques and principles to address social issues and to create a meaningful change in behavior. Autism Speaks believes that the use of Applied Behavior Analysis can help individuals with autism live productive and fulfilled lives.

__Applied Behavior Analysis Research__- Research has been conducted on the affects of Applied Behavior Analysis on individuals with autism. Results have shown successful results and a number of Behaviorist techniques have come about to help all ages of individuals with autism. Even state and federal agencies have started using these techniques as a treatment for autism and to help people build useful skills. Specific Applied Behavior Analysis techniques can help individuals with autism social and life skills such as communication, personal hygiene, building relationships, and successfully learning in a mainstream classroom.

__Applied Behavior Analysis Intervention__- Intervention uses behaviorist techniques such as positive reinforcement, redirection, feedback, structured sequence, and demonstrative modeling. Early Intervention has shown the promise to help young individuals with autism overcome many of their disabilities at an early age. Each intervention is different because each individual is different. The intervention is built to suit the needs of the particular individual. However, all Applied Behavior Analysis Interventions include these specific behaviorist techniques:

-__Positive Reinforcement__: An incentive stimulus is given to the learner when he/she performs a positive behavior to increase that positive behavior. -__Redirection__: When a student performs a negative behavior that is harmful or prevents learning, no reinforcement is given. The student is redirected to the positive behavior and reintroduced to the incentive stimulus. -__Feedback__: Family meetings are held regularly to provide information on progress and to help with parent training so parents can learn behaviorist skills to enforce in the home environment. -__Structured Sequence__: Skills are broken down into steps and taught from simple to complex. Behavior conditioning is performed by repeating the practice of a skill until the skill is committed to memory. -__Demonstrative Modeling__: The student acts as a passive learner by watching a demonstrated behavior over and over, committing it to memory, and then learning to imitate the behavior.