Applied
Behavioral Analysis
What is ABA?
ABA is the applied use of behavioral principles to everyday situations with the goal of either increasing or decreasing targeted behaviors. How this translates into practical application will depend on the specific situation. Nevertheless, all ABA programs share similar components: discrete trial teaching, programming for generalization to the natural environment, reinforcement, prompting and fading strategies, and outcome-based decision-making.
​
​One of the strengths of ABA for children with autism is that it can address every behavior relevant to that child (both excesses and deficits). Behavior Analysts are not distracted by the many different theories of the causes of autism (along with their related treatments) and so have been able to steadily develop and refine their approach. Today’s modern ABA programmed look very different from those 20 years ago. ABA is now able to be much more flexible, functional and fun for the child.