Developing social skills for children with autism is a widespread consideration for parents, professionals in the field of autism, and educators. ABA therapy focuses on teaching and developing these skills in children by implementing special techniques and procedures...
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Why Early Intervention for Autism Is Absolutely Essential
Experts working with individuals on the autism spectrum all agree that early intervention for autism is vital. We now know more about Autism Spectrum Disorder than ever before. Children with autism can be diagnosed as early as 18 months. Autism screening tools and the...
5 Simple Keys to Choosing the Right BCBA and RBT for Your Child with Autism
In this article, we will provide some ideas and criteria to help you make an informed decision when choosing the right BCBA and RBT for your family. It has been said a million times, but it is worth saying again that every child with autism is different and will have...
Autism: Disability or Disorder?
The answer to the question of whether autism is a disability or disorder is complicated. If you’re a parent with a child on the spectrum, you may have learned many terms to describe autism and its characterizations. Phrases like neurotypical, reinforcement, and...
What Is the Autism Creature (aka TBH Creature or Yippee) and Why Is It Controversial?
TBH, TBH creature, the autism creature, the creature, and yippee are all names for a simple, computerized, hand-drawn character who has become the unofficial mascot for many people with autism. He is an all-white, four-legged...
Autism Glossary: 27 Essential Autism Terms Used in Modern ABA
Learning the appropriate language and autism terms used in treating Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) will help you understand your autistic child's needs and symptoms. Below, we have put together a list of essential autism terminology used in Applied Behavior Analysis...
12 Insider Tips for Parenting a Child with Autism
Are you parenting a child with autism? If so, you probably know that Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong chronic condition. However, there are always ways to make progress when raising an autistic child so that they can live a full, productive, and...
Nonspeaking Autistic College Graduates Make Headlines
Nonspeaking autistic college students are making headlines and history as they graduate this year. David Teplitz and Hari Srinivasan, two UC Berkeley students, made national news as they graduated with honors this May using computer programs to interact with the...
Choosing a Good ABA Therapy Provider
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy focuses on helping individuals with autism acquire daily living skills that may seem out of their reach. ABA focuses on independence for the client through the science of learning. This is accomplished by thoroughly examining...
Social Stories and Autism Spectrum Disorder
Social stories are learning tools created to support safe and meaningful communication between individuals with autism and their parents and providers. Developed by Carol Gray in 1990, social stories describe social situations and demonstrate appropriate behavior to a...
What Is High-Functioning Autism?
High-functioning autism, sometimes called HFA, is not a diagnosis or official medical term. You will not find high-functioning autism in the DSM-5, the official diagnostic manual that defines Autism Spectrum Disorder. However, high-functioning autism is a common term...
Are There Different Types of Autism?
According to today's science, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability with a broad range of symptoms, including challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication. However, up until 2013, there were several...
The Hidden Truth About Autism and Mental Health
Children and adults diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often develop mental health conditions. While autism is a developmental disorder, autism and mental health issues can both be present in an individual. It is not uncommon for a child with autism to have...
RAADS-R Test: Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale-Revised
Dr. Riva Ariella Ritvo created the RAADS-R (Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale-Revised) test to address the significant gap in autism screening services for adults. With the climbing rates of people diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) worldwide, autism...
Surprising Facts About Autism’s Top 5 Influential People
Learning about the accomplishments of others can bring a sense of what is possible! Below is a list of the five most influential people in the autism field and the surprising facts behind each of them. These advocates continue to change the world with their...
Why Is ABA Therapy the Recognized Gold Standard for Autism Treatment?
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is widely considered to be the gold standard for autism treatment. You can Google “ABA” and “gold standard” and get pages of results. That’s because ABA therapy for autism has been studied for decades and possesses the largest...
7 Powerful Positive Effects of ABA Therapy on Autism
Research and data going back more than five decades clearly show the many positive effects of ABA therapy on autism. In fact, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is the only evidence-based treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and often the only therapy...
How Is Positive Reinforcement Used in ABA?
In treating autism with Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, positive reinforcement is frequently used to teach acceptable behavior. An example of positive reinforcement might be rewarding a child with a video game if they complete a task, such as getting dressed....
10 Frequently Asked Questions on Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy
Your child may have recently been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and your pediatrician or fellow autism parent mentioned Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Now that ABA is all over Instagram and TikTok, you might have even more questions about how this...
An Overview of ADOS-2 Testing for Individuals with Autism
What Is the ADOS-2? The ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule–Second Edition) is an activity-based assessment administered by trained clinicians to individuals suspected of having Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It assesses social and communication skills....
Does Insurance Cover ABA Therapy?
Your child's autism diagnosis will likely start you on a health insurance journey. Or perhaps you've suspected autism for a while and took a peek at your coverage. Either way, eventually, you may ask, "Does insurance cover ABA...
10 Autism Facts You Might Not Know!
There's a lot of available information on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), but we've compiled 10 important autism facts you might not know! We hope these facts help you understand an autism diagnosis in a new way. You can also check out our companion article, 10 Autism...
April 2: World Autism Awareness Day
April is Autism Awareness/Acceptance Month April 2nd is the 15th annual World Autism Awareness Day, as designated by the United Nations. This year’s United Nations theme is “Inclusive Quality Education for All,” to recognize the fact that school closures due to COVID...
How Do I Know If My Child Has Autism?
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 1 in 44 children in the United States is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) every year. You may have asked yourself, “How do I know if my child has autism?” As a...
The History of Autism—Science, Research, and Progress
The history of autism is a fascinating depiction of how our understanding of science can change lives for the better. Did you know that the history of autism begins as early as 1908? Psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler first used the term to describe a schizophrenic person who...
5 Types of Animal Therapy for Autism
While there is no cure for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), animal therapy for autism has become a reliable source of support and growth. In becoming pet lovers/owners, people with autism grow to use animals for emotional, physical, and psychological support. Including...
10 Autism Websites You Might Not Know About
When it comes to autism websites, there’s no shortage of organizations and companies publishing information online. It’s not hard to find the most popular autism websites, but we chose sites that might not have the same visibility as what you’ll find on the first page...
Top 5 Autism Books for Parents
If you're a parent with a child on the autism spectrum, you might be eager to jump into all the resources available to you. From autism books for parents, articles like this one, conferences, tv shows, and documentaries, the options of how you can learn about autism...
Play and Autism: A Critical Tool for Communication and Social Skills
When a child is diagnosed with autism, it can be easy to dive into the treatment plan and forget about play. However, research proves when it comes to play and autism, play is just as important as structured learning! Play is an essential aspect of a child's...
Top 10 Movies Featuring Autism
Movies and television can be a great way to get the family together to watch something transformative and helpful! There are many movies featuring autism, or ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), including documentaries, dramas, and comedies. Creating this list was not...
7 Lessons We’ve Learned from Autism
Autism Spectrum Disorder is a developmental disability categorized by significant social, communication, and behavioral challenges, as described by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ABA Centers of America offer Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy for...
8 Myths About ABA Therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is the only evidence-based treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorder. It’s been the subject of decades of scientific research. ABA therapy is endorsed by the U.S. Surgeon General, Autism Society of America, National Institute of...
12 Famous People with Autism
People with autism are often creative, innovative, and highly talented. But many people are surprised when a famous person admits to being on the autism spectrum (or, in some cases of heroes from the past, when autism is suggested). While there may be many challenges...
How Does ABA Therapy Work?
If you have a loved one with autism and you’ve researched treatment options, you've probably heard about ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapy and what it can do to help your family. One of the main reasons ABA therapy is so effective is that it's meant to explore...
How Is Autism Diagnosed? Screening, Testing and Diagnosis
Looking for an autism diagnosis? ABA Centers of America now offers thorough autism screening, autism testing, and autism diagnosis. If you’ve noticed that your child has been having trouble adapting to social situations or their communication skills are not the...