The Case for Applied Behavior Analysis Versus Other Autism Interventions

One of the largest and most complex human services systems in history has evolved to address the needs of people with autism and intellectual disabilities, yet important questions remain for many professionals, administrators, and parents. What approaches to early intervention, education, treatment, therapy, and remediation really help those with autism and other intellectual disabilities improve their functioning and adaptation? Alternatively, what approaches represent wastes of time, effort, and resources? Controversial Therapies for Autism and Intellectual Disabilities, 2nd Edition brings together leading behavioral scientists and practitioners to shed much-needed light on the major controversies surrounding these questions. Expert authors review the origins, perpetuation, and resistance to scrutiny of questionable practices, and offer a clear rationale for appraising the quality of various services. The second edition of Controversial Therapies for Autism and Intellectual Disabilities has been fully revised and updated and includes entirely new chapters on psychology fads, why applied behavioral analysis is not a fad, rapid prompting, relationship therapies, the gluten-free, casein-free diet, evidence based practices, state government regulation of behavioral treatment, teaching ethics, and a parents’ primer for autism treatments.

This book presents proceedings from the joint conference, Evidence and Rationales for Comprehensive Models of Autism Spectrum Disorder Treatment: Divergence and Convergence, sponsored by the Council on Autism Services and the Autism Partnership. It addresses the growing need for, and current lack of, effective services for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and compares several key evidence-based interventions. Chapters examine various approaches to ASD treatment, including key concepts, goal development, procedures, and staffing. This unique volume explores fundamental similarities and differences among leading treatment models; discusses the challenges of implementing programs, educating parents, training staff, and funding issues; and speaks to the need for more meaningful collaboration in this multidisciplinary field. Using an integrative perspective, new tools are presented to help readers make informed choices about how to select and advocate for specific treatments and develop individualized interventions for improved outcomes for children with ASD.Featured topics include: The Lovaas Model. The Early Start Denver Model. The New England Center for Children’s Autism Curriculum Encyclopedia (ACE®). The value of applied behavior analysis (ABA) as a treatment for autism. Implementation parameters for ASD treatments. Comprehensive Models of Autism Spectrum Disorder Treatment is an essential resource for clinicians, practitioners, applied behavior analysts, therapists, educators, and administrators as well as researchers and graduate students in school, clinical child, and developmental psychology, behavior therapy, special education, social work, child and adolescent psychiatry, rehabilitation medicine/therapy, and pediatrics.

Approximately 1 in 54 children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and that number is expected to rise, according to the CDC. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is one of the most common interventions for those with ASD. One of the biggest problems facing the field of ABA-based interventions is ineffectiveness of intervention approaches due to the rigid application of ABA-based interventions. A Progressive Approach to Applied Behavior Analysis provides practicing behavior analysts (e.g., BCBA, BCaBA, RBTs) and other clinicians with an in-depth introduction to a Progressive Approach to ABA and how it applies to common teaching methods within ABA-based interventions. This includes research and guidelines for implementing a Progressive Approach to ABA potentially increasing the likelihood of meaningful outcomes for the individuals with ASD. This will become the guide for practitioners on how to implement clinical judgement using in-the-moment assessment across various procedures.A comprehensive clinical guide to a Progressive Approach for Applied Behavior Analysis - Summarizes Autism Partnership Method and Progressive ABA - Explores how to use ABA for teaching and behavioral intervention - Discusses reinforcement conditioning, punishment, and token economies

This handbook identifies the various social deficiencies widely associated with children and youth diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It discusses possible causes as well as the lifelong effects if these deficiencies are not addressed. The handbook presents current behavioral and curriculum-based methods for assessing social deficits. Chapters examine the various interventions that have been used to improve social skills and behavior, including video modeling, peer-mediated interventions, and script fading. Chapters also assess various interventions using empirically based procedures, evaluate the research of each of these procedures, provide guidelines for treatment planning, and offer clinical recommendations. The handbook concludes with future directions for the development of both social behavior and clinical social skills interventions. Topics featured in the Handbook include: Impairments in social behavior that may result in negative outcomes such as depression, loneliness, and suicide in individuals with ASD. Bullying among youth with ASD. Behavioral skills training to promote social behavior of individuals with ASD. The Early Start Denver Model approach to helping young children with ASD. The implementation of social skills groups for individuals diagnosed with ASD. The Handbook of Social Skills and Autism Spectrum Disorder is a must-have resource for researchers, clinicians/professionals, and graduate students in clinical child, school, and developmental psychology, behavioral therapy, and social work, as well as such interrelated disciplines as child and adolescent psychiatry, rehabilitation medicine/therapy, pediatrics, and special education/educational psychology.

This handbook provides a comprehensive review of the numerous factors associated with treatments for children, youth, and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It offers in-depth analysis of evidence-based treatments for young children, providing coverage on interventions within social skills training, school curricula, communication and speech training, and augmentative communication. It also covers treatments for adolescents and adults, including vocational programs, social integration programs, and mental health resources. Chapters also review several popular interventions such as functional behavior analysis, sensory integration therapy, early intensive behavioral interventions (EIBI), and floor time. In addition, the Handbook discusses standards of practice, focusing on ethical issues, review boards, training concerns, and informed consent. Topics featured in the Handbook include: Training for parents of individuals diagnosed with ASD. Treatment of socially reinforced problem behavior. Comorbid challenging behaviors. Post-secondary education supports and programs for adults. The TEACCH Program for people with ASD. Treatment of addiction in adults with ASD. Diet and nutrition based treatments targeted at children with ASD. The Handbook of Treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorder is a must-have reference for researchers, clinicians/professionals, and graduate students in clinical child, school, and developmental psychology, child and adolescent psychiatry, and social work as well as rehabilitation medicine/therapy, behavioral therapy, pediatrics, and educational psychology.