| If you are the parent of a child who has been | | | | While there is not yet a cure for autism, ABA training |
| diagnosed with autism, knowing what to do in regards | | | | can make a significant difference in classroom function |
| to their education can be difficult. For children with | | | | and learning ability. ABA breaks down complex |
| moderate to severe cases of autism, the ability to | | | | behaviors into smaller chains, teaching them one step |
| function and perform well in a classroom can certainly | | | | at a time so that they can be more easily understood. |
| be hindered. Many schools, however, offer no | | | | Few educators seem to understand that autistic |
| treatment for autism. Instead, the place children in a | | | | children are highly capable of learning and adapting and |
| classroom with other developmentally disabled children | | | | that it is only the way that they process information |
| to essentially wait out the school day. If you find that | | | | that is truly different. Studies show that with proper |
| your child is in this situation, one of the best things that | | | | ABA therapy, many kids can learn at equivalent rates |
| you can do is to encourage the school to offer ABA | | | | to their peers, especially if treatment is started early. |
| therapy. | | | | If your school does not offer ABA therapy, it is |
| ABA, or Applied Behavior Analysis, is a therapy | | | | certainly an excellent idea to encourage them to start |
| designed to teach kids the very basics of behavior | | | | teaching it. Schools can find an excellent course that |
| and learning. A quality ABA program will offer | | | | uses DVDs and paper materials to provide all of the |
| teachers a comprehensive set of tools for | | | | information and skills required to teach ABA within the |
| understanding autism as well as for teaching children | | | | school system. A single course can be used to train an |
| who have been diagnosed with it. The therapy | | | | entire school district, and the costs are designed to be |
| revolves around a number of principles, all of which | | | | affordable for these educators. Every child deserves |
| have been repeatedly proven by science to be | | | | the absolute best opportunity to learn and grow with |
| effective. Of all known autism treatments, ABA is still | | | | their peers, and Applied Behavior Analysis therapy is |
| the only treatment most insurers will cover because it | | | | certainly the most effective way to offer them this |
| is largely known to be the most beneficial to children. | | | | opportunity. |