| One of the biggest problems that school systems | | | | ABA therapy is an intensive form of treatment for |
| have with providing a proper education for children | | | | autism. There are many aspects to the treatment that |
| with autism spectrum disorder is that they tend to | | | | help to make it effective, and one of the biggest |
| display negative behavior patterns. These patterns can | | | | aspects is that of positive reinforcement. Educators |
| include anything from verbal disruptions to repetitive | | | | trained in ABA therapy are taught to encourage |
| motions, self harming actions, and more. Unfortunately, | | | | positive behaviors. When a child offers an appropriate |
| too many of today's schools handle these behaviors | | | | response or behavior, they are rewarded verbally or |
| by applying standard punishments. Instead, schools | | | | physically and are given attention. When the response |
| should be turning to ABA therapy, which is the most | | | | or behavior is negative or disruptive, it is ignored rather |
| effective proven treatment for children with ASD. With | | | | than punished. Over time, this helps the child understand |
| ABA therapy, positive reinforcement is used to help | | | | that negative behaviors offer no benefit at all. |
| children naturally overcome behavior issues. | | | | While this form of treatment might not sound appealing |
| When treating a child with ASD, it is important for | | | | to many educators and parents, it is crucial that you |
| educators and school employees to understand that | | | | stop to understand that children with ASD operate |
| their brains function differently than most. When | | | | differently. Their brains do not perceive things the |
| negative behaviors are met with punishment, these | | | | same way as others. Offering positive reinforcement |
| children do not perceive it as a negative thing. Instead, | | | | for the right behaviors and ignoring negative behaviors |
| their minds simply recognize that they exhibited a | | | | helps them learn how to act in a social setting. Over |
| certain behavior and that they were in turn met with | | | | time, these processes also help them learn how to act |
| attention. This can feed a negative cycle of behavior | | | | and react in new situations. All children must be taught |
| that is exceptionally hard to break. It is absolutely | | | | how to act in a social setting, and by understanding |
| crucial that school systems learn as quickly as possible | | | | that children with autism need to be taught in a |
| that negative behaviors cannot be met with attention. | | | | different way, you can equip them with the skills |
| Unless the child is in physical danger, the behavior must | | | | needed to interact more appropriately with their peers |
| be ignored. | | | | and their elders alike. |