GRADUATE SCHOOL

Master of Arts in Special Education (MAS)

JOURNAL REVIEW 3

Name: VICENTE, VINCE IRVIN R.

Subject Code: MAS-207

Subject Title: Methods & Techniques in Teaching Special Education (w/ Emphasis on
Classroom Mgt. Func'l Assess. & Applied Behavioral Analysis

Date Submitted: November 5, 2020

Title: The Contributions of Applied Behavior Analysis to the Education of People With
Autism

Reference: Rosenwasser, B., & Axelrod, S. (2001). The contributions of applied behavior
analysis to the education of people with autism. Behavior modification, 25(5), 671-677.

Part I: SUMMARY

Among the numerous treatments available for helping to educate people with autism,
applied behavior analysis (ABA) is the best empirically evaluated, as many articles in this
dual-volume special issue document. Unfortunately, the best supported treatments are not
always the best disseminated or accepted. Recently, however, ABA has emerged with
widespread recognition beyond the limited community of academic and behavioral
psychologists and special educators. In fact, ABA has been recognized by the surgeon
general of the United States as the treatment of choice for autism in his mental health report
for children: “Thirty years of research demonstrated the efficacy of applied behavioral
methods in reducing inappropriate behavior and in increasing communication, learning, and
appropriate social behavior” (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1999).
Corroborating the surgeon general’s recommendation are state governments in New York
(Department of Health, 1999) and California (Collaborative Work Group on Autistic
Spectrum Disorders, 1997), as well as a collaborative group in Maine (MADSEC Autism
Taskforce, 1999). New York and Maine reference the unparalleled quantity of outcome
research supporting behavior analytic instruction and its best-practice features (see Jacobson,
2000). Beyond governmental organizations, the popular media has begun to recognize and
educate the public about ABA treatment for autism. For example, ABC broadcast a Nightline
episode endorsing ABA early intervention for children with autism (Koppel, 2001),
accompanied by an extensive ABA resource list on its Web site. The New York Times
featured an article on the failure of the educational system to meet the needs of autistic
students due to the insufficient number schools offering ABA services (Peterson, 2000).
Newsweek magazine featured autism on its cover and featured ABA as a “godsend” (Cowley,
2000)

Part II: REFLECTION

The effectiveness of ABA therapy depends on the way ABA treatment is carried out.
Yes, it is used for treating autism and has been proved effective as well.
There are many different methods in which people perform the ABA treatment, whatever it is
the basic conceptual steps are a must. First Steps Intervention Center located at Calamba City
is an intervention center that provides ABA services for children 10 months and above having
Autism Spectrum Disorder and other experimental disabilities. FSIC performs proof-based
implementations in ABA treatment.
The FSIC center provides personalized ABA treatment packages based on initial and
in-process evaluations. The treatment packages include the development of troublesome
behavior identification and minimization, personalized skill addition programs, family
training consultations, and social groups as well.

ABA Treatment emphasizes the following:-

Part III: APPLICATION OF TOPICS TO THEIR PROFESSION

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a process of studying and modifying behavior. It

Task Analysis
Task analysis is a process in which a task is analyzed into its parts so that those parts can be
taught through the use of chaining: forward chaining, backward chaining, and total task
presentation.

Chaining
The skill to be learned is broken down into the smallest units for easy learning. For example,
a child learning to brush teeth independently may start with learning to unscrew the
toothpaste cap. Once the child has learned this, the next step may be squeezing the tube, and
so on.

Prompting
The parent or therapist provides assistance to encourage the desired response from the child.
The aim is to use the least intrusive prompt possible that will still lead to the desired
response. Prompts can include:
• Verbal cues ie. "Take the toothpaste cap off, Vince"
• Visual cues ie. pointing at the toothpaste
• Physical guidance ie. moving the child's hands to unscrew the lid
• Demonstration ie. taking the cap off to show the child how it is done.

Fading
The overall goal is for a child to eventually not need prompts. This is why the least intrusive
prompts are used, so the child does not become overly dependent on them when learning a
new behavior or skill. Prompts are gradually faded out as then-new behavior is learned.
Learning to unscrew the toothpaste lid may start with physically guiding the child's hands, to
pointing at the toothpaste, then just a verbal request.

Shaping
Shaping involves gradually modifying the existing behavior of a child into the desired
behavior. An example here is a young boy who only engages with the pet dog by hitting it.
Although time-consuming, the parents intervene every time he interacts with the dog, grabs
his hand, and turn the hit into a stroking motion. This is paired with positive reinforcement
"It's great when you are gentle with Pooch!" and doing a favorite activity immediately
afterward as a reward.

Generalization
Once a skill is learned in a controlled environment (usually table-time), the skill is taught in
more general settings. Perhaps the skill will be taught in the natural environment. If the
student has successfully mastered learning colors at the table, the teacher may take the
student around the house or his school and then re-teach the skill in these more natural
environments. Behavior analysts have spent a considerable amount of time studying factors
that lead to generalization.

Video modeling
One teaching technique found to be effective with some students, particularly children, is the
use of video modeling (the use of taped sequences as exemplars of behavior). It can be used
by therapists to assist in the acquisition of both verbal and motor responses, in some cases for
long chains of behavior. 

Submitted to: Prof. Minguela S. Ting