Imagine a classroom where every student thrives, no matter their unique needs—a goal every teacher strives for but finds increasingly challenging. Inclusive education, where students with disabilities are placed in general education classrooms, has become increasingly common. In 2021, 67% of students with disabilities were in general education classrooms, up from 46% in 2000.
This diverse student population includes children with autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, and other neurodiverse profiles. And while there are numerous benefits to inclusive education, it has also left many educators feeling unprepared to meet the varied needs of their students.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, traditionally used to support children with autism, offers effective techniques that can benefit all students, including neurotypical children. This article will explore how ABA strategies can be integrated into your classroom.
If you are a parent or caregiver, you can use these techniques at home or share them with your child’s teacher!
What is ABA Therapy?
ABA therapy is a well-established and highly regarded treatment for children with autism. It is grounded in decades of research and numerous studies proving its effectiveness. It focuses on improving a range of skills and behaviors, such as communication, social interactions, daily living skills, academic abilities, and managing challenging behaviors.
Children often receive ABA therapy at outpatient clinics, like Westside Children’s Therapy, for up to 40 hours per week. They may also receive complementary therapies such as Speech, Occupational, Feeding, and Physical Therapy.
ABA therapy aims to improve behavior, learning, and social skills by understanding the reasons behind behaviors and how different stimuli affect them. Its techniques are beneficial for classroom management, and you might already use some without realizing it! If you work as an aide or paraprofessional with students with disabilities, you’re likely familiar with or benefit from these principles.
Statistics on Today’s Classroom
According to Pew Research Center, 15% of the student population receives services for a disability, and this percentage has been rising over the past few decades. Up to 13% of these students have autism.
It’s important to note that many neurodiverse learners either don’t qualify for services under The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) or have never been evaluated. With estimates suggesting that 1 in 5 kids and teens are neurodivergent, you need a full toolbox to manage your students’ diverse needs. ABA techniques are perfect for this!
ABA Therapy Techniques to Use in the Classroom
You don’t need to be an ABA specialist to incorporate the strategies below. The best part is that you can easily adapt these techniques to fit your teaching style and classroom environment!
- Extinction
Extinction is a behavioral technique aimed at reducing or eliminating undesired behaviors by consistently withholding the reinforcement that maintains them. For instance, if a student frequently calls out during class for attention, you can apply extinction by ignoring the outbursts and instead calling on a different student who has raised their hand.
In theory, the student will eventually learn that calling out does not get the desired attention, while raising their hand does. However, there might be an “extinction burst”, where the behavior gets worse before it gets better. In addition, the student may still receive the attention they seek from other students who laugh at their behavior. For this reason, it’s recommended to pair extinction with another method listed below, such as positive reinforcement or a token economy.
- Token Economy
A token economy system rewards students with tokens (such as stickers, points, or chips) for displaying desired behaviors. These tokens can later be exchanged for a preferred item or activity. For instance, you might give a token to a student each time they complete their homework on time. Once they’ve collected a certain number of tokens, they can trade them in for a reward, such as extra recess time or a small prize. This system helps motivate students and encourages positive behavior.
- Behavior Analysis
A strong principle of ABA therapy is that all behavior serves a function. Behavior analysis involves understanding and modifying behavior by examining the “ABC”s:
- A – The Antecedent – What happened right before the behavior
- B – The Behavior – What the student did
- C – The Consequence – What happened right after the behavior
For example, if a student frequently gets out of their seat (Behavior) after finishing an assignment early (Antecedent), you might provide additional activities (Consequence) to keep them engaged and seated.
Let’s review our example of the student who shouts out during class discussions (Behavior) when a question is asked to the whole class (Antecedent). To modify this behavior, you could provide immediate praise and a small reward, such as a sticker or a point towards a class reward, each time the student raises their hand and waits to be called on before answering (Consequence). You can pair this method with extinction by ignoring their shouts for attention.
- Discrete Trial Training
Discrete Trial Training (DTT) is a structured ABA therapy technique that breaks down skills into small, manageable parts and teaches them one at a time. Each skill is practiced through a series of trials, with clear antecedents (instructions or cues), behaviors (student responses), and consequences (reinforcements or corrections).
For example, DTT can be used to teach reading comprehension skills to students who struggle with understanding and answering questions about text passages. Here’s how it could be implemented:
- Antecedent (Instruction): Select a short passage with a clear main idea. For example, the passage might be about different types of animals and their habitats.
- Behavior (Student Response): Prepare a series of questions related to the main idea of the passage, such as “What is the main idea of this paragraph?”
For your first trial, present the passage to the student. Have the student read the passage or listen as you read it aloud.
Then ask: “What is the main idea of this paragraph?”
If the student correctly identifies the main idea (e.g., “The main idea is that animals live in different habitats.”), provide positive reinforcement, such as verbal praise (“Excellent job!”) and a small reward (e.g., a sticker).
If the student answers incorrectly (e.g., “I don’t know”), give immediate corrective feedback and guidance. For example, you might re-read the passage and guide the student through identifying the main idea. Then, ask the question again.
Repeat this process for the second and subsequent trials with a new passage and question about the main idea. The student will practice identifying the main idea through multiple trials, with each trial reinforcing correct responses and correcting errors.
Track the student’s progress over time by recording the number of correct and incorrect responses.
Based on the student’s progress and performance, adjust the difficulty of the passages and questions, as well as the type of reinforcement used (e.g., adjusting the level of verbal praise or changing the reward).
- Visual Supports
Visual supports can help all students, especially those with autism or other communication challenges, understand expectations, routines, and schedules.
Visual schedules outline daily activities, providing a clear sequence using icons or words. This structure helps students anticipate what comes next, fostering predictability and reducing anxiety.
Choice boards, on the other hand, empower students by offering options with pictures or symbols, promoting independence in decision-making during activities like free time or group work.
Behavior charts track progress toward goals, such as completing assignments or following directions, using a visual system of checks or stickers. These charts encourage positive behaviors and can lead to rewards like extra recess or small prizes.
ABA Therapy at Westside
Westside Children’s Therapy offers 1:1 ABA Therapy for children with autism, along with tailored ABA programs that focus on school-readiness skills. These programs are designed to meet the needs of children of different ages and abilities, preparing them for the least restrictive educational environment.
To learn more about ABA therapy or other Westside services, please click the link below or call us at (815) 469-1500 and our team will walk you through the process.
