Approximately 1 in 36 children in the United States will be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and that number is expected to rise according to the CDC. Interventions based on the science of applied behavior analysis (ABA) are one of the most common interventions for autistic individuals. 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. Progressive Approach to Applied Behavior Analysis provides practicing behavior analysts (e.g., BCBAs, BCaBAs, 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 individuals diagnosed with ASD. This will become the guide for practitioners on how to use clinical judgment and in-the-moment assessment across various procedures.

Table of Contents:
About the authors 1. Applied behavior analysis What is ABA? Some research examples Recent events Summary References 2. An overview and history of the Autism Partnership Method First tenet: Clinical judgment Second tenet: Learner-centered Third tenet: Meaningful and functional curriculum Fourth tenet: Flexible procedures Fifth tenet: Working with the whole family Sixth tenet: Performance-based staff training Seventh tenet: Compassion The history of the APM References 3. Respondent and operant behavior Reflexes and respondent behavior Operant behavior Some important notes Summary References 4. Stimulus control and generalization Generalization Summary References 5. Reinforcement: Overview, identification, conditioning Reinforcer identification Conditioning reinforcers Summary References 6. Punishment: Overview, concerns, and use Some concerns with the use of punishment-based procedures Clinical considerations Some punishment-based procedures Summary References 7. Token economies and other contingency systems Components of token systems The commonality of token economies Advantages and disadvantages of token systems Some relevant research Clinical recommendations and progressive approaches to token systems Summary References 8. Respondent conditioning procedures Considerations related to respondent behavior in autism intervention Summary References 9. Task analysis and chaining Task analysis Chaining Research Summary References 10. Shaping A sample of research Clinical recommendations Summary References 11. Prompting Prompt types Prompting systems Flexible prompt fading: The APM prompting system Summary References 12. Discrete trial teaching Components of DTT Summary References 13. Naturalistic instruction Incidental teaching Embedded instructions Summary References 14. The teaching interaction procedure Overview Teaching interaction procedure research Summary References 15. Cool versus Not Cool procedure Steps of the CNC procedure Misuses of the CNC procedure History and research Summary References 16. Social skills groups Hallmarks of behaviorally based social skills groups Research Summary References 17. Functional behavior assessment and functional analysis Overview of functional behavior assessment Types of functional analysis History of FBA and functional analysis Autism partnership method to FBAs and FAs References 18. Differential reinforcement Differential reinforcement of other behavior Differential reinforcement of alternative behavior Differential reinforcement of incompatible behavior Differential reinforcement of low rates of behavior and differential reinforcement of high rates of behavior Some progressive considerations regarding differential reinforcement Summary References 19. Extinction and response cost Misperceptions and clarifications related to extinction Response cost Misperceptions and clarifications related to response cost Recommendations for practice Summary References 20. Time out from positive reinforcement and the time-in ribbon Time-out from positive reinforcement Research on time-out Autism partnership method and time-out Time-in ribbon Summary References 21. Measurement systems Considerations in selecting a measurement system Measurement systems Measuring with our heart Summary References 22. Formal assessments The assessments Summary References 23. Curriculum assessment Common curriculum assessments Autism Partnership Method and curricular assessment Building the curriculum References 24. Learning-how-to-learn curriculum The skills Summary References 25. Social skills curriculum Reasons why we teach social skills Reasons why social skills development is often not a priority What to teach: The social skills taxonomy How to teach social behavior Don’t forget Summary References 26. Language curriculum Language programs Summary References 27. Self-help and adaptive behaviors Toilet training Mealtime challenges Sleep Appearance checks Basic efficiency and organization Walk with me Crossing the street safely Following a visual or written schedule Self-advocacy Summary References 28. Working with parents of autistic children Prediagnosis stress Diagnostic process stress Postdiagnosis stress Intervention stress Autism partnership method of parent support Research on parent training Summary References 29. Siblings Sibling relationship throughout the lifespan The Autism Partnership Method and siblings References 30. Staff and staff training Characteristics of quality interventionists Additional skills interventionists should display Additional skills supervisors should display Staff training Summary References Index