10/25/03<br>Hey guys!!
Wanted to pass on my notes (and notes from the hand out) from Ray Cepeda's (Behavioral Consultant and Workshop Leader for The Lovaas Institute for Early Intervention-North Jersey) conference last week "An In-depth Introduction to the Application and Implementation of Applied Behavior Analysis for Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders"
This conference was co-sponsored by ELIJA and the LEICC Committee on Autism.
I saw Ray present last March on the current Lovaas model...this conference covered some similar material (because HELLO, YES, even the LOVAAS institute has evolved and doesn't do DTT from the 70's like  blocks of 10, melodic SD voice and  no-no prompting ;0) 
but still was totally different.
 
Ray's mentioned and achieved goal of this conference was to help enlighten us all on the SCIENCE as opposed to just the procedures of ABA and practical problem solving resources to make everyone a more competent/confident  teacher. 
 At-your-fingertip-resource-must-haves mentioned were:
 
Applied Behavior Analysis
by John O. Cooper (Author), Timothy E. Heron (Author), William L. Heward (Author) 
 
Graduated Applied Behavior Analysis
by Bobby Newman, Dana Reinecke, Sarah Birch, Frederica Blausten 

The Assessment of Basic 
Language and Learning Skills
(The ABLLS Introductory Set)
by James W. Partington and 
Mark L. Sundberg

The Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis (JABA) 
The Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis is primarily for the original publication of reports of experimental research involving applications of the experimental analysis of behavior to problems of social importance. It will also publish technical articles relevant to such research and discussion of issues arising from behavioral applications. The Journal is published quarterly by the Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, Inc., at Lawrence, Kansas. 
 
Ray mentioned places/ people to contact: The Lovaas Institute, The Carbone Clinic...how in cases of self injurious behavior, the need to get in touch with the right professionals  like Dr. Brian Iwata in Florida who can lead you to information and articles to help you or using our local Dr. Bobby Newman. 
 
Ray also had many other suggested reading/resources laid out to look at... He reminded us all that programs whether utilizing a "Verbal Behavior Approach" (many of us cringe when you hear it put that way)  or the Lovaas Model, or going to the Carbone Clinic, IT IS ALL ABA...it is all based on Behavior Analytic Procedures.  What I thought extremely interesting was how when Ray went over the principles of reinforcement (Primary vs. secondary; contingent vs. non-contingent; varied vs. differential; positive vs. negative; difference between reinforcement and punishment) the attendees had many conflicting interpretations of what, how, when, to use these principles.
Ray spoke about making sure you are looking at the child you are working with and tailor programming for that child for functional skills.  USE Behavior Analysis.  Look at overt behavior to make teaching decisions, the childs behavior will let you know when you are doing too much. Capture Opportunities to build on language (contriving/capturing EO's) and how too much demand conditions kills the value of reinforcers. Pairing learning with reinforcement (moving from non-contingent delivery of reinforcers to contingent) and constantly assessing reinforcers as part of programming. He even went into functions of behavior (for attention, escape or avoidance, tangible, automatic reinforcement--self stimulation) or in laymen's term: "Why Does he/she do that?" and behavior reduction techniques (general rule: Use the least intrusive and most natural technique that is effective  Remember: If mom and dad cannot follow through with the intervention, choose another intervention!) 
Ray did go into more detail about specific teaching procedures as well.  
Generalization was also a very important topic discussed (stimulus generalization, response generalization and maintenance across time)...In my (Jennica) opinion and experiences, this is where programming goes really wrong for our kids so I want to pass along this info from Ray's handout:
GENERALIZATION:
General techniques for Promoting Generalization
Have multiple teachers and styles 
vary the stimuli 
vary the wording of instructions and questions 
vary the teaching environment 
make antecedents (sd's) NATURAL (oops, my emphasis ;0) 
making reinforcers natural 
make trials less discrete and more SIMILAR TO TYPICAL INTERACTIONS (darn, finger slipped on that shift key again) 
Do "incidental" teaching 
build retention of information into your teaching procedures
It was a fantastic, in depth, informative workshop. He kept everyone fully involved and even entertained (awesome Ray...way to pair learning with reinforcement!!! ;0) throughout this 8 hour presentation.   
I love the fact that the DOH in Nassau County understands and advocates the importance of getting this information to our service providers, it is truly admirable and a very exciting direction.  
 For those who were unable to attend because it was sold out both days, Ray will be presenting very soon in Nov. Check the ELIJA site for more details soon...
www.elija.org  
Thank you Elija and the LEICC (and of course Ray Cepeda) my son's whole team attended and I can't tell you how helpful this presentation was for us all.
take care,
Jennica
 
 
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