Behavioral Concerns
Harwood Center has a behavior analyst on staff to provide consultation to classroom teachers. Additionally, the behavior analyst is available to work with families who have children with challenging behavior in their homes.
The following are some of the areas in which the behavior analyst can provide assistance:
Loss or lack of language
Social interaction problems
Repetitive behaviors
Poor play skills
Poor eye contact
Issues with parent-child relationships or sibling relationships
Attention problems
Aggression
Sleep problems
Tantrums
Mealtime problems
Developing programs for children with autism spectrum disorders
Behavior Observations
A Board Certified Behavior Analyst will conduct the Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers and Young Children (STAT) to determine if a psychological evaluation is needed for children whose parents have concerns about autism.
Applied Behavioral Analysis
One-on-one behavioral-based intervention uses discrete trial and other appropriate strategies provided by trained ABA techs. Behavior programs are created by Board Certified Behavior Analysts:
- To increase good behavior (through reinforcement procedures)
- To teach new skills (systematic instruction and reinforcement procedures teach functional life skills, communication skills, or social skills)
- To maintain good behavior (teaching self-control and self-monitoring procedures)
- To generalize or to transfer behavior from one situation or response to another (from classroom to home and community)
- To restrict or narrow conditions under which interfering behavior occurs (modifying the learning environment)
- To reduce interfering behavior (self-injury or stereotypy).
Behavioral Consultative Services and ABA supervision
Monthly or bimonthly consultative services are provided by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst specializing in children with autism spectrum disorders. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst develops the discrete trial programming for Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) techs and monitor the program.
