Question 1

What is ABA therapy?

Accepted Answer

Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is an evidence-based approach that focuses on understanding behaviour and teaching meaningful life skills such as communication, social skills, and daily living skills. It uses structured, data-informed strategies and positive reinforcement to facilitate learning and independence.

Question 2

Is ABA therapy harmful?

Accepted Answer

Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is an evidence-backed approach to supporting the development of autistic children (Yu et al., 2020). ABA is the science of behaviour, and its impact is shaped by whether intervention is delivered in a client-centred and individualised way, prioritising autonomy and meaningful skill development. Concerns about harm are often connected to specific practices or implementation approaches rather than the principles of behavioural science itself.

Question 3

What are social stories?

Accepted Answer

The term 'social stories' was coined by Carol Gray in 1990 and broadly refers to short stories that support understanding of social situations. By making implicit social information more explicit, social stories aim to support understanding and reduce uncertainty around everyday experiences. As such, social stories can benefit autistic people's understanding of social behaviours.  Not all social stories are the same. ABA-based social stories emphasise clear behavioural instruction to facilitate positive behaviour change. Developed by a Certified Behaviour Analyst, Cognitive Framing Stories™ (CoFS™) place a strong emphasis on breaking social understaning into small, teachable steps. CoFS™ use concise, direct language, with each page containing no more than one or two short sentences alongside a relevant photograph. They use simple scripts to give learners specific language to use in everyday situations.   CoFS™ are designed to make important skills from social interaction to emotional regulation, comprehensible and achievable.

positive behaviour support strategies

What are Social Stories and How Do They Support Autistic Learners?

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