Autism Bookshelf: Motivation and Reinforcement

This is the latest in an occasional series, Autism Bookshelf, reviewing important books on the history of autism and on autism intervention.

Last year, Robert Schramm BCBA's fine manual on teaching using ABA and an analysis of verbal behavior was released in its second edition.   It is now entitled Motivation and Reinforcement: Turning the Tables on Autism.    Below is my review of the first edition, Educating Toward Recovery, as it appeared on an autism website back in 2007.  I can only imagine this great book is now even better.

How Much is "The Most?" - the Volume of ABA Research

Back in 2003, Morton Gernsbacher published an interesting article that took applied behavior analysis (ABA) advocates to task for claiming that ABA is ‘scientifically proven.’   This upset some folks in the ABA community.   I liked it. 

It’s true that ABA studies have methodology limitations, like all studies of anything.   It was true when he wrote that there was less replication of these studies than there should have been.  That’s less true now, but more replication would still be good.  The standard for scientific proof is very high.   As advocates of science, advocates of ABA should take that standard seriously and talk about proof carefully.

What we can say with confidence is that ABA has the most evidence of effectiveness as an autism intervention.   There is no near competitor.   But how much is ‘the most?’   Gernsbacher says “It is to the great credit of ABA proponents that they have consistently sought to provide scientific evidence of the efficacy of their treatment.”  How much evidence amounts to ‘consistently?’ 

Going Solo - A New 'Motivations'

Back in 2010, I created this 'Motivations' blog as an on-line replacement for the print bulletin of Parents of Autistic Children (POAC) of Central MD.   POAC is now defunct, but I plan to keep this blog alive.  It won't change much - I'll still use it as a place to share experiences and research about ABA and autism.  Posts will continue to be occasional.  The generally-a-little-out-of-control life of an autism parent doesn't change much either.   As always, I appreciate your comments.

Autism Bookshelf: The Devil In His Own Words

This is the first post in an occasional series, Autism Bookshelf, reviewing important books in the history of autism and autism intervention.

Whenever I hear an author’s ideas routinely reviled, I become very curious.   I always want to hear the devil in this own words and make up my own mind.   This is the impulse that led me to read Bruno Bettelheim’s The Empty Fortress: Infantile Autism and the Birth of the Self. 

DDA Provides Details on Short Term Funding

Happy New Year, Motivations! 

In the last post, I reported that the Development Disabilities Administration (DDA) pledged to provide short term funding in 2012 for all waiting list families in the 'crisis prevention' category.   Since that time, if you are on the DDA waiting list and in this category you should have received a letter dated December 15, 2011 providing more information.   The program is being called the 'DDA Waiting List Initiative' and the funds entitled 'Services of Short Duration.'   The letter was accompanied by a User Guide (also available here) with descriptions of the eligible services and how to apply.

In our case, our son's waiting list Service Coordinator was right on top of this.  She immediately scheduled time with us to discuss the funding, identify a need and plan for the application.  If your family is listed as 'crisis prevention' and you either haven't seen the letter or need similar assistance with your app, call your Service Coordinator right away.  

Consistent with the improved communication with families promised last year, the DDA also held 2 question & answer session conference calls.  The second call was at noon today and provided some useful information: