Tag Archives: Resources

Introducing The NEW ABA Program Companion: What’s Next for YOUR ABA Program?

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New ABA Program Companion Cover.inddWe’re thrilled to introduce The NEW ABA Program Companion: What’s Next for YOUR ABA Program? by J. Tyler Fovel, M.A., BCBA. This is an expansive brand new edition of the bestselling ABA Program Companion, completely updated with a new online software package, the ABA-PC3. Designed for practitioners who need to solve educational problems through analysis and creation of technically powerful solutions, this brand new book is sure to be at the top of your go-to references. The New ABA Program Companion offers important information and ideas on how to design, document, implement, evaluate and offer the best skill acquisition programs you can create for your students.

Managing a complex, multidimensional ABA Program involves vision, teamwork and infinite coordination. This book will help you choose and attain your next steps, wherever you may be in the process.

With school back in full swing and new cases starting up, now is the perfect time to utilize this powerful resource to create and organize your ABA programs. For a limited time, we’re offering The NEW ABA Program Companion at the introductory low price of $35. This offer will only be valid until September 17, 2013 so be sure to order your copy today!

CHAPTERS (for full chapter listings, click here)

Chapter 1: Attributes of an Effective ABA Program
Chapter 2: Introduction to Instructional Program Writing
Chapter 3: Managing the Setting and Materials
Chapter 4: Attention and Engagement
Chapter 5: Prompts and Prompt Hierarchies
Chapter 6: Developing a Solid Reinforcement Strategy
Chapter 7: Errors and Error Correction
Chapter 8: Generalization and Incorporation
Chapter 9: Data-Based Decision Making
Chapter 10: The Big Picture: ABA Project Management

About the ABA Program Companion 3.0 (ABA-PC3) Online Software

The ABA-PC3 software offers an online curriculum development environment for ABA teams. This is the newest version of a curriculum development tool specifically designed for ABA programs that helps with nearly every phase of the program creation process from selecting individual target performances to writing detailed step-by-step procedures to generating data sheets, entering data, and producing graphs. There’s also a program review module that structures the process of revising procedures based on observation and student performance measures.

ABA software

The unique software has a built-in library of 650 programs and over 4000 individual learning targets, all fully customizable by the user for their particular circumstances. Users can quickly search the library using keywords and select appropriate programs or write their own, rapidly building a comprehensive set of student programs. The set can be implemented or used to quickly create multistep sequences of programs for a variety of settings and instructional purposes.

The software helps focus and streamline the process of building an individualized comprehensive curriculum for students in an ABA program and provides a common workspace to enhance collaboration among different service providers on the special education team. In addition to the program library and learning targets, a variety of easy to use tools are included that help accomplish essential ABA implementation tasks including:

•      Automatically-generated data sheets customized for each student
•      Simple data entry screens for skill acquisition and behavior reduction programs
•      2-click graphing that automatically labels changing conditions
•      Reports of active and mastered programs
•      A structured workspace to assemble clear and well-defined prompt hierarchies and error correction strategies
•      A centralized area to organize the goal performance specifications and individual targets, record mastery dates, flag targets for implementers, and construct subsets of the comprehensive target list (condition sets) for presentation to the student
•      Clinical review and progress determination area that allows a user to enter information from observations and provides summary statistics on the progress of individuals or groups of students

**NOTE: Limited introductory price of $35.00 valid through 9/17/13 at 11:59 pm EST. All purchases made after that date will be at the regular retail price of $42.95.

Pick of the Week: Candy Construction Building Set

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Pairing candy with an early construction toy is inherently – and sweetly – reinforcing. Save 15% on this week’s Pick of the Week, the Candy Construction Building Set by entering in the promo code BLOGCNDY4 at checkout.

This set of swirling peppermints, chocolate panels, purple gumdrops, and licorice sticks encourages young learners to develop fine motor skills with creative constructive play.

 

DRG_498_Candy_Constuction_2This construction set comes with 92 chunky, durable pieces, as well as an Activity Guide with illustrated, step-by-step directions, so that young learners can nurture their fine motor skills while exercising creative and problem-solving skills with a variety of fun and familiar designs. This construction building set includes pieces that are self-correcting, fitting together in specific ways and allow children to work until they achieve success. The Candy Construction Building Set is recommended for children ages 4 years and up.

This week only, take 15% off the Candy Construction Building Set in your online order by entering in the promotional code BLOGCNDY4 at check out!*

*Offer expires on July 2nd, 2013 at 11:59 pm EST. Not compatible with any other offer. Be sure there are no spaces after the Promo Code when you enter it at checkout.

Our new catalog is here!

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And it’s a big one for us – Volume 30! Over 18 years and 30 catalogs, our mission has always stayed the same: to educate and empower children with autism and special needs. We’re so proud of our 30th Catalog and we think you will be quite excited by the 70 new products that we’ve added. We’ll be highlighting and featuring some of our best new products in our Pick of the Week segment so be sure to keep an eye out for special offers by joining our mailing list.

The new catalog contains all of your favorite go-to’s, like the Language Builder and the Time Timer, along with spectacular new products for Early Intervention, teaching social skills, developing conversation and so much more.

You can always request a paper catalog on our site, or you can click here for our fully interactive e-catalog that enables you to dowload, print and link back to the products on our site.

We’re thrilled to share this milestone with you and can’t wait to hear your thoughts on our new products.

Introducing our new All About Social Skills! Catalog: Teaching Tools for School-Age Students with ASD

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We’re thrilled to introduce our new All About Social Skills! Teaching Tools for School-Age Students catalog! As our students and children have made such incredible progress, one of the greatest challenges they face lies in the realm of social skills. We scoured the sources and have come up with a group of books, flashcards, and CD/DVDs that we think will help your students navigate their homes, schools and communities with confidence.

We’re excited to introduce you to Michelle Garcia-Winner whose books and curriculum offer a treatment framework and curriculum that target improving social thinking abilities in individuals with ASD from kindergarten through grade 12.

The Skillstreaming series is a social skills training program that employs a four-part approach – modeling, role-playing, performance feedback, and generalization – to teach essential prosocial skills to children and adolescents. Skillstreaming is an evidence-based strategy to systematically teach social skills and a variety of behaviors, from academic competency and playing sports to daily living and making friends. There are books and skill cards for Skillstreaming in Early Childhood as well as Skillstreaming the Elementary School Child.

The new Explore Social Skills Introductory Kit provides a full-year curriculum focusing on the development of 50 social skill sets for students in grades 6-12. The kit includes a Teacher’s Manual, Student Book, Flashcard Set and Video Modeling DVD. The skills addressed are those essential to attaining social competency and success in school, the community, and the workplace.

And these are just some of the products featured in our new All About Social Skills! catalog. You’ll also find our best-selling books such as Crafting Connections, Social Skills Solutions, and the Social Skills Picture Book.

In celebration of the publication of our new catalog, we’re offering 15% off on ALL of the materials featured in All About Social Skills! Teaching Tools for School-Age Students. Redeem your savings by entering the Promo Code BLOGABS3 at checkout.

*Offer expires on October 23, 2012 at 11:59 pm EST. Not compatible with any other offer. Be sure there are no spaces after the Promo Code when you enter it at checkout.

 

Pick of the Week: Verbal Behavior Targets

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As the school year rapidly approaches, many of you teachers out there will have your hands full with assessments, IEP development and planning, all in addition to the excitement of getting to know your new students. Verbal Behavior Targets: A Tool to Teach Mands, Tacts & Intraverbals can save you tons of time and energy by providing you with comprehensive word lists that can be used for both assessment and teaching. This is a vital resource for anyone teaching language to a student with Autism or speech and language delays.  The book consists of words and word combination lists categorized by word families covering nouns including people, places, events and things inside and outside plus verbs, adjectives, adverbs, verbs plus nouns, nouns plus nouns, fill in the blanks, verb tense, receptive instruction, categories, features, functions and topics for conversation.

This week only, you can save 15% on Verbal Behavior Targets by entering the Promo Code BLOGVBT9 at checkout.

As one reviewer in Wisconsin puts it: “Special education programs are now an integral part of every public school system in the country. Among the student populations for which these programs are purposed are those students who suffer from language delays, most especially the growing number of children diagnosed with various forms of autism. Now classroom instructors and special education support staff working with these children can have access to a vital resource with “Verbal Behavior Targets: A Tool To Teach Mands, Tacts And Intraverbals”, written by Diana Luckevich, an experienced data analyst with expertise in computerization applications in education. With a particular focus on autistic learners, “Verbal Behavior Targets” includes word lists and word combinations categorized by word families; accessible tools for children who are ESL learners; who have Down syndrome; who are autistic; or who are experiencing language delays; and/or are dealing with developmental disabilities. “Verbal Behavior Targets” also features common, functional and relevant language goals suitable for any child who is learning word skills. Enhanced with additional spaces and worksheets for teachers and involved parents to customize and track language for an individual child, “Verbal Behavior Targets” is an especially recommended addition for special education curriculum reference libraries and classroom lesson planning supplements.”

*Offer expires on August 14, 2012 at 11:59 pm EST. Not compatible with any other offer. Be sure there are no spaces after the Promo Code when you enter it at checkout.

New Online Curriculum from Autism Expressed Provides Digital Skills to Students with Autism

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Autism Expressed is a new organization that strives to empower people with autism with the skills to use the internet and participate in social media. Their mission is to “give students with Autism marketable digital age skills and therefore, a greater advantage when pursuing their independence.” Lessons show them how to understand internet slang and lingo, how to make a Facebook page, and even how to launch a website.

Autism Expressed provides an online curriculum that teaches students internet basics like browsing, searching, email and web safety. The curriculum used is based on the methods of Applied Behavior Analysis so that each lesson builds on the previous and includes an activity so students can practice their new skill. Students can earn achievement badges to reinforce their progress. Students can log in and use Autism Expressed independently. After finishing their video lesson, they can complete an associated activity to unlock a new badge. If they get the answer wrong, the student is provided a prompt. Video lessons and activities can be viewed and practiced as many times as needed to comprehend content and to earn a badge. Since the safety of students is of the utmost importance, in addition to continuous reinforcement of safety procedures throughout the curriculum, there is also a special embedded browser that limits the access students have while they are learning and practicing their new skills.

Ideally, the results of the program are increased motivation, resiliency and a greater learning and earning potential.

Individuals and organizations can register here and you can also find them on Facebook.
 

Introducing the Assessment of Functional Living Skills (AFLS) from James Partington and Michael Mueller!

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We’re thrilled to announce the arrival of the Assessment of Functional Living Skills (AFLS), a brand new assessment to complement the ABLLS-R, from James Partington, PhD, BCBA and Michael Mueller, PhD, BCBA. This brand new tool assesses Basic Living, Home, and Community Participation skills in individuals with autism, across all ages. This week only, we’re offering this brand new product as our pick of the week. You can save 15% on the AFLS by entering the Promo Code BLOGAFS3 at checkout.

The Assessment of Functional Living Skills (AFLS) is an assessment, skills tracking system, and curriculum guide for the development of essential skills for achieving independence. It can be used to demonstrate a learner’s current functional skill repertoire and provide tracking information for the progressive development of these skills throughout the lifespan.  The AFLS contains task analyses of many of the skills essential for participation in a wide range of family, community, and work environments and can be used simultaneously with the ABLLS®-R.  There are currently three Protocols , and they address these different areas: Basic Living Skills, Home Skills, and Community Participation Skills.

The complete AFLS covers more than 735 daily living skills in 24 skill areas to comprehensively assess an individual’s functional, practical, and essential skills in everyday life, in their home, school, and community. The skills addressed are all based upon overarching goals for maximizing freedom, independence, and opportunities for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).  Each assessment module contains eight different skills areas that thoroughly assess functional skills across a wide range of settings throughout a learner’s lifespan.  Every module of the AFLS is designed to ensure that parents, caregivers, and professionals provide learners with the very best opportunities to learn how to do tasks for themselves in a broad array of real-world settings.

Based on the methodology of applied behavior analysis, the AFLS is a unique tool for assessing basic, home, and community participation skills of individuals with autism of all ages, including adolescents and adults. The AFLS is designed to be an easy- to- use assessment tool for parents, educators, professional staff, and other caregivers. These assessment protocols will help educators, parents and professionals develop enhanced person-centered programming and transition plans, providing critical roadmaps for parents concerned about where their children will go as they grow, and their ability to live active, meaningful lives.

The AFLS is available as a complete assessment, containing the Guide & Scoring Instructions, along with the Basic Living Skills, Home Skills, and Community Participation Skills Protocols: AFLS: Assessment of Functional Living Skills Complete Bundle.

You may also purchase the Individual Protocols along with the Guide:

AFLS Guide & Basic Living Skills Assessment Protocol 
The Basic Living Skills Module addresses self-help, self-care, self-management, hygiene, routines, and core communication skills.  These skills should be thought of as a prerequisite for any functional skills program for learners regardless of age, setting, or disability.  These essential skills, if not mastered, will have a profound impact on a learner’s ability to live independently, to be successful in school, and to take advantage of various social and recreational activities throughout the learner’s life. The Basic Living Skills Module includes:
•Self-Management
•Basic Communication
•Dressing
•Toileting
•Grooming
•Bathing
•Health, Safety and First Aid
•Nighttime Routines

AFLS Guide & Home Skills Assessment Protocol              
If the learner is living with parents, in a supported facility, a group home, or independently, the Home Skills Assessment Protocol provides an essential review of skills required for home living. Basic and advanced skills for preparing and eating meals, cleaning, dressing, doing laundry, leisure skills, and daily activities are assessed.  The Home Skills Module includes:
•Meals at Home
•Dishes
•Clothing and Laundry
•Housekeeping and Chores
•Household Mechanics
•Leisure
•Kitchen
•Cooking

AFLS Guide & Community Participation Skills Protocol      
Community participation begins most basically with learning to physically navigate safely around sidewalks, streets, and signs. A wide variety of skills are also required for one to independently shop in grocery and department stores, shop at the mall, and eat at a fast food or sit-down restaurants . In addition to the above mentioned skills, telling time and using time-related concepts, making and keeping appointments, using a phone, and other skills that help people stay connected and interact with others in the community, are also assessed in this module. The Community Participation Skills Module includes:
•Basic Mobility
•Community Knowledge
•Shopping
•Meals in Public
•Money
•Phone
•Time
•Social Awareness and Manners

Remember, this week only, you can save 15% on the AFLS by entering the Promo Code BLOGAFS3 at checkout. Be among the first to get what is sure to become an invaluable resource today!

*Offer expires on July 3, 2012 at 11:59 pm EST. Not compatible with any other offer. Be sure there are no spaces after the Promo Code when you enter it at checkout.

 

 

Reach for the APPS aims to get iPads for students with autism into schools

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A new non-profit organization called Reach for the APPS launched recently. Their aim is to partner with individuals and corporations to increase access to iPads in schools across the country for use with students on the autism spectrum. The organization was founded by the family of a child with autism whose language and communicative skills have improved from using the iPad.

Both schools and parents can fill out a grant request form on their site requesting iPads for their children and students to use. Individuals and corporations can contribute with either a cash donation or by sending in an old iPad. This sounds like an interesting idea! Let us know if you’ve participated and how the experience was.

Pick of the Week: Magic Moves Mic

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Can you stomp like a dinosaur? Wiggle like a worm? The Magic Moves Mic provides fun for all while promoting movement and gross motor activity while developing auditory processing skills. There are 90 fun, physical commands, twinkling lights, and 26 music tunes that get kids up, moving, listening and most of all, smiling.

This week only, save 15% on the Magic Moves Electronic Wand by entering the Promo Code BLOGMMW at checkout.

*Offer expires on June 5, 2012 at 11:59 pm EST. Not compatible with any other offer. Be sure there are no spaces after the Promo Code when you enter it at checkout.

Introducing A Work In Progress Companion Series – A New Series of Booklets & DVDs from Autism Partnership

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We are thrilled to announce the arrival of A Work In Progress Companion Series by Autism Partnership. The Companion Series consists of five booklets and DVDs that synthesize solid information on various teaching strategies with demonstrations of actual sessions with students on DVD. The goal at Autism Partnership is to blend a natural, child-friendly approach to teaching while remaining determinedly systematic. This series offers viewers the unique opportunity to see these approaches implemented in actual teaching environments.

Parents and teachers will find this series to be a helpful companion and extension to A Work in Progress.  All author proceeds from A Work in Progress Companion Series will go directly to the Autism Partnership Family Foundation which was developed for three purposes: to provide services to families with limited resources; to fund research that will investigate new strategies and programs that truly make a difference in the lives of children and families; and to disseminate information about evidence-based treatment and provide resources for training parents and professionals.

 

“Cool” versus “Not Cool” Booklet & DVD: Volume 1

Volume 1 demonstrates the Cool versus Not Cool strategy. This is one of Autism Partnership’s most-used strategies for teaching students foundational as well as advanced social skills. Essentially, the strategy teaches students to understand the difference between behaviors that are socially appropriate (cool) and those that are inappropriate (not cool). In later stages they go on to actually practice the appropriate form of the behavior and receive feedback on their efforts. Research confirms the clinical experience that cool versus not cool is effective in teaching social skills and enabling students to monitor their own behavior.

 

Learning How to Learn Booklet & DVD: Volume 2

Volume 2 demonstrates the Learning How to Learn strategy. This is an underemphasized area in treatment and education. We often take for granted that students know how to learn or will acquire this skill on their own. But if students cannot pay attention, will not wait, or do not understand feedback, then learning is extremely difficult. In this volume, you will see programs described and demonstrated that have been found to be helpful in teaching students how to learn.

 

Teaching Interactions Booklet & DVD: Volume 3

Volume 3 demonstrates the Teaching Interactions strategy.  The Teaching Interaction is an approach found to be especially effective with students who have more advanced language ability. It offers a conversation style of teaching which adds the all important element of leading students to understand rationales for why they might want to change their behavior and learn new skills. With Teaching Interactions, students develop understanding and insight that help develop their internal motivation.

 

 

Token Economy Booklet & DVD: Volume 4
Volume 4 demonstrates how to effectively develop and use a Token Economy. Although token systems are commonly used in school as well at home, too often critical steps are neglected in their development. You will learn step-by-step how to ensure there is a strong connection between the target behavior and the reward that follows. Token Economies have a number of advantages and can be very flexible in adapting to the age of the student, the types of rewards used, and the skills and behavioral targets you are seeking to improve.

 
Developing Reinforcers Booklet & DVD: Volume 5

Finally, Volume 5 focuses on Developing Reinforcers. The foundation of good teaching is utilizing powerful reinforcement so as to motivate students to learn as well as behave appropriately.  This volume will show you how to be creative in developing new sources of reinforcement, which is especially useful for students who have limited interests.

 

 

 

To celebrate the publication of A Work In Progress Companion Series, we’re slashing the price of each booklet & DVD from $29.95 to $19.95 apiece. And to make it even better, the Companion Series is the Pick of the Week so you can save an additional 15% by entering the Promo Code BLOGWIPCC at checkout.

*Offer expires on May 8, 2012 at 11:59 pm EST. Not compatible with any other offer. Be sure there are no spaces after the Promo Code when you enter it at checkout.