ABA Behind the Scenes: Extinction in Behavior

Extinction occurs when behavior with a history of being reinforced no longer results in access to reinforcement. Extinction is generally put into place for behaviors we want to see less of, and should only be used in combination with reinforcement for appropriate replacement behaviors. Extinction may be illustrated in a variety of ways depending on…

ABA Behind the Scenes: Reinforcement and How Behavior Changes

In this edition of ABA Behind the Scenes, Jami Hardy, MS, RBT, LGPC, will be examining positive and negative reinforcement regarding your child’s behavior. When we discuss reinforcement in ABA we are talking about increasing behavior as a result of an event that followed the behavior. In other words, we’re more likely to do something…

ABA Behind the Scenes: Functions of Behavior – Why We Do What We Do

In this edition of ABA Behind the Scenes, Jami Hardy, MS, BCBA, LGPC, talks on how the function of certain behaviors can tell us why those behaviors are occurring. Within the field of ABA, before we begin to help someone effectively change his or her behavior, it’s important that we first understand the function of…

ABA Behind the Scenes: Understanding and Tracking the “ABCs” of Behavior

In this edition of ABA Behind the Scenes, Jami Hardy, MS, BCBA, LGPC, will be walking us through what happens before and after a particular behavior occurs and how it affects future behavior. To understand why behavior occurs, we need to know what happens before, during, and after the behavior. In ABA, when we discuss…

ABA Behind the Scenes: What Does Behavior Really Mean?

In this edition of ABA Behind the Scenes, Jami Hardy, MS, RBT, LGPC, will be unpacking the concept of “Behavior” as part of the term “Applied Behavior Analysis.” In ABA, when we talk about behavior, we really mean anything a person says or does. Behavior includes observable actions—all the things other people can see—as well…

Coming April 2019: The NEW Verbal Beginnings Center

Verbal Beginnings is excited to announce the grand opening of the NEW Verbal Beginnings Center located just ½ mile away from our current center on Columbia Gateway Drive in Columbia, Maryland. We will stick to the same philosophy of improving the quality of life for children with developmental disabilities through top-notch care, now just with a…

Traveling with Children with Autism? Check these Travel Tips and Hacks

Travel can be physically and emotionally challenging for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and sensory processing disorders. They may have difficulty with routine changes, over-stimulating environments, and feeling a loss of control. However, there are things you can do before and during your travel that can make things easier on the whole family. Planes,…