Parents' Education as Autism Therapists: Applied Behaviour Analysis in Context

Clear, focused, and practical, this book is a useful introduction to ABA for parents and professionals working with children with autism.

Successful child rearing is an essential skill for any parent. For most of us this skill is handed down from our own parents and society in general. In real terms this means that rather than relying on any formal instruction to help us, we bring up our children using skills based largely upon common sense and a willingness to do our best. These methods are, by-and-large, successful in everyday situations. However, when it comes to more difficult aspects of developing skills in our children, we need something more dependable than good will. Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), the systematic implementation of scientifically proven behavioural principles offers just that. Aimed at enhancing people's lives in ways that they or their carers feel are important, it includes a variety of methods and techniques which can be used to promote, decrease, or maintain skills for daily living.

ABA has been used to help children with autism for many years in many countries. In Northern Ireland the PEAT group offers parents the education necessary to become their own child's therapists using ABA. In this book these parents and the professionals involved in their training share their knowledge, experience, and successes.

Mickey Keenan is a behaviour analyst and senior lecturer in the Department of Psychology at the University of Ulster, Northern Ireland.