ABA Is Not "Dog Training for Children." — A Behavior Analyst Weighs In.

As a behavior analyst working with young adults with autism, I ask my students what academic or social skills they want to learn or improve. If a student needs to talk to a professor to get help in their classes, we rehearse the steps they need to do to complete that task. Rehearsing ahead of time generally decreases their anxiety and avoidance of unpleasant tasks.

There are socially acceptable ways an individual with autism can ask to leave a room or situation that impacts their sensory sensitivity. Task…