If you are the parent of a child with ASD and it’s your first time to get an ABA therapy one question that’s on top of your mind must be about setting ABA therapy goals. And it is always a hectic task in autism medication management. To get the best result from any kind of autism therapy, it’s important to set outsmart, achievable, and applicable goals. Usually, it is done by your therapist or any other professional person but it also requires parent involvement throughout the process because parents know their child better than anyone else.
We have set out a complete parent guide for it. Continue reading to learn in detail the process and the 6 important ABA therapy goals. Let’s start exploring this helpful guide!
Understanding ABA Therapy Goals
When it comes to ABA therapy, goals are very important for helping people with ASD reach the full capacity of their abilities and leading the therapy process. The significance of ABA Therapy cannot be emphasized, since they address the basic symptoms of autism while promoting the development of critical life skills, communication abilities, and social behaviors.
Why Is Goal Setting So Important In ABA Therapy?
The goal of ABA Therapy is to improve the quality of life for people with autism by
- helping them communicate,
- interact with others,
- and make the most of their surroundings.
Setting goals that are clear and can be measured is a key part of making ABA therapy work. These goals give therapists, clients, and families a way to find their way, stay focused, and keep track of their progress.
ABA therapy goals help both the professional and the person being treated by figuring out what skills and habits need to be improved. Targeted tactics and strategies can be used to successfully deal with these areas because of them. Furthermore, well-defined objectives allow therapists to gather data, assess results, and change the therapy plan as needed to guarantee optimum development.
Goal Setting Process In ABA Therapy
The process of goal setting in ABA Therapy starts as soon as you reach out to BCBA and start discussing your case with them. It follows simple and easy-to-do strategies for setting measurable goals that focus on improvement in certain areas of a child’s life.
- Collaborative Needs Assessment: The BCBA works with the parents and other family members asking them a few questions or sometimes doing a complete interview to understand the child’s areas of strength and weaknesses. They talk about different parts of a child’s life like what he is good at, what hurts him most, and where the parents want to focus.
- SMART Goal Development: Using all these insights, BCBA creates a plan that aligns with the child’s needs. These goals are based on a SMART goal system that makes them achievable goals. They must be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. You can remember it with the acronym of SMART.
- Individualization: Goals directly target the child’s unique needs and developmental stage. They may focus on improving communication skills, social interaction, self-help skills, or reducing maladaptive behaviors.
- Prioritization: Through collaboration, the most critical goals are identified and addressed first, ensuring efficient intervention and maximizing the child’s progress.
6 Smart Goals Of ABA Therapy
When talking about goals, you might come across a lot of different sub-goals, such as being able to do daily tasks on your own, managing your time better, learning to speak, following directions, and so on. Behavior-analytic goals for kids with autism often include a lot of these kinds of skills.
However, their effectiveness depends on the stage of autism the patient is suffering from. Here are a few basic skills that can be included in your therapy plan and show improvement in your child’s life.
Cognitive Skills:
Problem-solving skills are very important in ABA Therapy goals because they help people solve puzzles, finish tasks, and deal with problems in a healthy way. A big part of the plan is also to improve memory and focus so that people can remember things and stay focused on tasks more easily. By including these parts in the therapy plan, people can learn a wide range of skills that help them become more independent.
The child will
- Complete a sequence of 3 picture cards in the correct order.
- Sort objects by color, shape, and size.
- Solve simple addition and subtraction problems up to 10.
- Remember and recount a short story with 80% accuracy.
- Generalize the concept of “big” and “small” across different objects and settings.
Behavior Management:
To eliminate problematic behaviors such as aggression, self-injury, or rages, it is crucial to identify triggers and adopt therapy that are suited to the individual’s requirements. The main goal of merging these methods is to help the person develop a more positive set of behaviors and improve their ability to handle tough situations healthily.
The child will
- Use a designated coping strategy (e.g., deep breathing) when frustrated.
- Ask for a break when feeling overwhelmed instead of engaging in tantrum behaviors.
- Wait calmly for his turn during structured activities.
- Reduced instances of hitting others from 5 times per week to once per week.
- Follow a visual schedule independently throughout the day.
Communication Skills:
In ABA therapy, improvement in communication skills is divided into several different types. First, verbal communication helps people communicate their requirements, desires, and emotions. They must also learn gestures, sign language, and communication gadgets to communicate nonverbally. Receptive language abilities can be improved by understanding and complying with directions and queries.
The child will
- Use phrases containing three or more words to make requests e.g. can I do that?, etc.
- Identify and name 30 different items found in the household.
- Comply with two-step instructions provided by a caregiver or therapist.
- Utilize a communication device to convey basic needs, such as requesting water.
- Answer simple questions with complete sentences.
Academic Skills:
ABA Therapy emphasizes intellectual skill development for people with ASD. Therapists teach age- and development-appropriate academic skills. Skills like reading, writing, algebra, problem-solving, and organizing may be included. ABA Therapy focuses on academic skills to help students perform better in schools and get the best possible education.
The child will
- Identify and name all uppercase and lowercase letters.
- Complete a 10-piece puzzle independently.
- Count objects up to 20.
- write his name legibly.
- Follow classroom rules and routines for a 20-minute session.
Daily Routine And Self-Care Skills:
Parents often wish for more freedom in ordinary daily living activities such as toileting, hygiene, food and mealtime, dressing, and so on. To achieve success in these areas, more explicit goals are included in the therapy plan. All of these skills work together to make people more independent and raise their quality of life, making sure they can do well in their daily lives.
The child will
- Brush his teeth independently for 2 minutes.
- Dress with minimal assistance.
- Sett the table for a meal, including placing utensils and plates correctly.
- Wash his hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
- Make a simple snack (e.g., a sandwich) with supervision.
Receptive Language Skills
In terms of communication, they complement expressive talents. Following instructions, recognizing items when requested, executing tasks when taught, paying attention to a speaker, answering questions, listening comprehension, comprehending and identifying details, vocabulary comprehension, and more are examples of these talents. Improving general receptive language abilities might involve aims like:
The child will
- Follow two-step directions, like “Pick up your shoes and put them away.”
- Point to or get his backpack when asked, “Where is your backpack?”
- Sit down or come here when asked by a caregiver or teacher.
- Point to specific items when asked, such as “Show me the red ball” or “Give me the book.”
- Respond to his name by looking at or approaching the person calling him
Conclusion
It is clear to get the the most out of an ABA Therapy plan you need to sit with the therapist and help him set SMART ABA therapy goals. These crucial milestones focus on key areas of person’s with ASD life including, behavioral management, communication skills, playing skills, academic skills, etc. However, the effectiveness of this skill varies from person to person and depends on the caregiver’s needs and the person’s level/stage of autism.
To learn more about it or to get a specified tailored plan for your child that includes all the essential goals and focuses on improving his daily life reach out to our team at OURS
References
- Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) – Autism Speaks
- Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for Children With Autism – CHOP
- 14 ABA Resources You Need to Know About – Therapy Brands
- Comprehensive ABA-based interventions in the therapy – NCBI
- The Controversy Around ABA – Child Mind Institute
- A popular list of Autism & ABA curricula and assessment-motivity
- ABA: An Evidence-Based therapy for Autism – NECC
- Contact Us – Schedule Consultation
