Evidence-Based Practices

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An evidence-based practice is an instructional/intervention procedure or set of procedures for which researchers have provided an acceptable level of research that shows the practice produces positive outcomes for children, youth, and or adults with ASD.

Cognitive behavioral intervention teaches learners to examine their own thoughts and emotions, recognize when negative thoughts and emotions are escalating in intensity, and then use strategies to change their thinking and behavior. 

By using task analysis (TA) to teach a learner individual steps, the learner can become more independent using the more complex target skill or behavior. 

Reinforcement  is a foundational practice that is used with other evidence-based practices. Reinforcement describes the relationship between learner behavior and a consequence that follows the behavior. This relationship is reinforcing only if the consequence increases the likelihood the learner will perform the skill or behavior in the future. 

Grounded in behaviorism, naturalistic intervention consists of applying principles of applied behavior analysis during a learner’s everyday routines and activities in order to increase a target behavior or decrease an interfering behavior. 

Social narratives describe social situations for learners by providing relevant cues, explanation of the feelings and thoughts of others, and descriptions of appropriate behavior expectations.