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Discrete trial training is at the core of Therapeutic PATHWAYS'
intervention programs. But social skills, including toy play and peer
relations, constitute some of the biggest challenges to children with
Autism Spectrum Disorders. While some of the basic behavioral elements
of these repertoires can be taught in a discrete trial format, application
of other procedures from Applied Behavior Analysis have proven to be a
critical element in the emergence and maintenance of these repertoires.
These procedures, which include shaping, prompting and fading, chaining,
fluency building, programming for generative stimulus and response sets,
Skinner's analysis of elementary and secondary verbal relations, etc.,
are used to teach more complicated skills involving self-help, social
and play behavior. Therapeutic PATHWAYS' approach to teaching
these domains incorporates the findings of prominent researchers in Applied
Behavior Analysis such as Gina Green, Pat Krantz, Lynn McClannahan, and
Mark Sundberg. In addition, emerging work from researchers outside the
field such as Simon Baron-Cohen, regarding "Theory of Mind"
are also integrated into beginning and advanced treatment programs.
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