Re: AVB books

[Guest guest]

See below

> From: krnstvn@...

> Subject: Re: good books on VB

>

> Just starting out. Can anyone suggest some good books to teach verbal

> behavior therapy.

> karen

Obtain a copy of " Teaching Language to Children with

Autism or Other Developmental Disabilities " by Mark Sundberg

and Partington. In my opinion, it is essential that you

have this book and the ABLLS materials mentioned below to

work from The current edition of Teaching Language to

Children with Autism or Other Developmental Disabilities is

actually the 7th version of a manuscript more than 25 years in

the making, and it is based on research and experience

accumulated during that time.

At the back of the book, there is an appendix providing

important background information about Skinner's (1957)

model of Verbal Behavior, as well as information from more

recent publications related to this model.

The ABLLS ( " The Assessment of Basic Language and

Learning Skills " by Sundberg & Partington and available from

them at www.behavioranalysts.com or from Parentbooks) is

the schedule used for assessing functional language and is the

basis for whatever program you develop to teach language. It

is a more-or-less essential part of the whole process since, at any

given point in time, it will tell you what elements of language

your child has to be taught next.

With respect to the actual teaching of language, I am told that

the Language Builder flashcards available from Different Roads

to Learning (www.difflearn.com) are worth it, even at $150

U.S.

I should mention here that, personally, I am VERY enthusiastic

about ABA programs that encompass Skinner's functional analysis

of language, having seen it work so well for so many children and

having read the enthusiastic testimonials that parents keep posting

to the internet about this approach. You should know, however,

that there is more to educating autistic children than teaching

language, although language is an extremely important pivotal skill.

As Rhonda Miga phrased it in responding to another parent on the

list:

" I am glad that you have added the component of VB to your

already existing ABA program. I would like to make sure that

you do not do a 100% switch. As the founder of , it

has been very difficult for me to get across to our readers that

VB is a " component " of a good ABA program (in many cases

the missing component), not a methodology within itself..... for

our children on the autism spectrum.

There are many other components that do not pertain to

language that need to continue. (We made this mistake and

stopped everything else.... it hurt my son's progress greatly).

Drs. Sundberg and Partington have the best explanation for

using VB in an ABA program (and the best training through the

STARS school that I have seen). The first day of a workshop,

the STARS staff make sure that participants know that " good

teaching " is the backbone of any program. Follow through and

providing the child with a clear understanding of what is

expected is key: (Sd -- R -- Rd). If you do not already have

S/P's book " Teaching Language to Children ..... " , it will be a

wonderful investment for you. Read chapter 13 first, so you

have an understanding of how DTT and NET work together for

success. "

Additional materials about getting started in ABA and about

teaching language, and which you may wish to obtain are:

There is a new video available from

www.behavioranalysts.com called " Teaching Verbal Behavior:

An Introduction to Parents Teaching Language. " According to

the promotional literature, " This 50 minute video, narrated by

Dr. Jim Partington, follows the first ten months of an intensive

language intervention program conducted by the mother of

Dani, a young girl diagnosed with autism. Dani's progress

demonstrates the importance of parents learning to capture their

child's motivation, as we see Dani's family teaching her how to

ask for items and activities that she enjoys ( " mand " training).

Dr. Partington reviews the process for the identification

of initial skills to be taught, and presents an analysis of effective

teaching strategies.

Dr. Partington additionally describes the progression of a

language-based curriculum that focuses on the development of

specific expressive language skills and other basic learner skills.

Through the development of these skills, Dani, like many other

children with language delays, gradually becomes more able to

learn from less structured teaching activities. With Dr.

Partington's clear and systematic presentation, parents and

professionals can learn the essential elements of programs like

Dani's, designed to help children with language delays be

successful participants in the learning process. "

At approximately $70 U.S. (including shipping), it isn't cheap,

but it may be worth it to see how the experts do it, particularly

given the emotional and economic costs of not getting it right.

One of the books referenced on the CTFEAT website is

" Teach Me Language " by Freeman and Lorelei Dake

(SKF Books, Canada, 1996 and available through Different

Roads to Learning www.difflearn.com 1-800-853-1057).