The Use of Applied Behavioral Analysis in Teaching Adapted Physical Education to Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

This poster describes the various methods included under the branch of Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) which can be used when teaching children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). As the educational demands faced by teachers increase on a daily basis, we have to formulate more effective ways of facilitating learners with disabilities to cooperate in the learning environment alongside their peers while at the same time, ensure they are learning to the best of their ability. There is an emphasis on moving away from punishment of bad behaviors and instead focus on a more proactive approach to perhaps identify what stimuli triggers challenging behaviors. Applied Behavioral Analysis is a widely recognized and accepted method for teaching functional skills to children with autism. Autism falls under the category of Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) and is defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Act Amendments of 1997 as a severe and chronic developmental disability that affects a person’s communication and behavior. As individuals with autism exhibit difficulties in the areas of communication and behavior, sometimes undesirable behaviors occur because they could not bring the antecedent stimuli to the teacher’s attention. This poster contributes to the idea that through the implementation of ABA and behavioral assessment, educators can implement strategies for supporting positive behaviors and reducing problem behaviors