Daily life skills such as hygiene, grooming, dressing, and household chores can be challenging for children with autism or other developmental disabilities.  Many children with autism will not acquire these skills unless they are specifically taught.  Teaching life skills using chaining procedures that are based on the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA) can have a profound impact on the ability to function independently.

 

The presenter will demonstrate how chaining procedures can be used effectively to teach children independent life skills.  Specifically, participants will be able to:

 

• Select developmentally appropriate life skills to teach.

• Create a task analysis for a targeted skill.

• Explain forward and backward chaining.

• Implement graduated guidance and fading as opposed to vocal prompting.

• Discuss strategies for data collection.