Our Services

Connections ABA of Massachusetts, Inc. is a proud provider of Applied Behavior Analysis services.

What is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)?  

• ABA is “the science in which tactics delivered from the principles of behavior are applied to improve socially significant behavior and experimentation is used to identify the variables responsible for the improvement in behavior”. (Cooper, Heron, & Heward, 2007). ABA allows us to study behavior as it relates to the environment.
• ABA is a strong methodology. It is: 
• Applied- designed to make improvements in behavior that are relevant to people’s real lives 
• Behavioral- focused on objective, measurable actions 
• Analytic- evaluative of relationships between the services and changes in behavior 
• Technological- easily replicable by parents, caretakers, and other members of the community 
• Conceptually Systematic- rooted in a history of scientific research 
• Effective- aimed at making meaningful change in behavior 
• Generality- driven for lasting change in behavior 
• ABA is accountable, doable, empowering and optimistic! 

What does ABA look like? 

• ABA services are individualized; meaning that each recipient has specific goals that he or she works on at a given time. Goals are designed and adjusted through data-based decisions made by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). The initial and ongoing assessments we offer allow for constant monitoring of skill acquisition and identification of areas of focus. Goals are embedded into programming that can be delivered by the BCBA or by a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT). 
• ABA goals often focus on communication, socialization, play and leisure skills, adaptive living skills (e.g., eating, toileting, dressing), motor skills, transitions, and school-readiness skills. 
• ABA has evolved since its inception in the mid-twentieth century. Modern ABA utilizes naturalistic teaching, which is a personalized approach to embedding and capitalizing on naturally-occurring educational opportunities within the child’s daily activities. There is a high level of focus on providing positive reinforcement for preferred behaviors and preventing reinforcement of challenging behaviors. 

Who receives ABA services? 

• ABA is useful for individuals who demonstrate inappropriate or challenging behaviors as a side-effect of skill deficits in areas like communication, socialization, and self-regulation. For people with Autism and other related Developmental Disabilities, these deficits create barriers for meeting developmental milestones and can lead to externalizing behaviors like aggression, self injury, noncompliance, vocal protests, and property destruction. ABA has been pivotal in teaching more appropriate alternatives to those concerning behaviors.  
• Individuals qualify for the provision of ABA services based on the impact that symptoms of their diagnosis may have on their daily functioning. These services can be delivered based on medical or educational necessity across any setting of the person’s life. 
• ABA services are prescribed for an individual, but his or her family and caregivers also are educated in ABA procedures so that the skills can be practiced and maintained across all contexts, including at home, at school, and in the community.  Because it is rooted in using environmental manipulations to change behavior, ABA can be helpful for anyone! 

For more information about ABA, click "Find Out More" or "Contact Us".

References: Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2007). Applied Behavior Analysis (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.