Dower and Associates, Inc. Staff Members Attend Workshop: Motivating Children with Autism to Speak Using ABA Principles in Timonium, MD

Leesburg, VA, January 19, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Many children with autism and other developmental disabilities live with little or no verbal skills. The inability to communicate even basic requests creates a high level of frustration and can lead to many challenging behaviors, including self-stimulatory and self-injurious behavior.

Building on current treatment methods from the field of Speech-Language Pathology as viewed through the eyes of a behavior analyst, this workshop provided real world examples of practical and easily implemented interventions that can be applied across contexts. Emphasis was placed on the use of Skinner's behavioral classification of language, which refocuses and refines the teaching of functional communication. Methods for effective transfer of skills from imitative to spontaneous requesting were presented. Procedures to systematically shape functional verbal and/or manual communication were also be addressed, including utilization of the "K & K Sign to Say" teaching tool and Nancy Kaufman's system of a hierarchy of vocalizations (wordshells). For more information on Tammy Kasper, please visit www.centerautismtreatment.org.

Dower and Associates, Inc. is a multi – disciplinary private practice with a focus in speech/language, education and applied behavior analysis (ABA). The corporate office is located in Manassas, VA with services delivered throughout Prince William, Loudoun and select regions of Fairfax and Fauquier Counties in Virginia. Established in 1993, Dower and Associates, Inc. is dedicated to evidence based practices in the education, communication and behavioral treatment of children diagnosed with speech/language delays, language-learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. For more information on Dower and Associates, Inc., please visit www.dowerandassociates.com or call 703-618-6180.

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