She started with the . To most, "washing hands" is one action. To Maya, it was eleven distinct, reinforceable moments. She watched Leo. When he successfully turned the cold-water knob, she didn't just give a generic "good job." She delivered a high-five and a sliver of a dried mango—his favorite "high-magnitude" reinforcer.
In the quiet, hum-lit room of the behavioral clinic, Maya sat with a stack of laminated icons and a timer. Her student, Leo, was a whirl of energy, his world often a chaotic symphony of sensory input that he couldn't yet translate into words.
The breakthrough didn't happen during the hand-washing, though. It happened during a session. Leo usually grabbed items he wanted, leading to frustration for everyone. Maya had designed a strategy using a "Break" card.
When Leo began to pace—a sign of rising overstimulation—Maya prompted him to touch the card. The moment he did, she immediately cleared the table. "You asked for a break. Let's go," she said calmly.
She started with the . To most, "washing hands" is one action. To Maya, it was eleven distinct, reinforceable moments. She watched Leo. When he successfully turned the cold-water knob, she didn't just give a generic "good job." She delivered a high-five and a sliver of a dried mango—his favorite "high-magnitude" reinforcer.
In the quiet, hum-lit room of the behavioral clinic, Maya sat with a stack of laminated icons and a timer. Her student, Leo, was a whirl of energy, his world often a chaotic symphony of sensory input that he couldn't yet translate into words. Designing Teaching Strategies: An Applied Behav...
The breakthrough didn't happen during the hand-washing, though. It happened during a session. Leo usually grabbed items he wanted, leading to frustration for everyone. Maya had designed a strategy using a "Break" card. She started with the
When Leo began to pace—a sign of rising overstimulation—Maya prompted him to touch the card. The moment he did, she immediately cleared the table. "You asked for a break. Let's go," she said calmly. She watched Leo