who we are is not nearly as important as who we serve

understanding radical behaviorism

It is common in today’s treatment to dismiss the foundation of our field, but at Morning Star, we insist on its existence and application for the people that we serve.

taking the technology to the fullest extent

When working with individuals, we are committed to the application of scientific literature given its current database. Behaviorism started with a man named B.F. Skinner who looked at the world through a scientist’s perspective, rather than a philosopher’s. He considered himself a biologist, but later took human behavior into a light that could be measured and evaluated, rather than speculated based on one person’s observation. In radical behaviorism, Skinner, as well as Morning Star, believe that if it can be seen, it can be measured, and if it can be measured, it can be changed. This is a key in the way treatment is viewed and carried out. Instead of having a very daunting goal of “communication,” we can measure and teach skills that are integral in this process.

what is applied behavior analysis (ABA)?

ABA is the application of behavioral science to real-world behaviors of social importance. ABA is individualized to meet the needs of your child using assessment, research-based intervention, and ongoing data collection. Therefore, ABA is not one strategy, but a collection of strategies, and looks different depending on the needs of your child. Interventions based on ABA involve altering a child’s environment to help them be more successful. This is done by identifying and changing aspects of the environment that are likely to happen before or after a behavior, identifying why the behavior is happening, and helping the child to learn more appropriate skills to replace those behaviors. In 2015, the National Autism Center, after reviewing 389 peer-reviewed research studies of interventions for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, determined that only those interventions derived from ABA demonstrated strong evidence of effectiveness. However, ABA has been demonstrated to be effective across populations of children, not only those with Autism. ABA services have demonstrated effectiveness with addressing the following types of pediactric concerns:

• Communication Difficulties
• Social Skills Deficits
• Academic Deficits
• Inattention
• Hyperactivity
• Feeding Concerns
• Sleep Concerns
• Selective Mutism
• Tics or Habits
• School Behavior
• Poor Physical Health, Lifestyle Habits, or Obesity