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| Application of ABA to Learning Disabilities: Strategies for Reading Acquisition and Motivation |
| Saturday, May 28, 2005 |
| 8:00 AM–11:00 AM |
| Lake Huron (8th floor) |
| Area: DDA; Domain: Applied Research |
| CE Instructor: Sara White, M.A. |
| JENNIFER M. GILLIS MATTSON (State University of New York, Binghamton), SARA WHITE (State University of New York, Binghamton), RAYMOND G. ROMANCZYK (Institute for Child Development) |
| Description: Approximately 5% of children have a learning disability, including reading disorders. Recent research suggests that children who have a reading disability have impaired phonemic awareness and decoding skills, which are necessary skills for beginning reading. Research also suggests that individuals with learning disabilities have deficits in social skills. This workshop will primarily cover reading disabilities, but will also provide information and strategies for improving students social behavior. The first part of the workshop will provide an overview of the current research on reading interventions. A short-term, intensive, after school reading clinic model that utilizes the framework of ABA for both reading instruction and improving social behavior will be described. Topics will focus on implementing a behavioral assessment specifically designed for reading, selecting individualized reading goals for children, implementation of token economy systems within a reading program, and data collection and analysis strategies to assist with monitoring student progress. This workshop will also review a unique software program to assist teachers, parents, or other professionals, with material selection and construction. This software program contains letters, phonemes, blends, diphthongs, digraphs, nonsense words, and grade-level sigh vocabulary words that are printable in flashcard formats. The software was initially developed in 2000 and refined over the past four years. |
| Learning Objectives: At the completion of the workshop, participants will have learned (about): - The current research on interventions for reading disabilities. - An individualized goal selection procedure that includes how to use standardized assessment data and behavioral assessments to select appropriate goals for reading (all levels). - Effective teaching methods for reading instruction within an ABA framework. - Motivational strategies that may be effectively implemented for individuals with reading disabilities. - A database that contains letters, phonemes, blends, diphthongs, digraphs, nonsense words, and grade-level SV words. The database will allow participants to print out flashcards for teaching. - Reading curricula and receive a goal sequence for reading instruction - How to incorporate social skills training into reading interventions, as exemplified by the after school reading clinic model that will be presented. |
| Activities: 1. Lecture on current research on interventions for reading disabilities; 2. Lecture on individualized goal selection; 3. Group exercise on developing goals from standardized and behavioral assessment; 4. Lecture on behavior analytic teaching strategies as applied to reading disabilities; 5. Overview of software for instructional material development; 6. Lecture on appropriate curricula for students with learning disabilities; 7. Group exercise on the use of reading curricula; 8. Group exercise on incorporating social skills development into instruction for students with learning disabilities. |
| Audience: This workshop is designed for teachers, parents, and professionals and paraprofessionals providing reading instruction to students (Kindergarten through 6th grade level) |
| Content Area: Practice |
| Instruction Level: Intermediate |