McNEESE STATE UNIVERSITY
Autism Spectrum Disorder is a diagnostic term included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) used to describe individuals with persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests or activities.
Applied Behavior Analysis has been endorsed by the U.S. Surgeon General, the National Institute of Health, the New York State Department of Mental Health, and many other states, including Louisiana, as an effective evidence-based treatment for Autism and many other pervasive developmental disorders.
A qualified professional, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) should be contacted when seeking ABA Services. Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA’s) working in the field of autism intervention conduct skills assessments, functional assessments and functional analysis to tailor an intervention plan to meet the needs of an individual client. Skills assessments assist in pinpointing areas in which a client may have skill deficits so that instructional strategies can be developed to teach those skills. Functional assessments and analysis assist in determining why problematic behaviors are occurring so that behavior reduction strategies can be implemented specific to the problem behavior. To find a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, visit the certificant registry of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board.
Beware of frauds, there is currently no “cure” for autism and refrain from using therapies that offer no research evidence. The Association for Science in Autism Treatment (ASAT) provides a review of the available research evidence for autism treatments.
Ms. Anna Grace Bizzle is an Academic Advisor for the College of Nursing and Health Professions. She earned her Bachelor’s and Master's degrees in Secondary Education from Mississippi State University. Her favorite part of advising at McNeese is being a resource for students as they get used to the expectations of college and helping students pursue their degrees at such a wonderful school.