Are You Entering Sessions Ready to Iterate?
Structured approaches to consultation are essential. One key element of this process—that I often highlight—is thoroughly analyzing data from all programs and prioritizing which goals are the most important. This initial step sets the stage for effective planning and ensures that interventions are tailored to the individual's needs.
But there are certainly other barriers that must be overcome to ensure a quality consultation.
One pidgeonhole to avoid is entering sessions without a clear plan for the next iteration of each of your goals. Each goal that your learner masters should pave the way for further development. As such, it becomes imperative to have a vision for the progression of each goal, always anticipating the next steps for that goal.
While it's impossible to plan for every scenario, having a mini-roadmap for potential advancements for each of your goals ensures that your interventions remain dynamic and responsive to the individual's changing needs. For example, if a learner has mastered sitting for 30 seconds with a high value reinforcer, the next iteration might involve sitting in different environments (like a waiting room, on a toilet, or in a classroom) or increasing the duration of sitting (from 30 seconds to 45 seconds) or fading the value of the reinforcer being used (from iPad to fidget spinner). You might even target all three of these iterations at once.
By thinking iteratively and expanding on the contexts in which behaviors are reinforced, we promote meaningful skill acquisition, generalization, and independence.
At the heart of effective behavior intervention lies the concept of iteration. Each mastered goal serves as a stepping stone to further progress, guiding individuals toward greater independence and competence. It's not enough to simply achieve a milestone and stop—this happens far too often in our field and our learners end up on the short end of things. Instead, your learners real success lies on your ability to build upon each program that they master. Each mastered skill opens the door for the next variation on that skill.
Main take away for this week?
Go into every consultation with a few iterations on each of the goals that you’re targeting.
Remember, sharing insights and experiences keeps this free newsletter rolling along. I invite you to leave your thoughts in the comments below or reach out via email.
Martin Myers is a BCBA with a passion for helping improve the field of ABA. He is the creator of BxMastery, with over 4,000 goal ideas, sequenced, to inspire your programming. With 10+ years of experience in the field, he’s dedicated to empowering others and fostering positive change through effective leadership and communication. Connect with Martin on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for more insights and updates.