Illinois Valley Autism Center provides Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to children with Autism and other developmental disabilities.

ABA is a scientific approach of applying techniques and principles that increase learning and functional behaviors while decreasing those that are harmful or that interfere with learning. It involves breaking down tasks into small steps and teaching them repeatedly utilizing positive reinforcement until they become mastered.

The following summarizes IVAC's ABA with the Verbal Behavior component:

Therapists devote time to pairing themselves with your child by using reinforcement and gradually interjecting more demands into the situation.

Generally most teaching is initially done in the natural environment and over time intensive teaching is introduced.

Teaching is done both in a formal table setting and in the natural environment.

Special attention is paid to motivation and how that can be used to decrease the value of escape and stimming and increasing functional behaviors.

Manding (requesting) is a major focus for teaching opportunities.

Errorless learning procedures are utilized to increase the rate of reinforcement, decrease the value of escape and helps eliminate maladaptive behavior.

Instructional targets are mixed resulting in a dynamic form of teaching that is constantly shaped by the student and the environment instead of a preset format.

We are now accepting applications for children from the ages of 2 to 7 years of age. Our goal is to help your child be successful and if possible eventually mainstream her/him into a typical school.

Even if your child does not fall into this initial age bracket feel free to contact us with your needs or any questions you may have. Although we are comfortable with this initial age range we do intend to increase it once we feel that the center is ready for such a commitment.

We do accept insurance and will work with most carriers.