1. The Basics of Autism
Spectrum Disorders
Training Series
Regional Autism Advisory Council of
Southwest Ohio (RAAC-SWO)
Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Task Force

2. Adult Training Series Modules
 Module One: Autism Defined, Autism Prevalence
and Primary Characteristics
 Module Two: Physical Characteristics of Autism
 Module Three: Cognition and Learning in Autism
 Module Four: Autism and Sensory Differences
 Module Five: Communication and Autism

3. Adult Training Series Modules
 Module Six: Behavior Challenges and Autism
 Module Seven: Understanding Behavior in
Persons with Autism
 Module Eight: Functional Behavior Assessment
 Module Nine: Autism and Leisure Skills to Teach
 Module Ten: Special Issues of Adolescence and
Adulthood
 Module Eleven: Safety and Autism

4. Big Idea
We must first understand
why a behavior occurs
before we are able to
change it.

5. Steps to Understanding
Reasons for Behavior

6. Step One: Describe What Was
Happening Before the Behavior
Started
Who, What, When, Where, and then Why?
 Where does the behavior happen?
 When does the behavior happen?
 Who is there when the behavior occurs?
 What was happening right before the
behavior started?

7. Step Two: Describe the Behavior
Describe the behavior exactly.
 What did it look like (as if you had a
video camera)?
 Who was involved?
 How long did it last?
 What was being said?

8. Step Three: What Happened
Immediately Following the Behavior?
 What happened to end the behavior?
 What did the person do?
 Was someone else involved in ending the
behavior?
 Did the person get what he wanted?
 What was it?

9. Big Idea
All behavior happens for
a reason and it is
motivated by something.

10. Some Reasons Behind
Behavior
 Behaviors are a way of coping with what is happening
around us.
 Behaviors are learned through trial and error.
 Behaviors that are reinforced are likely to continue.
 If a behavior continues to occur or it is increasing,
it is being reinforced in some way.
 To change the person’s behavior, we must change
what we are doing.

11. Reinforcement
Reinforcement is something that follows a
behavior that either makes it occur more often
or less often. Examples:
 a baby says “mama” for the first time and mommy
smiles, claps, and yells her excitement. (Positive)
 loud buzz in some cars when ignition is turned on in
order for driver to put on seat belt to
eliminate irritating buzz. (Negative)
 I receive a paycheck every 2 weeks. (Positive)

12. Reinforcement is Important
 We all reinforce ourselves throughout the day.
(i.e. an ice cream cone, a break, a favorite
television show, praise)
 Persons with ASD tend to need a lot of
reinforcement throughout their day.
- It increases motivation to participate.
- Participation can help in learning new things.
- Once the behavior is learned, the reinforcement
can usually be lessened.

13. Big Idea
Everyone’s reinforcers are
different. We have to find
out what works for each
person.