The Verbal Behavior Approach: How to Teach Children with Autism and Related Disorders [Paperback]

Mary Barbera (Author), Tracy Rasmussen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2007

The Verbal Behavior (VB) approach is a form of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), that is based on B.F. Skinner's analysis of verbal behavior and works particularly well with children with minimal or no speech abilities. In this book, Mary Lynch Barbera draws on her own experiences as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and also as a parent of a child with autism to explain VB and how to use it. This step-by-step guide provides an abundance of information about how to help children develop better language and speaking skills, and also explains how to teach non-vocal children to use sign language. An entire chapter focuses on ways to reduce problem behavior, and there is also useful information on teaching toileting and other important self-help skills, that would benefit any child. This book will enable parents and professionals unfamiliar with the principles of ABA and VB to get started immediately using the Verbal Behavior approach to teach children with autism and related disorders.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A succinct, intelligible tour of an effective intervention for autistic children through both speech and non-verbal communication. -- Kirkus Reports, April 2007

For autistic children and adults this is clearly a very valuable addition....It is a very good book in all respects. -- Dr. Jack Michael, Editor, The Analysis of Verbal Behavior

One of the most valuable books for parents of children with autism since Let Me Hear Your Voice by Catherine Maurice. -- Mark L. Sundberg, Ph.D., BCBA

This book is an important one. Parents will be delighted with its easy and practical approach. -- Mary Jane Weiss, Journal of Early and Intensive Behavior Intervention, Vol 4, No. 2, 2007

Wow what an excellent book! I wish it would have been available when my daughter, Sarah, was first diagnosed. -- Liz Maher, Mother of a 10-year-old girl with autism

About the Author

Mary Barbera is the lead Behavior Analyst for the Pennsylvania Verbal Behavior Project that studied the effect of Verbal Behavior Techniques in 57 classrooms throughout the State of Pennsylvania. Barbera was the founding President of the Autism Society of America's Berks County Chapter and sits on the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Action Coalition for Autism Services. Tracy Rasmussen is an award-winning journalist of over 25 years with a specialty in medical reporting. She is a frequent speaker for the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill on issues of mental health. Contents: Introduction. 1. Starting with ABA. 2. The ABCs of ABA. 3: Assessing Your Child. 4. Developing Reinforcers. 5. Manding. 6. Increasing and Improving Speech in Non-Vocal or Minimally Vocal Children. 7. Errorless Teaching and the Use of Transfer Procedures. 8. Teaching Receptive Language Skills and Other Non-Verbal Operants. 9. Teaching Verbal Operants. 10. Putting It All Together. 11. Teaching Toileting and Other Important Self-Help Skills. 12. Final Thoughts. Appendices. Subject index. Author index.

Product Details

• Paperback: 199 pages
• Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers; 1 edition (May 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1843108526
• ISBN-13: 978-1843108528
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,571 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #65 in Books > Parenting & Relationships > Special Needs

More About the Author

Mary Lynch Barbera, RN, MSN, BCBA offers a unique perspective as both a parent of a child with autism as well as a professional. Mary's "fell into the autism world" when her first-born son, Lucas, was diagnosed with autism one day before his third birthday in 1999. Mary went on to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2003 and has since been working as the Lead Behavior Analyst for the Pennsylvania Verbal Behavior Project. Mary is an International Speaker and has had the privilege of working with hundreds of children on the autism spectrum and has assisted in providing training to thousands of professionals and parents. In 2007 she published The Verbal Behavior Approach: How to Teach Children with Autism and Related Disorders. Mary is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Leadership.

Mary can be contacted through www.verbalbehaviorapproach.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From a Mother's Perspective, December 15, 2007

By 

Kara Renninger "Spectrum Mom" (Boyertown, PA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Verbal Behavior Approach: How to Teach Children with Autism and Related Disorders (Paperback)

As a mother of three children on the spectrum, I want to share how much this book has changed our lives forever. Hope is a powerful feeling and one given to us from this book.

We were going along following the "standard" recommendations of the professionals working with our children on the spectrum without much change for over the past two years. Sure, we had some changes, but not like the ones we were about to experience using the Verbal Behavior Approach.

This book was very easy to read and did a great job of detailing exactly how to do what we were reading about. For us, the concepts were all completely new and a totally different way of intervening. Having Mary Barbara's personal story throughtout the book helped make it more real for us as a parents.

This book has given us the power to help our children ourselves. No longer do we have to follow recommendations from others that just don't seem "quite right" for our children. We have the tools to make a difference ourselves. The therapists we do have that work with our children, are much happier also and feel a better sense of direction now. They have told me how much more hopeful they feel now having the resources they needed. They report that following the Verbal Behavior Approach has changed them professionally as well.

We have spent the past few months working through behavior problems with our children. I am glad to report that for my middle son, age 4, 20+ meltdowns a day is literally down to none or an average of 3 a week. What a difference! We have our lives back! Each child on the spectrum is different of course, but I just wanted to share one personal detail in this review to give specific evidence of the changes we are experiencing.

We feel so much closer and more connected to our kids. I don't know what more a parent with a child on the spectrum wants. We are forever grateful. I highly recommend this book to anyone out there who wants to help their children, clients, family member, and self grow and learn. I recommend this book to parents on the spectrum and parents of non-spectrum kids as well.

We still have a long road ahead of us, but we are up for the journey having the resources we need now. (This book stays by my side and I refer to it daily.)

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Syllabus for Success, July 18, 2007

By 

ANN-MARIE K. HEILMAN "truth seeker" (Reading, PA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Verbal Behavior Approach: How to Teach Children with Autism and Related Disorders (Paperback)

As a practicing Board Certified Behavior Analyst I am constantly writing detailed treatment plans for parents and home treatment teams - an enjoyable yet tedious task. Trying to simplify the technical terms and concepts of Applied Behavior Analysis for people unfamiliar with Skinner's terms has suddenly become easy due to this highly readable and thoroughly enjoyable text. Parents can easily relate to the pain of the initial diagnosis Ms. Barbera received for her son. More importantly, she gives hope and a solid program outline for implementing the Verbal Behavior approach to even the newest participant in this world of spectrum disorders. A "must read" for anyone who wants to see their child or client progress.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MUST READ!!, May 21, 2007

By 

Jennifer Cunningham (Land O Lakes, FL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Verbal Behavior Approach: How to Teach Children with Autism and Related Disorders (Paperback)

This book is one of the best books out there for ALL parents to read. It gives you great ideas and help for a child with a disability, but it also works for typical children. I love the way the author writes to you like she is talking to you directly, like you have been friends for years. This book is great and I would highly recommend it to everyone I know.