Mountainside ABA

03/20/2026

Meet some of the RBTs making a difference in the WV ;)!

03/20/2026

March 20 is World Behavior Analysis Day!

This day was founded in 2021 by behaviorists on a global scale in order to celebrate, promote and share the science of behavior analysis.

World Behavior Analysis Day is a WORLDWIDE celebration of the science of behavior analysis -- i.e., the study of how behavior works, how it is influenced by the environment, and how it can be meaningfully changed to improve lives.

It is celebrated on March 20, which is also B.F. Skinner's birthday, a pioneering psychologist whose work helped establish the foundation of modern behavior analysis. His research showed that behavior is learned and shaped through interaction with the environment, a concept that is at the root of evidence-based practices today.

At Mountainside ABA, this science is at the core of everything we do.

We use behavior analysis to:
--Build communication, social, and life skills
--Support independence and confidence
--Reduce behaviors that interfere with daily life
--Teach kids self-advocacy
--Empower kids and families to live their best lives with practical, meaningful strategies.

So today, we're celebrating not just the science, but the real people it helps every day.

03/18/2026

Struggling to get kids to do chores? Try the Premack Principal!

'First,' do the task and THEN, enjoy a fun activity. For example, first clean up toys, then play outside.

Tip: Make sure the 'then' activity is TRULY motivating and happens right after the task!

03/18/2026

Check out another great RBT testimonial!

03/17/2026

Welcome back to another edition of at Mountainside ABA.
Here we focus on relatively simple strategies you can use with your kid at home. This one is pretty simple + just involves identifying and stacking one non-preferred task AND one preferred activity.

First, we clean up after eating, THEN we get to go outside. Try your own unique version at home today!

03/17/2026

We feel so lucky to serve all our area families! We hope you have a great one.

☘️

03/16/2026

is March 17!

One of the criteria for profound autism is requiring lifelong 24/7 support.
People with profound autism require constant supervision because they either have no awareness of danger or they lack the impulse control needed to keep themself safe.
They cannot be left home alone and cannot go anywhere by themself.
They also require assistance with all or most activities of daily living like preparing food, bathing, dressing, toileting, etc.

Wesley cannot do any activities of daily living on his own and he requires constant supervision because he has no awareness of danger. At any time, he might try to eat a random item, not understanding that it could be dangerous. If we’re outside and the wind blows his ribbon onto the road, he will run after it without checking to see if a car is coming. He does not have the awareness or the impulse control to wait and ensure it’s safe first.
He will need constant support for his entire life, even when he’s an adult.

Profound autism isn’t high support needs - it’s constant support needs.

-Wesley’s Mama
(An autistic autistic mom)

03/16/2026

Tomorrow isn't just St. Patrick's Day. It's also Profound Autism Day.

Profound autism awareness day is March 17. In the 5 days leading up to it, I’m going to talk about 5 major issues that affect people with profound autism.
Today topic is comorbid conditions.
Most autistics, including level 1 autistics, have at least one comorbid condition like ADHD, anxiety, depression, or sensory processing disorder.
People with profound autism often have multiple severe comorbid conditions.
These comorbid conditions can make a person’s needs significantly more complex, and when someone is unable to communicate effectively it can be very hard to detect or diagnose many of these conditions.
Wesley has epilepsy, ADHD, sensory processing disorder, language impairment, intellectual impairment, OCD, ARFID, PICA, insomnia, and sensory processing disorder.

-Wesley’s Mama
(An autistic autism mom)

03/16/2026

Check out this recently released free resource for all.

CASP and Association of Professional Behavior Analysts have jointly released The Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Assessment Guidelines for Behavior Analysts. https://www.casproviders.org/assessment-guidelines

This resource is intended to support ethical, effective assessments of clients with autism. The guidelines will help ABA practitioners select, design, and administer standardized instruments to identify:

- Core symptoms and autism characteristics.
- Adaptive functioning.
- Wellbeing and quality of life.
- Co-occurring health conditions.

The guidelines also describe behavior analysts’ ethical obligations to:

- Maximize client benefit.
- Minimize potential harm.
- Consider clients’ unique needs, circumstances, and resources.

Along with the guidelines, CASP and APBA have produced an interactive, online tool to aid practitioners in implementing the right assessments. The tool will be made available in the near future.

03/16/2026

It's the beginning of another week, and we know you've got this!

Win-win!

03/16/2026

Sharing this for our families in Elkins!

SPRING SWIM LESSONS ARE HERE! We’re offering a variety of group swim lessons this spring for preschoolers ages 2–4 and youth ages 5–12. Choose from weekday morning, evening, or Saturday sessions to fit your schedule.
✔ Multiple class levels available
✔ Small group instruction
✔ Convenient scheduling options
Register online athttps://operations.daxko.com/Online/5160/ProgramsV2/Home.mvcor in person at the Y. Interested in more individualized instruction? Ask about our private swim lessons! ☀️

03/13/2026

This is why RBTs do what they do.