About Us

ABA stands for Applied Behaviour Analysis, which, put briefly, is a natural science that helps us to better understand why people behave as they do, taking into account the relevant consequences, as well as the wider environmental and internal causes that may be influencing these behaviours. The field of ABA is vast and can be applied in a multitude of ways, across all types of situations; more than we can cover within this overview! At ABA Pathways we are informed by the science of Applied Behaviour Analysis to guide us in the assessment, development and ongoing review of the support we put in place to help children with autism, intellectual disabilities and communication delays to thrive. Reinforcement is one of the key principles of behaviour that we utilise to create meaningful and long-lasting change. Simply put, reinforcement is a consequence that follows a behaviour which increases the likelihood of that behaviour occurring again in the future.

To maximise the effects of reinforcement, we have to make sure motivation is present. Would you go to work every day if you weren’t motivated to do what you do, or if the pay wasn’t good enough?! By getting to know each individual’s unique interests, and letting them welcome us into their world, we create a love of learning in the children that we work with that can then inspire and motivate them to achieve their fullest potential.

Another key aspect of ABA is that everything we do is data-driven. When we first start working with an individual we will conduct assessments to get a full picture of their strengths and their needs in order to design a programme that will best support them to achieve their goals. These programmes will be designed in collaboration with the family and any other professionals involved in supporting that individual, as we believe in a multi-disciplinary approach to learning at ABA Pathways. Progress of these programmes is continuously monitored through daily data collection on both skill acquisition and the reduction of behaviours acting as barriers to learning. Teaching can then be adjusted where needed to ensure the children we work with can meet their potential in a way that works for them and we can move on to new and exciting challenges once we can see that a skill has been achieved.

All of our teaching methods are founded in evidence-based, behaviour analytic literature. This means that each method has gone through vigorous processes to prove effectiveness in creating meaningful change. As well as this, all of our practice is monitored by strict ethical guidelines to ensure we are doing the best by the individuals we support. Our team have undergone and continue to partake in extensive training to meet these high standards. Three of our directors have Masters level qualifications in Applied Behaviour Analysis and Positive Behaviour Support, have completed supervised fieldwork and passed the board exam to be certified as BCBAs (board certified behaviour analysts)/UKBA(certs) (the UK specific equivalent credential). Our other director has completed training, competencies and ongoing supervision to be certified as a registered behaviour technician (RBT); as well as working in the field of SEND for over 15 years with extensive experience training other professionals and supporting parents in their journey.

We are passionate about best-practice and will always endeavour to learn more to ensure we can support the individuals we work with as they deserve to be supported. The results speak for themselves when individuals transition from a life of being frustrated and not able to communicate their basic wants and needs to being given the tools to get their needs met effectively. We aim to bring down the barriers to learning and increase skills so that each individual can live a happy and fulfilled life. To read more about Applied Behaviour Analysis and the way it is moving forwards in the UK please click here.