Verbal Behavior (VB)
Characteristics of Verbal Behavior Programs

Manding (requesting) is the first skill taught.   Our goal is to have learners manding hundreds of times per day.

Capture and contrive the learner's Motivative Operation (MO) in order to increase the quantity and variety of mands.  Once a mand is acquired it can then be transfered across the other operants. 

Most to Least Prompting is used to assure that the learner is practicing the correct response as opposed to inadvertently learning the incorrect response through repeated errors.  It is essential to utilize quick fading procedures so that learners do not become prompt dependent.  

Correction Procedure
If an error is made or you don't get a response within 2-3 seconds, use the correction procedure for the following reasons:
1. To teach the skill quickly 
2. To assure that the learner does not get frustrated.  Learning should always be fun!
3. To prevent the learner from practicing the incorrect skills.

Mixed and Varied Targets
To keep the learners alert targets from different operants are mixed and varied. 

Transfer across the Operants
Once a learner acquires a word under one operant (typically the mand is first) then the interventionist teaches it across the remaining verbal operants so that the learner understands the word in all of it's functions. 

Cold Probe Data
The first response of the day is recorded.   If the skill is prompted then it is retaught throughout the day but no additional data is recorded until the following day.  The thought is that effective teaching procedures will produce a correct response after repeated trials.   The true measurement of skill acquisition is to see if the learner has the skill the following day. 

Natural Environment Teaching (NET)/Incidental Teaching:  Quality programs have structured procedures in place to plan and implement NET. Learners acquire new skills and expand their play interests within NET.   Teachers structure the environment and the lesson so that learners will have the opportunity to learn within ongoing typical activities.  It is essential to teach parents to integrate this into the daily routine such as dinner and bath time.  NET is known for it's effectiveness in generalizing skills across multiple people, places and environments. 

Discrete Trial Training (DTT): Is one of the structured ways in which skills are taught within ABA programs.  Larger skills are broken down into sub skills.  Then a unit of teaching occurs.

Assessments:  Typically Verbal Behavior programs are guided by the following assessments.
The Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills-Revised ABLLS-R
The Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program  VB-MAPP.

Curriculum:  Typically Verbal Behavior programs are based on the following curriculum.
The Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills-Revised ABLLS-R
The Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program  VB-MAPP.

History:  For a brief summary of the history on Verbal Behavior please click on history.

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