ABA and Families: Garcia Family

The Garcia family includes Tom (dad) and Glenda (mom). They have four daughters: Natalie (12), Rebecca (10), Pati (8) and Julianna (6). Glenda’s mother, Elena, and Glenda’s adult sister, Victoria, also lives with the Garcia family. Victoria has an intellectual disability.

The Garcia family has recently put in place a family-wide plan for improving positive behaviors. The family identified positive expectations and life values that are important to their family. They created plans to teach and practice these social skills with the younger children. The family met and discussed what would be appropriate and reasonable tasks for each person. For example, Julianna is responsible for emptying the garbage baskets that are in each person’s bedroom into the kitchen garbage can. Victoria is responsible for bringing the garbage and recycling out to the garage. Grandma Elena cooks weeknight meals. Natalie and Rebecca are responsible for packing lunches. Each member of the family has a list of specific chores that are their responsibility each week. There is a chart in the kitchen where each family member receives a check mark for completing their daily task. Family members who receive 5 check marks in one week go out for ice cream on Sunday afternoon. Tom and Glenda provide verbal praise for completing tasks as well.

The following principles of ABA are represented in the example:

• Positive Reinforcement. Verbal praise, trip for ice cream at end of week.
• Data Collection. Tracking number of chores completed each week for each person.

The two youngest daughters, Pati, Julianna, and Aunt Victoria have difficulty completing their chores. They have not been receiving check marks. They often cry and yell when Natalie, Rebecca, and Grandma Elena go out for ice cream on Sunday. Tom and Glenda decided to use a visual reminder to get them started. They also use a picture schedule for each of jobs that Pati, Julianna, and Victoria have to complete. Natalie and Rebecca, the two older sisters also provide verbal praise immediately after their siblings complete their task.
The following principles of ABA are represented in the example:

• Positive Reinforcement. Verbal praise after completing a task.
• Antecedent Intervention. Visual reminder to get started, pictures of steps.
• Choice-making. Choose ice-cream or item from dollar store.

Aunt Victoria continues to struggles to complete her chores. When others work on their chores, Victoria stays in her room and listens to music. Natalie or Rebecca prompt Victoria to bring out the garbage. Victoria yells at them or cries and tries to hide from them. When the others get ice cream on Sundays for completing their chores, Victoria hits and screams. Tom and Glenda call a meeting with the entire family. Victoria’s case manager also attends the meeting. They discuss a plan that will increase Victoria’s activity in the family’s routines. The case manager conducts a Functional Analysis. This strategy examines why Victoria’s challenging behavior happens. It confirms that Victoria’s behavior is due to her wish to escape doing chores.

Tom and Glenda provide Victoria with more instruction for taking out garbage. They teach her how to sort the recycling.  They also teach Victoria to ask Natalie or Rebecca to open and close the back door. This is a difficult step to complete when she is carrying the garbage bag. The parents lessen the number of check marks that Victoria must earn to go for ice cream. They reduce the goal from five points earned each weekday for five days to one point each weekday for five days. After a few weeks of success, they gradually increase the number of check marks that Victoria must earn. First she must earn two points each week for five days. Then, she must earn three points each week for five days. Victoria was excited to be able to go out for ice cream.  Within a few months, she chose to set her new weekly point goal to four points each weekday across five days.

The following principles of ABA are represented in the example:

• Functional Analysis. Determining why the behavior continues to happen.
• Antecedent Intervention. Providing instruction on taking out the garbage.
• Positive Reinforcement. Providing ice cream reward when Victoria completes her chores.
• Teaching Alternative Behavior. Teaching to ask for help when needed.