If your child is starting ABA therapy, you’ve probably heard some new words and acronyms thrown around. Maybe your child’s BCBA mentioned “reinforcement” or “prompt fading,” or you’ve seen phrases like “function of behavior” in reports or session notes. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed by the terminology, especially early on.
In this blog, we’ll break down common ABA terms in a simple, parent-friendly way—so you can feel more confident, informed, and empowered during your child’s therapy journey.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
Let’s start with the basics: ABA stands for Applied Behavior Analysis. It’s a therapy based on the science of behavior and learning. ABA focuses on understanding how behavior works, how it’s affected by the environment, and how learning happens. The goal? To increase helpful behaviors and reduce behaviors that may interfere with learning or safety.
ABA is tailored to each child’s unique needs and often focuses on improving communication, social skills, play, and independence.
Common ABA Terms Explained
1. BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst)
Your child’s BCBA is the clinician who oversees their therapy program. They assess your child’s needs, create treatment plans, train team members, and regularly review data to make sure progress is happening. BCBAs have advanced degrees and must pass a national certification exam.
Think of your BCBA as the lead strategist on your child’s care team.
2. Behavior Technician (BT or RBT)
A Behavior Technician is the person who works directly with your child during ABA sessions. They follow the plan developed by the BCBA and collect data on how your child responds to different strategies. Some may have the official designation RBT (Registered Behavior Technician).
3. Reinforcement
In ABA, reinforcement isn’t just about rewards—it’s about increasing the likelihood a behavior will happen again. If a child says “more bubbles” and receives more bubbles, that request was reinforced. Reinforcement can be social (praise, high fives), tangible (stickers, toys), or activity-based (more playtime).
Reinforcement = Encouraging helpful behavior.
4. Prompting
A prompt is a cue or help given to encourage the right response. Prompts can be physical (like guiding a hand), verbal (saying the correct answer), visual (showing a picture), or gestural (pointing). Prompting is common early on, but the goal is always to fade prompts over time so your child becomes more independent.
5. Prompt Fading
As your child learns a skill, prompts are gradually reduced. This could mean going from hand-over-hand support to just a gentle point or nod. Fading ensures that the child doesn’t become reliant on help to succeed.
6. Function of Behavior
Every behavior happens for a reason—and understanding the “why” behind it is key to effective support. The function of a behavior refers to what the child is trying to communicate or achieve.
Common behavior functions include:
- Escape (avoiding a task)
- Attention (seeking interaction)
- Access to tangibles (wanting an object)
- Sensory (self-stimulation or regulation)
Once we know the function, we can teach a better, safer, or more appropriate way to meet that need.
7. Generalization
A child might learn a new skill during therapy—but can they do it at home, at school, or with other people? Generalization is the ability to use skills across different places, people, and situations. ABA therapy focuses on helping children apply what they learn in the real world.
8. Pairing
At the start of therapy (and regularly throughout), Behavior Technicians work to build a positive relationship with your child. This process, called pairing, involves associating the therapist with fun, preferred activities to build trust. Pairing is the foundation for successful learning and cooperation.
9. Mand
In ABA, a mand is a type of request. If a child says “cookie,” signs “more,” or points to a toy they want, that’s a mand. Teaching children to mand helps them learn to express their needs clearly and reduces frustration-related behaviors.
10. Task Analysis
Some skills—like brushing teeth or tying shoes—are made up of lots of smaller steps. A task analysis breaks the activity into manageable pieces that can be taught one at a time. This helps children master complex tasks by learning each part in sequence.
11. Data Collection
You’ll often hear about “taking data” during sessions. This simply means that the team is tracking what’s happening—how your child responds, which prompts were used, what behaviors occurred. It helps the BCBA make data-informed decisions and adjust the plan as needed.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to memorize every ABA term overnight. The most important thing is feeling comfortable asking questions, having open communication with your therapy team, and knowing that your understanding of these terms will grow over time.
As your child progresses, you’ll begin to see how these strategies and concepts are used to build real-life skills—one step at a time.