Below is a general skill sequence for helping learners label their favorite stimuli when asked.
As learners develop an understanding of what they “like” and “dislike”, one can start introducing skill areas that deal with the communicating and conversing over “favorites”. This skill area seeks to accentuate the learner’s ability to identify preferred stimuli. More importantly, it functions as the beginning stage for teaching one to converse about preferred subjects—specifically through answering questions about favorite stimuli. This potentially opens the door for more back and forth conversations about preferred topics down the road.
How this skill area relates to your assessments!
This skill area aligns with various assessments and their respective domains, with milestone and domain codes provided for reference. Additionally, DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for Autism are included to help clinicians identify how this skill area potentially supports medical necessity in relation to the diagnosis.
VB-MAPP (Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program)
Tact, T 6-M, Tacts 25 items when asked “what’s that?”
Intraverbal, IV 9-M, Answers 25 different what questions (e.g., What do you like to eat?)
Intraverbal, IV 10-M, Answers 25 different who or where questions (e.g., Whose your friend? Where is your pillow?)
AFLS (Assessment of Functional Living Skills)
Basic Communication, BC10, Labels common people (actual individuals, not professionals)
Basic Communication, BC12, Labels locations (locations in home, community, school)
Basic Communication, BC16, Answers "Where" questions regarding home, school and community (e.g. where items are found within the home, activities done in home, etc.)
Basic Communication, BC17, Answers "What" questions regarding home, school and community (e.g. "what" questions regarding items found in the home, school and community)
DSM-V Diagnostic Criteria for Autism
A1, Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity, ranging, for example, from abnormal social approach and failure of normal back-and-forth conversation; to reduced sharing of interests, emotions, or affect; to failure to initiate or respond to social interactions.
CDC’s Developmental Milestones
30 months, Language/Communication Milestones, Names things in a book when you point and ask, “What is this?”
4 years, Language/Communication Milestones, Answers simple questions like “What is a coat for?” or “What is a crayon for?”
Treatment Plan Goal Ideas
This is a list of treatment plan goals. These are different from the goals you will find in the skill sequence below. Your treatment plan goals encompass any number of goals from the skill sequence. Sometime they will include multiple goals from the sequence (”Learner will label 5 toys”) and sometimes the treatment plan goal will be simply consist of a really important goal from the skill sequence (”Will label caregiver”). An analogy I like to use goes as follows: Each skill sequence goal (commonly known as a “target”) represent each stair in a flight of stairs. The treatment plan goal is the flight itself.
Treatment plan goal ideas for this particular skill area are as follows:
Learner will accurately identify one “favorite” with visual prompts when asked to identify a favorite person, place, or thing.
Learner will accurately identify one “favorite” stimuli when asked to identify a favorite person, place, or thing.
Learner will accurately identify all/more than one “favorite” when asked to identify what their favorite thing to do is.
Component Skills
Your learner may need to be fluent in these component skills first before introducing this goal/skill area. Component skills for this skill sequence may include skill areas that are fundamental to other areas. Fluency in the skill areas listed below may increase the likelihood that your learner will succeed in this skill sequence and those afterward.
Below is a possible skill sequence for working on increasing your learner’s ability to follow instructions with multi-functional toys. Note that every learner is different and that you likely will need to tweak and vary some programming to their needs. Click the triangle icon to view the full description for each skill in the sequence/area.
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#1 Labels Favorite Item/Activity (w/visual)
How to Run
Present an array of 6-8 different pictures of neutral value items.
Include a picture of the learner’s most preferred item.
Ask the learner what their favorite thing is. “What is your favorite thing to do/favorite toy?”
Learner should scan the array and tell you. “My favorite thing is the iPad.”
Reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Materials
6-8 pictures with one being a picture of the learner’s favorite item and the other being neutral in value.
Research/Resources
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#2 Labels Favorite Food (w/visual)
How to Run
Present an array of 6-8 different pictures of neutral value foods.
Include a picture of the learner’s most preferred food
Ask the learner what their favorite food is. “What is your favorite food?”
Learner should scan the array and tell you. “My favorite food is Pizza!”
Reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Materials
6-8 pictures with one being a picture of the learner’s favorite food and the other being neutral in value.
Research/Resources
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#3 Labels Favorite Drink (w/visual)
How to Run
Present an array of 6-8 different pictures of neutral value drinks.
Include a picture of the learner's most preferred drink.
Ask the learner what their favorite drink is. "What is your favorite drink?"
Learner should scan the array and tell you. "My favorite drink is orange juice!"
Reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Materials
6-8 pictures with one being a picture of the learner's favorite drink and the others being neutral in value.
Research/Resources
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#4 Labels Favorite Location (w/visual)
How to Run
Present an array of 6-8 different pictures of various locations.
Include a picture of the learner's favorite location.
Ask the learner what their favorite place is. "What is your favorite location?"
Learner should scan the array and tell you. "My favorite place is the park!"
Reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Materials
6-8 pictures with one being a picture of the learner's favorite location and the others being different locations.
Research/Resources
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#5 Labels Best Friend (w/visual)
How to Run
Present an array of 6-8 different pictures of individuals, including the learner's best friend.
Ask the learner who their best friend is. "Who is your best friend?"
Learner should scan the array and tell you. "My best friend is Sarah!"
Reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Materials
6-8 pictures with one being a picture of the learner's best friend and the others being different individuals.
Research/Resources
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#6 Labels Most Loved Family Member (w/visual)
How to Run
Present an array of 6-8 different pictures of family members, including the learner's most loved family member.
Ask the learner who their most loved family member is. "Who do you love?"
Learner should scan the array and tell you. "I love my mom!"
Reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Materials
6-8 pictures with one being a picture of the learner's most loved family member and the others being different family members.
Present an array of 6-8 different pictures of neutral value items or activities.
Include pictures of the learner's favorite items or activities.
Ask the learner to identify and label their favorite items or activities. "Can you tell me the names of your favorite things to do or favorite toys?"
Learner should scan the array and label multiple items or activities. For example, "My favorite things are playing soccer, reading books, and drawing pictures."
Reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Materials
6-8 pictures with some being pictures of the learner's favorite items or activities and the others being neutral in value.
Research/Resources
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#8 Labels Multiple Favorite Foods (w/visual)
How to Run
Present an array of 6-8 different pictures of neutral value foods or dishes.
Include pictures of the learner's favorite foods or dishes.
Ask the learner to identify and label their favorite foods or dishes. "Can you tell me the names of your favorite foods?"
Learner should scan the array and label multiple foods or dishes. For example, "My favorite foods are pizza, ice cream, and hamburgers."
Reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Materials
6-8 pictures with some being pictures of the learner's favorite foods or dishes and the others being neutral in value.
Research/Resources
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#9 Labels Multiple Favorite Drinks (w/visual)
How to Run
Present an array of 6-8 different pictures of neutral value drinks.
Include pictures of the learner's favorite drinks.
Ask the learner to identify and label their favorite drinks. "Can you tell me the names of your favorite drinks?"
Learner should scan the array and label multiple drinks. For example, "My favorite drinks are orange juice, apple juice, and lemonade."
Reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Materials
6-8 pictures with some being pictures of the learner's favorite drinks and the others being neutral in value.
Research/Resources
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#10 Labels Multiple Favorite Locations (w/visual)
How to Run
Present an array of 6-8 different pictures of various locations.
Include pictures of the learner's favorite locations.
Ask the learner to identify and label their favorite locations. "Can you tell me the names of your favorite places?"
Learner should scan the array and label multiple locations. For example, "My favorite places are the park, the beach, and the library."
Reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Materials
6-8 pictures with some being pictures of the learner's favorite locations and the others being different locations.
Research/Resources
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#11 Labels Multiple Best Friends (w/visual)
How to Run
Present an array of 6-8 different pictures of individuals, including the learner's preferred peers.
Ask the learner to identify and label their best friends. "Can you tell me the names of your best friends?"
Learner should scan the array and label multiple best friends. For example, "My best friends are Sarah, John, and Emily."
Reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Materials
6-8 pictures with some being pictures of the learner's best friends and the others being different individuals.
Research/Resources
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#12 Labels Multiple Loved Ones (w/visual)
How to Run
Present an array of 6-8 different pictures of family members, strangers, and loved ones.
Include pictures of the learner's loved ones.
Ask the learner to identify and label their loved ones. "Can you tell me the names of the people you love?"
Learner should scan the array and label multiple loved ones. For example, "I love my mom, dad, and sister."
Reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Materials
6-8 pictures with some being pictures of the learner's loved ones and the others being different family members or individuals.
Research/Resources
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#13 Labels Favorite Item(s)/Activity(s)
How to Run
Gain the attention and motivation of the learner.
Ask the learner what their favorite thing is. “What is your favorite things to do/favorite toys?”
Learner should tell you. “My favorite thing is the iPad and playing legos.”
Given that their statement is accurate, reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Materials
Research/Resources
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#14 Labels Favorite Food(s)
How to Run
Gain the attention and motivation of the learner.
Ask the learner what their favorite food is. "What is your favorite food?"
Learner should tell you. "My favorite food is pizza."
Given that their statement is accurate, reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Materials
Research/Resources
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#15 Labels Favorite Drink(s)
How to Run
Gain the attention and motivation of the learner.
Ask the learner what their favorite drink is. "What is your favorite drink?"
Learner should tell you. "My favorite drink is orange juice."
Given that their statement is accurate, reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Materials
Research/Resources
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#13 Labels Favorite Item(s)/Activity(s)
How to Run
Gain the attention and motivation of the learner.
Ask the learner what their favorite thing is. “What is your favorite things to do/favorite toys?”
Learner should tell you. “My favorite thing is the iPad and playing legos.”
Given that their statement is accurate, reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Materials
Research/Resources
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#14 Labels Favorite Food(s)
How to Run
Gain the attention and motivation of the learner.
Ask the learner what their favorite food is. "What is your favorite food?"
Learner should tell you. "My favorite food is pizza."
Given that their statement is accurate, reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Materials
Research/Resources
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#15 Labels Favorite Drink(s)
How to Run
Gain the attention and motivation of the learner.
Ask the learner what their favorite drink is. "What is your favorite drink?"
Learner should tell you. "My favorite drink is orange juice."
Given that their statement is accurate, reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Materials
Research/Resources
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#16 Labels Favorite Location(s)
How to Run
Gain the attention and motivation of the learner.
Ask the learner what their favorite place is. "What are your favorite places to go?"
Learner should tell you. "My favorite place is the park."
Given that their statement is accurate, reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Materials
Research/Resources
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#17 Labels Best Friend(s)
How to Run
Gain the attention and motivation of the learner.
Ask the learner who their best friend is. "Who is your best friend?"
Learner should tell you. "My best friend is Sarah."
Given that their statement is accurate, reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Materials
Research/Resources
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#18 Labels Best Friend(s)
How to Run
Gain the attention and motivation of the learner.
Ask the learner who they love. "Who do you love?"
Learner should tell you. "I love my mom."
Given that their statement is accurate, reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Materials
Research/Resources
Concurrent Skills
Working on these skills at the same time could help with goal mastery. Maybe your learner has mastered these skills already. Perhaps they are already listed as component skills above. That’s okay! Targeting other learning channels might help your learner.
These are the possible next steps for learners who have mastered, or are mastering, the skills listed above. Note that new skill areas may require fluency in other component skills not listed above. Also, you can introduce composite skill sequences prematurely to keep your learner progressing, as generativity may occur earlier than expected.
Follow the link below to better understand component-composite analysis.
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Research and Resources
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Disclaimer
Consistent with ethical obligations outlined by the Behavior Analysis Certification Board (BACB), users acknowledge that goal selection/direction is the responsibility of the BCBA. Users understand that goals should be tailored to the learner while ultimately involving the input of clients/stakeholders. Users understand their ethical obligations to the client/stakeholder concerning the selection, implementation, design, and minimization of risk regarding behavior change interventions as outlined in BACB Code. As such, this skill sequence serves as a general framework for generating ideas around this particular skill area and not as an assessment or curriculum.
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