Autism and Aspergers FAQ

• What is ABA or Applied Behavioral Analysis?
• What is VB (Verbal Behavior)?
• What do videos teach?
• What is Video Modeling?
• Is video-modeling scientifically proven?
• Who is Watch Me Learns target audience?
• Who are primary users of Watch Me Learn® in-video modeling?
• What is the mission of ?
• Why isn’t a non-profit company?

What is ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis)?

Behavior analysis is a natural science process to understand behavior. ABA is the application of scientifically-based methods and research findings to change socially significant behavior. ABA programming has been applied to learners with autism and related disorders since the early 1960’s and is widely believed to be a successful intervention for such individuals.

The scope of behaviors addressed by ABA includes just about every skill that a human being needs to function independently including communication, academic, self-care, motor, play and leisure, and learning to learn. Behavioral skills are literally broken into smaller component skills and then sequenced from simple to complex. There are many different types of programming procedures available to those who need to develop or strengthen behavioral skills. Research has shown that effective ABA programming provides the learner with repeated opportunities to learn and practice skills throughout each day. While such repetition is necessary for skills acquisition, the programming should be presented in such a way that the child ‘learns’ to apply the skill to other everyday situations that would be appropriate and not just to the exact training situation it is presented in.

video modeling DVDs, are observed to be a highly effective catalyst for acquiring such social skills for children with autism spectrum disorders including aspergers syndrome, PDDs (pervasive developmental disorders) and other speech delays. The use of video provides an easy vehicle for repetition while modeling the targeted skill in a social environment which includes many children. Certain skills are also ‘chained’ in the videos, teaching sequences of actions or steps that can be applied to multiple settings.

The philosophy is based on every child’s inveterate disposition to learn life skills through play.

What is VB (Verbal Behavior)?

In the past, most ABA programs implemented for children with Autism, Aspergers Syndrome and related disorders were based on the work published by Ivar Lovaas in the 1980’s. However, researchers studying B.F. Skinner’s work, Analysis of Verbal Behavior, became convinced that ABA practitioners would be more effective at teaching language skills if they would begin to emphasize some important elements in language acquisition that were ignored by the traditional Lovaas-based programs. Basically, new research findings emphasized the need to ignite a child’s motivation to develop a connection between the value of a word and the word itself. Additionally, Verbal Behavior theorists emphasize the concept that learning of expressive language can effectively precede that of receptive language. ABA therapies that integrate these concepts are found to be far superior to those which do not. In fact, the newer ABA/VB therapies are far superior to the traditional Lovaas approach in terms of broader language acquisition at much younger ages than were previously thought possible.

A basic concept behind the Verbal Behavior approach is that the meaning of a word is found in its function and not in the word itself. In other words, when therapy doesn’t take into account the function of language, we often end up with a child who may be able to label or identify countless objects but is never able to participate, functionally, in a natural conversational environment. The VB approach has been acclaimed as ‘better’ than ABA alone because language is taught across all functional relations to each word.

social skills training videos depict natural childhood situations. Children are observed to acquire social skills and are also regularly noted to generalize them to alternate circumstances, often when other therapies have failed to incite this at even the most basic level.

What do videos teach?

social skills teaching products are curriculum-based. The content of each video is shaped around acclaimed standards of child-development (the Briggance Inventory of Child Development, ABA/VB, ABBLS to name a few). videos are unique, because of the true-to-life depictions of childhood interactions. Whereas other brands of video based social skills training tend to be rather sterile and un-life like, Mary Beth, our founder takes meticulous care in ensuring that children will find the video’s as close to reality as possible! And they are fun to watch---after all, if a child is not interested enough to pay attention how can they be expected to learn?

The skills depicted on videos range from easily defined habits like simple object naming or appropriate greetings to elements of behavior that are more sophisticated and difficult to describe including appropriate reactions to other’s emotions. Social skills training is focused on good manners, obedience, cooperation, respect and learning HOW to use language to PLAY.

recognizes the importance of including resource material with each new video. Because of that, we are developing support kits to accompany each video. Additionally, we have begun to include ‘user instructions’ with new customer shipments. They include helpful suggestions on incorporating the videos into your child’s treatment plan along with useful hints for reinforcing concepts taught on the videos.

What is video-modeling?

Video-modeling is teaching an individual a skill or behavior using video. The method is very effective, especially when applied to highly visual students. Children with autism and aspergers tend to learn especially well from video as many studies confirm. is the premier producer of video-modeling products for children with all types of developmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorders (ASD, Aspergers Syndrome), PDDs, and other speech delays.

There are many resources available to help parents and caregivers create their own video-modeling resources. We are also happy to hear your suggestions of ideas you have for future DVD's.

Is video-modeling scientifically proven?

Yes, it is. The Council of Exceptional Children (CEC), one of the nation’s most respected institutions has identified video-modeling for social skills training to be an evidence-based teaching method. In the resources section of this web-site, there are links to recently published studies on video for the treatment of autism.

In January 2007, videos became the focal point of a new video modeling study for children with varying degrees of disability on the Autism Spectrum. The multi-baseline study is one of the most comprehensive of its kind to date. It is unique because of the large number of skills researchers are tracking and the significant disparity in basic functioning abilities of the children participating. We look forward to being able to share the results at the conclusion of the study period. We’ll keep you posted!

Who is 's target audience?

video-modeling products are effective for children with all types of Autism Spectrum Disorders including aspergers, PDD, PDD-NOS and other speech delays. They are also widely used by both public and private schools in the United States and throughout the English speaking world.

Parents frequently tell us how much their ‘typical’ functioning children love Watch Me Learn® videos as well! This is a valuable benefit and we love knowing the videos increase the interaction between siblings—disabled or not!

Who uses video for the treatment of autism, aspergers and developmental disorders?

World-wide, schools are incorporating into their curricula. Users include Special Education Teachers, playtime and music therapists, ABA therapists, parents, medical facilities and doctor’s offices (including a few DAN doctors). Anyone who cares for a child with an ASD, speech-delay or developmental disorder will find the videos to be a critical component for language and social skills teaching support and reinforcement.

What is the mission of ?

Our mission is to provide parents, educators and therapists with highly effective video-based, social skills teaching tools for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and other developmental disorders. By integrating natural interactions of childhood with acclaimed behavior standards and child development inventories, we provide caregivers with unprecedented opportunities to accelerate and improve social skills acquisition and generalization.

Why isn’t a non-profit company?

Mary Beth Palo created the first video for her son, Brett, out of her desperate search for a way to help him. It was merely, “what I had to do,” she will say. The subsequent formation of was a labor of love for the families and caregivers of other children like Brett who so profoundly touched her heart and whose experiences she shared. The company was literally founded on a sincere desire to make these important learning products available to others.

When organizing the company, Mary Beth learned that the requirements and regulations imposed on ‘non-profit’ organizations by the federal government were imposing. With a husband, two children and a busy life advocating for special needs children and attending to Brett’s special needs, Mary Beth chose to structure in the simplest way she could. Given current tax law in the United States, that is as a regular corporation. However, the focus of has always been, and will continue to be, treatment and progress toward recovery from Autism.