Early Intensive Behaviour Intervention (Ages 0-6 years)
 Early Intensive Behaviour Intervention (EIBI) services are designed to work with children aged 0 – 6 years. Evidence suggests that children with a variety of developmental challenges have better outcomes when therapy begins during the early stages of child development (Guralnick, 1998).
An Introduction to Best Practices
Laurel Behaviour Support Services EIBI programs are consistent with best practices in Applied Behaviour Analysis. These methods are supported by current research, and are generally accepted among experts in the field as the most effective methods currently available.
Effective EIBI Curriculum and Teaching Supports
Our programs are based on Dawson and Osterling’s (1997) research in best practices for effective curriculum, which include:
- Curriculum content that addresses five basic skill domains: (1) attending to social elements of the environment that are essential for learning, (2) imitating others in order to develop new behaviours, (3) understanding and purposively using language, (4) playing with toys appropriately, and (5) participating in meaningful social interactions with others.
- Highly supportive teaching environments and generalization strategies. Teaching core skills in structured environments then working to generalize these skills to more complex, natural environments. Creating parent kits is an important tool that is effective in generalizing skills that have been taught in a more structured setting.
- Functional approach to problem behaviours. Young children with autism often show challenging behaviours. It is important to understand the function or purpose of these behaviours before introducing new behaviours that might replace them and/or making adjustments to their environment.
- Plans for transition from preschool classroom. Teaching "survival" skills that children will need later on in order to function independently in preschool or school classrooms.
- Family involvement. Parents are a critical component to successful intervention for young children with autism. Parents provide unique insight during the assessment and development of and early intervention plan and are a essential component to any program’s success. Further, by including parents in the intervention, not only are their stress levels often reduced, but the children can achieve greater maintenance and generalization of skills.
About EIBI Program Delivery
Our program has two phases, (1) Assessment, Training and Development and (2) Continued Supervision, Implementation and Monitoring.
Phase 1: Assessment, Training and Development
We use a variety of assessment and observational tools depending on the needs of the child:
- Hawaii Early Learning Profile (HELP)
- Revised edition, Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills (ABLLS-R)
- Verbal Behaviour Milestones Assessment and Placement Program (VB-MAPP)
After the assessments are complete, we prepare an Initial Assessment Report and Intervention Plan with tailored curriculum for your child.
Phase 2: Implementation and Monitoring
ABA curriculum-based programs are data-driven. We review recorded data on your child’s progress regularly, so that adjustments can be made to curriculum and new programs introduced. We create a learning environment that is motivating, challenging and rewarding.
Our consulting services include:
- Ongoing curriculum development
- Monthly team meetings
- Report development including the early intensive plan of intervention
- Ongoing training sessions with the consultant and your child
- Parent and staff training on a continual basis
- Follow-up assessments every six months
- Consultation with other professionals.
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