How to Maintain a Skill with your Child diagnosed with ASD and Promote Generalization

Has your child just learned a new skill, and are you wondering, “How do I know he will maintain it?”   If so, here is what you need to know in order to ensure that he maintains what he just learned as well as be able to generalize it.  

Some examples of skills you may want to maintain/generalize can include:
•    spell name
•    wash/dry hands
•    identify objects within environment
•    wave
•    zip coat

How do I help my child maintain his skills?

First, you need to determine is what skill/s has been mastered?  You might need to ask his teachers, other staff, and/or therapists for a list of mastered programs.  Then, you will want to start a Maintenance binder with all of the programs/skills that your child has mastered.  That way you have a quick and easy way to reference what needs to be maintained and generalized.  Once you have created a binder of programs that need to be maintained, begin by reviewing the skill/s daily and do your best to record a “+” or “-“ for the skills he responded correctly versus incorrectly.  This will help you know exactly what programs he is maintaining and which ones he is having difficulty with.

Now, how do I know that he will generalize the skill?

Generalization is the process by which a behavior/skill is learned in one environment tends to be produced in another environment.  A common characteristic of children with autism is the inability to generalize newly learned skills to circumstances different than those that were present during the original training time.  For example, a child may learn how to respond to the greeting “Hi!” (because that was the skill being taught during training) but, not to “Hello!”

Areas for Generalization (Steps):

SD:  Vary the presentation of the skill, change up the way you ask/present the instruction.
Time:  Over time, try to teach the skill in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Be mindful of the fact that you are not teaching it at the same time everyday.
Environment:  Teach the new skill at home, school, the park, etc.
Person:  Teach across a variety of people.
Stimuli:  Use a variety of materials. Make sure you are not using the same materials every time. For example, if teaching the object, ball, try using different pictures of a ball, different sizes of a ball, etc.

Ways to Generalize (different formats to try):
•    books
•    games-board games and computer games
•    file folders
•    outings
•    websites
•    art projects
•    creative activities