She started with the . To most, "washing hands" is one action. To Maya, it was eleven distinct, reinforceable moments. She watched Leo. When he successfully turned the cold-water knob, she didn't just give a generic "good job." She delivered a high-five and a sliver of a dried mango—his favorite "high-magnitude" reinforcer.
The breakthrough didn't happen during the hand-washing, though. It happened during a session. Leo usually grabbed items he wanted, leading to frustration for everyone. Maya had designed a strategy using a "Break" card. Designing Teaching Strategies: An Applied Behav...
The look on Leo’s face wasn't just relief; it was the spark of realization that his actions had specific, predictable power over his environment. By analyzing the of his stress and providing a functional alternative, Maya hadn't just managed a "behavior"—she had given Leo a voice. She started with the