A.B.A. (Applied Behavioral Analysis)
is an educational approach which consists of analysis of behaviour along with an intensive intervention, in order to get the best integration into society by increasing behaviours considered appropriate and decreasing behaviours considered inappropriate.

Normally, children learn spontaneously from their environment. They play, speak and establish social relationships, all without noticeably learning how to do so. Children who have autism learn completely differently. They need an individualised structured context in order to learn. If an ABA program is to be effective it must be intensive. It must be followed by a trained team (the parents are integral) which intervenes in an identical way in the context of a well-defined, individualised program.

The earlier an ABA program starts, the more successful it will be : studies have shown that 50% of children – who were under three years old at the beginning – who followed the program for two years, were afterwards able to follow a normal school curriculum without help, and functioned in a way which was indistinguishable from other ‘normal’ children.