11/11/2025
Look at our practicum students✨SHINE✨
Recently, Addie Brewer, presented at the Tennessee Association for Behavior Analysis conference in Nashville, Tennessee.
The research project focused on helping children with autism learn to communicate internal sensations more effectively. The participant was an 8 year old male diagnosed with ASD, who is vocal and communicates wants and needs but sometimes struggles to describe how things feel on the inside. The goal of the study was to teach him to tact public tactile sensations (like rough, soft, and smooth) using tactile public accompaniments, in other words, we paired real touch sensations with verbal labels while blocking visual cues. This encouraged him to rely on his internal sensory experience rather than what he saw. Using a multiple-probe research design, reinforcement, and systematic prompt fading, we observed clear improvement in his ability to independently label these sensations. We also tested generalization across different body locations, and while some sensations generalized well, others required more direct teaching, offering meaningful insight into how sensory sensitivity impacts learning.
Proud is an understatement! SHE is making a difference!
