Pairing

What and Why:

Pairing is the process of building rapport with a student, in which they begin to see a connection between the adult and the reinforcer. Pairing is an active process, adult must act as the “giver” and student acts as the “taker.” A good level of pairing needs to be achieved before work can be presented.

Materials:

Reinforcement inventory (recent – monthly)
Large variety and supply of reinforcing items
Manipulate the environment so student only has access to the reinforcer when presented by adult

How and When to Implement:

This is useful when you want to get a student to work with you.
Identify reinforcing items.
Deliver reinforcer-student does not need to work/earn the reinforcer (it’s all about building relationship).
The child must approach the adult in order to have access to the reinforcer. Let the child take the reinforcer from presenter (helps create a relationship).
Provide reinforcer as much as possible and deliver reinforcer frequently (give them what they want when they want it).
Interact and speak with student. Make it fun!
If student is bored with reinforcer, provide a different reinforcer.

Things to Consider/Problem Solving:

When your goal is pairing, avoid making the student work for the reinforcer.
When your goal is pairing, the student should have constant access to the reinforcer.
Pair when changes in staff and environments occur.
When using edibles, always have family permission and consider food allergies. Also, break edibles into small pieces to avoid satiation.
There should be a plan for fading the edible by pairing it with another reinforcer.
If the student has access to the reinforcer during other times of the day, they may not be as motivated to pair with the adult.

Useful Resources to Learn More:

http://www.iloveaba.com/2013/05/pairing.html

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Information compiled by Lincoln Public Schools Autism Team (September 2015)