Understanding Access Behaviors

Access behaviors are behaviors a learner uses to gain something they want. They fall into three categories: • Access to tangibles — physical items that can be touched or picked up, such as a toy, a straw, or a flag. Children with autism often develop strong interests in specific objects. • Access to activities — preferred actions or events such as playing on a swing, blowing bubbles, or watching TV. Gaining the activity reinforces the behavior used to access it. • Access to sensory experiences — internally reinforcing behaviors that have no obvious external purpose, such as hand flapping, finger wiggling, or repetitive arm movements. Because the reinforcer comes from the behavior itself, this is categorized as automatic reinforcement.