Autism Reinforcer Checklist

How to Select Reinforcers

1. Observe the Child.  What activities, objects, foods, and so on does the child choose when allowed free choice?  Are there certain phrases, gestures, and so on that seem to produce a pleasant response from the child?  What self-stimulatory behaviors does the student exhibit?

2. Use a reinforcer menu to let the child choose reinforcers.  Create a menu of possible reinforcers listed either by name, if the child can read, or by picture (photographs are best).  When the child earns a reinforcer, allow him to select a desired object, food, activity, and so on from the menu. You may have to teach the child how to make choices.

3. Ask the student  As the student, if he has sufficient language skills, what he would like to earn for a good work.

4. Ask others  Ask the child’s parents what the child likes to do, likes to play with, or likes to eat at home.  Ask other teachers who have worked with the child.

5. Conduct a reinforcer sampling  Arrange several possible reinforcers on a table.  Allow the child to noncontingently choose the objects, foods, and son on that she likes.

6. Use the Autism Reinforcer Checklist  Have parents compilete a copy of the checklist  Use the checklist to generate ideas for new or novel reinforcers.  Have students who can read check off the items they like and dislike.

“START Project Materials 2012” 1 Autism Reinforcer Checklist

Edible Reinforcers: YES NO YES NO Candy: 1. M&M’s ______Others : 38. Cake ______2. Jelly Beans ______39. Cupcakes ______3. Licorice ______40. Doughnuts ______4. Candy Canes ______41. Crackers ______5. Gum ______42. Frosting ______6. Smarties ______43. Pretzels ______7. Lollipops ______44. Corn Chips ______8. Candy Kisses ______45. Cheez Balls ______9. Chocolate ______46. Doritos ______10. ______47. Cookies ______48. Popcorn ______Cereals: 11. Cheerios ______49. Vegetables ______12. Fruit Loops ______50. ______13. Trix ______14. ______Material Reinforcers : 1. Stopwatch ______Fruit: 15. Raisins ______2. Hand Cream ______16. Apples ______3. Bubbles ______17. Oranges ______4. Combs ______18. Bananas ______5. Stickers ______19. ______6. Play Dough ______7. Perfume ______Liquids: 20. Milk ______8. Toy Instruments ______21. Ch. Milk ______9. Puzzles ______22. Juice ______10. Beads ______23. Soda Pop ______11. Stamps ______24. Lemonade ______12. Masks ______25. ______13. Crayons ______14. Fans ______Frozen: 26. Popsicle ______15. Balloons ______27. Ice Cream ______16. Bean Bags ______28. ______17. Hats ______18. Mirrors ______Soft: 29. Pudding ______19. Books ______30. Jell-O ______20. Coloring Books ______31. Yogurt ______21. Whistles ______32. Marshmallows ______22. Blocks ______33. Cheese ______23. Paints ______34. Cottage Cheese ______24. Colored Chalk ______35. Peanut Butter ______25. ______36. Jam/Jelly ______37. ______

“START Project Materials 2012” 2 Activity Reinforcers: YES NO 1. Rocking ______47. Looking at Pictures______2. Brushing Hair ______48. Basketball ______3. Clapping Hands ______49. Finger Paint 4. Airplane Rides ______with Pudding ______5. Drawing Pictures ______with Whipped Cream______6. Run Outside ______with Soap ______7. Hide and Seek ______with Paint ______8. Piggyback Rides ______50. Racing ______9. Chase ______51. Wagon Rides ______10. Peek-A-Boo ______52. Thrown in Air ______11. Sing Songs ______53. Make Copies ______12. Sprinkle Glitter ______54. Water Plants ______13. Tickles ______55. Going for Walks ______14. Water Play ______56. Making Treats ______15. Puppets ______57. Icing Cupcakes ______16. Sand Play ______58. Making Popcorn ______17. Trampoline ______59. Playing Ball ______18. Dancing ______60. Playing with Tools ______19. Bring Toy from Home______61. Birthday Parties ______20. Turn Lights On/Off______62. Playing with Zippers______21. Pour Liquids Back/Forth______63. Blowing Bubbles ______22. Video tapes ______64. Swimming ______23. Stories ______65. Listen to Music ______24. Being the Teacher ______66. Play with Typewriter______25. Talking on Phone ______67. Stringing Beads ______26. Drink in Office ______68. Turning Water On/Off______27. Drawing ______69. Smelling Spices ______28. Draw on Chalkboard______70. Fishing Game ______29. Lunch/Snack Helper______71. Dart Board ______30. Field Trips ______72. Grab Bag ______31. Twirling in Air ______73. Surprise Box ______32. Blankets over Head______74. Spinner ______33. Taking Pictures ______75. ______34. Going to Trash ______35. Roll Down Hill ______Social Reinforcers: 36. Teacher’s Helper ______1. Hugs ______37. Making Pictures: 2. Shaking Hands ______with Popcorn ______3. Kisses ______with Noodles ______4. Tickling ______with String ______5. Winking ______38. Running Errands ______6. Give Me Five ______39. Playing in Boxes ______7. Rubbing Noses ______40. Dressing Up ______8. Smiling ______41. Climbing ______9. Whistling ______42. Stim Time ______10. Patting ______43. Rocking in Boat ______11. Praising ______44. Cutting Pictures ______12. Back Scratch/Rub ______45. Playing with Glue ______13. Praise ______46. Treasure Hunt ______14. ______

“START Project Materials 2012” 3 Most and Least Popular Reinforcers as Ranked Using the Autism Reinforcer Checklist

Category MOST LEAST Edible Reinforcers Crackers Licorice Cookies Raisins Marshmallows Cheerios Cupcakes Apples Ice Cream Jell-O Juice Raw Vegetables Soda Pop Candy Canes Doughnuts Oranges Popcorn Milk Corn Chips Frosting

Material Reinforcers Toy Instruments Paper and Crayons Bubbles Play-Doh Balloons Hats Mirrors Coloring Books Blocks Beads

Social Reinforcers Tickling Blowing Smiling Pinching Cheeks Praising Twitching Noses Hugging Back Scratching Patting Whistling

Activity Reinforcers Going for Walks Having Mom leave class Watching Popcorn Pop Cutting pictures from magazines Rocking Making pictures with popcorn, noodles, or string Musical instruments Stringing Beads Time alone Taping and Tearing paper Water play Playing with Paper Clapping Hands Crayons Playing in front of mirror Drawing pictures Field trips Stories in Teacher’s lap Running Outside Finger painting with paint, pudding, or whipping Drinking out of pop bottles cream Climbing Wagon Rides Flushing Toilet

“START Project Materials 2012” 4