What People Are Saying
"Dr. TJ, you put the light back Into these eyes and we’ll always be grateful."— Carole M.
Founding of Fun & Functional
The Fun & Functional behavioral approach was developed by Dr. TJ Glahn over 35 years ago, in Santa Barbara, California. While developing a school for young children with autism, Dr. Glahn saw that children were more engaged and learned quicker, when they were having fun. Pairing fun with evidence-based behavioral treatment strategies, like ABA, has been at the core of the Fun & Functional approach from the beginning. Our strategies have been implemented nationally and internationally, across multiple settings with children, adolescents, and adults diagnosed with ASD and other related disorders.
A Model for Success
- Applying evidence-based naturalistic intervention
- Improving outcomes with early intervention
- Enhancing motivation by incorporating the individual's preferences
- Encouraging parents to be continuously and actively involved
- Training and teaching staff regularly
- Implementing ABA & ACT behavioral strategies by knowledgeable and trained interventionists, in a compassionate manner
Fun & Functional vs. Standard Teaching
“Show Me the Data”
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
Dr. Glahn has worked extensively in the areas of developmental disabilities, curriculum development, and program design serving in multiple roles, as a clinician, university instructor, administrator, and researcher.
Dr. Glahn has multiple years of experience in developing comprehensive sets of instructional tools and teacher training protocols. Her work reflects a balance between head and heart and between ABA and ACT interventions.
She trains and consults for individuals and agencies at the local, statewide, and national levels.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
ABA provides the systematic framework for specific instructional strategies which are based on the principles of behaviorism. ABA has been cited as the most effective treatment for promoting therapeutic gains in individuals with ASD. ABA includes, but is also much more than, discrete trials.
Functional and naturalistic teaching, within inclusive classroom settings, is now where the fields of autism and education have headed. Fun & Functional methods embrace these treatment approaches of teaching the toddler, the child, and the adolescent within the home, school, and community.
These behaviorally-based strategies permit for a more flexible and responsive therapy.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT has been conceptualized and formalized for over 20 years by Dr. Steven C. Hayes and colleagues. ACT has recently made a breakthrough in the ASD community as a therapeutic approach. ACT encourages mindfulness or being present by teaching individuals to focus, identify, and take action.
Dr. Glahn has been teaching and practicing mindfulness concepts for over 20 years. This commitment to mindfulness has enabled her to expand the scope of the practice by implementing ACT with ABA therapy.
Individuals with ASD can and should learn to Be Present. Applying ACT principles can facilitate positive treatment changes for individuals with ASD and their families.
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