A token system is great to use in any applied behavior analysis program.  You can easily teach children who have autism how to use it.  A token system uses one of the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis called a conditioned reinforcer.  A conditioned reinforcer is a neutral stimulus that is paired with a reinforcing stimulus and acquires reinforcing properties.  To print out a few sample token charts just click on the link for a 9 piece or 20 piece token chart found in the data sheet section. 

Think of Token system as a way for you to gage how well you are doing and each time you do a target behavior you get a token and after you collect a certain amount of tokens you can cash them in for something you like and you work hard to get these tokens so you can "buy" the things you like.  Kind of sounds like money, when you do a great job you can get bonuses and you get paid each week for doing certain things which is your job and if you don't do that job you can get fired.  (you can't earn those tokens)

Lets start with a simple target behavior such as touching your head.  I tell you "touch your head", you do it and then I give you a dollar or lets make it a hundred dollar bill.  Now the other rule is you can't spend the dollar until you travel to the store and not until you have accumulated ten of these bills though the number is arbitrary.  What do you think will happen each time you see me, well I can assure you that if I was giving you a hundred dollar bill for something as simple as touching your head you are probably going to start touching your head when you see me.  Now imagine that in order for you to get the hundred dollar bill you had to discriminate between touching your head and clapping your hands along with other commands, you will quickly learn how to do this.

For a token system to work a student learns that an arbitrary sticker, penny, checkmark, ect can be traded for something else.  Just like money can be traded for other items.  Money is our conditioned reinforcer.   Below is a picture of one type of token system.  If you are interested in purchasing this token board please send me an email at info@appliedbehavioranalysis.com  fully put together laminated with velcro it is $50 however if you want to save some money I will ship it without the velcro and you can do this yourself for $30.

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