Focusing mostly on the pragmatic issues parents and professionals will face when initiating an Applied Verbal Behavior (AVB) program for a child with autism, The Verbal Behavior Approach gives novices a logical, useful, and reader-friendly book that will assist them in a search for practical advice on AVB. The Verbal Behavior Approach provides useful information and resources for immediate application, accomplishing the book's main objective, providing for rapid implementation of an AVB program.

Wilde, N.C., Evans, V.A., & Axelrod, S. (2007). Book Review - The Verbal Behavior Approach: How to teach children with autism and related disorders by Mary Lynch Barbera and Tracy Rasmussen. The Behavior Analyst Today, 8(3), 360-362.

A succinct, intelligible tour of an effective intervention for autistic children through both speech and non-verbal communication. Autistic children frequently experience language delays and disorders. Behavioral analyst Barbera, whose first son has autism, explores the Verbal Behavior (VB) approach, in conjunction with Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), to aid his communication skills, as well as providing abundant other examples of its successful application. VB is a refinement of B.F. Skinner's pioneering work on language and operates under the conviction that expressive language is behavioral, rather than purely cognitive. Barbera takes Skinner's arcane language and renders it not only clear but convincing. VB assesses "what your child likes and then uses those items and activities...to motivate the child to do the work necessary to begin to learn," with the central theme being to teach your child to make specific requests. Positive reinforcement is vital, and teachers must be the locus of enjoyable experience. Barbera walks readers through the process, from identifying things that reinforce desired behaviors to teaching operants. Persuasive arguments for a treatment addressing one of autism's most profoundly hindering conditions.

Kirkus Reports

This is an informative and important addition to the books that exist for parents of children with autism spectrum disorders. While the interest in Verbal Behavior programming for learners with autism has mushroomed over the past few years, there is a paucity of books outlining how to implement the approach, and this book addresses that need. Furthermore, it is a very easy-to-read and parent-friendly book. Families will find the specific "how-to" approach to be extremely useful.

Weiss, M.J. (2007). A Review of Mary Lynch Barbera & Tracy Rasmussen's The Verbal Behavior Approach: How to teach children with autism and related disorders. Journal of Early and Intensive Behavior Intervention, 4(2), 526-531.

Until now, there has been no "easy to read" manual available to teach the principles of the Verbal Behavior Approach and methods to utilize when working with students with autism or related disorders. The Verbal Behavior Approach serves as a practical and thorough guide on the principles of using the Verbal Behavior Approach for children with autism. Difficult terms are translated into easy-to-understand layman's terms, which would be very useful for first-time learners and practicing clinicians unfamiliar with the Verbal Behavior Approach.

Barnes, K. (2007). A review of The Verbal Behavior Approach: How to Teach Children with Autism and Related Disorders by Mary Lynch Barbera, RN, MSN, BCBA with Tracy Rasmussen. International Journal of Behavioral Consultation and Therapy, 3(2), 322-323.