Fading

Description of the Strategy

Fading is the gradual transfer of control from one stimulus to another. The procedure is useful when a stimulus or prompt exerts control over a desired response, and the goal is to shift that control to a different stimulus that occurs in the natural setting. The first step is to identify stimuli in the presence of which the target response occurs. Frequently, the response can be emitted in the presence of “prompts,” stimuli that guide the response. The prompts could be physical, gestural, verbal, or modeled. The prompt could even be a general setting that evokes the behavior. Prompts facilitate correct performance and provide the opportunity for reinforcement. For example, a child may ride a two-wheel bicycle while a ...