When using incidental teaching, should access to the desired item be provided even if the response was prompted?

In incidental teaching, the primary goal is to facilitate learning in a naturalistic context by promoting communication and social interaction through meaningful opportunities. By providing access to the desired item even if the response was prompted, the approach acknowledges and reinforces the student’s engagement in the learning process. This includes encouraging spontaneous communication, which is a key component in the development of language and social skills.

Allowing access to the item fosters a positive learning environment and encourages the learner to continue to use their communication skills, even in scenarios where prompting was involved. This reinforces the connection between language and the ability to obtain desired items or outcomes, thereby enhancing motivation and further developing skills over time. In this framework, it is essential to provide opportunities for learning that are not solely dependent on independent responses but also build upon prompted responses to support growth and development.