Mand fluency training, or mand training, is an intervention approach designed to teach individuals with limited communication skills to express their needs and wants. A mand commonly takes the form of a request and is defined as a verbal act that is reinforced by a specified consequence (Skinner, 1957).

What is mand training in ABA?

A fundamental component of communication is the ability to express wants and needs. We do this through making demands and requests of others, also known as mands. “A mand is an operant that is evoked by motivation and followed by specific reinforcement.”

What is an example of mand?

A mand is essentially a request. A child mands when the motivation is high for an item, activity or information. For example, a thirsty child says “water” while reaching for a cup of water. This would be considered a mand.