AST’s programs focus on teaching skills in natural settings using play-based methods as much as possible. A child’s responses are reinforced using what’s naturally and readily available in his or her immediate environment. For example, if a child says “Truck”, he is given immediate access to a toy truck, which teaches him the concept of cause and effect (i.e., asking for a certain toy at an appropriate time will result in a positive outcome – getting the toy). By comparison, giving the child a food reward or praise for talking does not teach the child to use words in proper social contexts. Play-based treatments rapidly increase a child’s “generalization” of skills, or the ability to adapt lessons learned to different situations.