[FEAT BC Admin]

In this discussion area, please feel free to share your experience in implementing A.B.A. programs in the school system. We would particularly like to hear from those parents who converted their school teams to A.B.A. We’d like to hear the nightmares as well as the success stories.

Any insight that can be shared by school-based special education assistants to help parents would also be very meaningful.

Topic

[Cory McLaughlin]

Hi – we need some help! Our son, Liam,
entered kindergarten in September. We
began asking for an ABA SEA last May and
here we are in November, no closer but much
more frustrated. We've been trying to work
with Liam's school district (36 – Surrey) to
secure a properly trained ABA SEA. Yes, they
do exist but CUPE maintains that seniority is
more important than the education of a child.
We've reached the point of no return and are in
the beginning stages of legal action. If any of
you have successfully manoeuvred the school
system by either threatening legal action or
actually having to go further could you please
contact me at 604-576-0420 or at
gmclaug@intou
ch.bc.ca. The great irony here
is that both Gary and I are teachers in Surrey
and have had access to everyone possible in
order to state Liam's case. It just keeps
coming back to CUPE. I'd really appreciate
hearing from anyone with info. Thanks.

[David Chan]

So all,
The boy and I went to the Big House with both classes of grade 4's I think the count was about 33 kids. 6 parents and 2 teachers. No, we didn't go to jail!! It's a grade 4 social studies field trip, we go and live like the coast salish people from 500 years ago. I gotta tell you guys. 500 years ago wasn't so slick. It was a thing of beauty to watch him working with his friends, just participating. He had a couple of awkward moments which were dealt with quite innocuously. What did he find the most interesting? probalbly, not the same things as the other 4th graders, but heck he gave making kindling a good whack, I mean with a mallet. We looked at the photos of the trip and with a little help he could describe to you what he and his bud were doing. In all good conscience he really was not the most high maintenence kid there. I have been blessed that I have witnessed the behaviours of typical 4th graders first hand, and let me tell you, that a treated child can be a lot lower maintnence than you imagine. Every time we try something hard, like a field trip like this overnighter, it always seems insurmountable, but he continues to amaze us with his resiliance, perserverance and fortitude. He's quite a kid,500 years ago or today.
We do therapy because that's what we see as the road to that will lead him to his full potential, but utimately he's the one walking it. I really admire him for that. Well the kid has taken another step on that road. The road is long, but as they say, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Keep up the good work kid, and always fight the good fight.

Mr. P's Dad

P.S. Is it perfect, and just chugging along, is it all sweetness and light at our house? The answer is a resounding NO!! Always remember, how hard it is to run and maintain his program, all the details, all the logistics, it's endless!
REMEMBER, when he was diagnosed at 4 1/2, they said he may have cognitive issues, Toileting was an issue, he couldn't read, 30 to 40 tantrums a day. No we haven't forgotten. The overnighter field trip is just a reminder for our family how far the kid has come, and how much farther he still has to go. What the heck would this kid be doing if we hadn't started therapy? Don't even want to go down that alley. Can't drop the ball now, can we?

[Sabrina Freeman]

Attention all Parents!

FEAT BC has a unique opportunity to invite an autism legal expert to speak on Lovaas Treatment and the law.

This is a very important lecture opportunity specifically relating to Lovaas Treatment and Canadian Law. The prospective lecture would be about our children’s rights to equal access to education, among other issues.

However, before we can set this up, we need to confirm enough interest in the talk! So, all of you who are interested in attending the ‘autism and the law’ lecture, please contact me at: skfreeman@featbc.org

We very much look forward to organizing this important educational opportunity and hope many of you can attend!

Sincerely,
Sabrina (Miki's mom)

P.S. the talk would be on a weekday evening

[Deleted User]

If there is anyone who lives in Richmond who is running an ABA program with a school aged child it is very important that you contact me AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!!
Dee Dee Doyle -604-275-4537,(cell) 604-454-4090

[Mike & Jean]

Just a reminder about the next FEAT Parent group meeting on September 19th at St. Francis in the Wood Anglican Church in West Van (same place as always)

The Topic: School Issues

[Deleted User]

Today I watched my daughter enter a brand new preschool classroom, one she had only visited once before. I watched her seek out and interact with her peers. I watched her listen to and follow the directions of her new teachers with no prompting from myself or her aide. I watched her play with children. To others unaware of her diagnosis, she was indistinguishable from her peers. I feel as though I have seen a miracle.

My daughter began ABA therapy 15 months ago. She had limited language, screamed at most adults who asked questions of her or gave her direction or even just tried to interact with her. She disliked peer interaction and was extremely anxious around peers. She exhibited ritualistic and rigid behaviour and extreme behavioural outbursts when these rigidities were interrupted. She engaged in large amounts of delayed echolalia and had a greatly limited receptive understanding of language. The changes we have seen since beginning her program have been immense. We have still have lots of obstacles to overcome. But after speaking with a group of parents of autistic children who are not in ABA programs, I wanted to share a positive story to those getting started.

When I began our daughter's program, several from this group told me how detrimental ABA would be. THey told me it was not worth the cost, the effort and that is was cruel. I was told of speech services, Hanen classes and other useless theories that I chose to ignore. Almost a year and a half later, several from this group have changed their perspective. They see my daughter in the community, she is proof that they were wrong.

To those of you just getting started, this battle you have taken on is truly worth it. Under the guidance of a qualified consultant, you will see gains you never thought possible.

Michelle
mother of Breanna and Griffen

[David Chan]

Yes folks, The playdate season is starting already. Kids are asking to play with my kid. Believe it. Children have no concept of Applied Behavioural analysis, and none of them have attended any workshops or as all of us parents understand all too well "The Meetings". They just know, You just gotta get into his face, and it's just really cool to hang here. When peers are exposed to a treated child they understand that their friend is different, but hey they are fun to be with. Building these friendships and relationships is so important. Without friendships and relationships, it don't matter what skills he's going to learn.
The point of this post. If you don't treat a child with approriate science based treatment i.e. Lovaas, then you're not even going to get to first base; heck, you won't even be playing in the game.

[Susan Burns]

therapist needed after school for deaf 11 year old with autism…..we use autism partnership…spbpt@pacificcoast.net
Susan
James'[autism] and Harry's[adhd] mom

[Deleted User]

I have some relevant and important information for parents with children ages 4.5 to just under 6 who live in Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge and including Tri-City areas. Its the type of information that shouldn't be shared over the net but I'm happy to share over the phone.

My home office number is 467-7054, that will connect you to my voice mail, leave your name and number in the FEAT mailbox and I'll call you back as soon as I can.

Michelle Karren
mother of Breanna and Griffen

[David Chan]

Hi
This is a reply for the post on schools. Yes I think a private school would not be a bad choice. We are in one right now. Last year went quite well. That is not to say that this year is a done deal, we will see and keep all of you posted.
I think that one of the things that you can "sell" your child to the administrator and teacher on is that your child will be different than the other children but not to the extent that the teacher will have to do extraordinary things to accomodate her.
Be sure that your child is as school compatible as possible. If she can only be successful at being in the school for 1 hour a day then let it be. Build up to a longer day gradually.
Be warm and fuzzy with the other kids. You are your kid's ambassador in the school.
Do Volunteer work that serves the entire school but does not pertain to your child. You want to show that you are just another parent of a kid in the school, and hence you do everything that the other parents do. In a private school you will stand a much greater chance of participation because usually they are understaffed and love parent volunteers.
N.B. PLEASE ensure that the aide is HIGHLY SKILLED with your child and has good interpersonal skills so that they get along with the other staff as well.
Make your kid look good. Keep it short and sweet, you don't need to go into great details about Lovaas therapy only that it is works very successfully with your child and it helps her in every aspect of her current daily life.
It's all very delicate, it's a balancing act, but if all the pieces fit, then she could have an awesome time at school. We are in a religous school, and we feel that they understand the morality of treating your child in a fair, kind and equitable way. Well, that's all for now, I'll keep everyone posted, and say a prayer if you have the time.

Been there and still doin' it

Dave

[Author]

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