[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

[walkerc]

Hello does any one know of an agency or person who advocates for special needs children in schools. My high functioning autistic son is being bullied at school. As well the staff just do not understand his disability (high functioning autism). School is becoming a place where he no longer feels safe. We are located in Langley.

Thanks in advance
we are at our wits end.
Charlene

[Dione Costanzo]

Want to have better access to quality ABA in your school district?

An analysis of the survey results will be shown at the April 13th ABA Support Network presentation: ABA in the School Setting. Make sure you RSVP dione@abasupportnetwork to reserve your seat at this important talk.

Learn how your district compares to others, find how the Surrey School district was able to make progress towards ABA support, and see what ABA can look like in the classroom setting. This presentation will give you all the tools you will need for advocating in your district.

If you would like to have individual results for your district, please e-mail Nancy at wiklo@shaw.ca and use the name of your district in the Subject line. If there is more than one contact a district, Nancy will get you connected.

[Jemma Lee]

The article says Donna Sargent (trustee) believes "the Richmond school district can no longer afford to keep directing funding from other areas to fund its inclusiveness programs":

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Richmond%20sack%20school%20staff/2754843/story.html

Many Richmond parents are sure to be fooled into blaming only the provincial government, without the knowledge that their school district has ALWAYS been one of the worst for special needs students.

In my opinion, there is something fundamentally wrong with Sargent's view that inclusiveness is a luxury that should be funded only when cash can be spared from her NORMAL KIDS programs.

[Dragos Ionescu]

Dear friends,
I am the father of a 11 y/o autistic son. I need help to find a reputable attorney experienced to deal with the West Vancouver school district.
Thank you kindly,
Dragos Ionescu
Private email: drgion@gmail.com
Phone: 604-910-4510

[Jaswant Singh]

Hello,

If there are any Lovaas ABA therapists that have applied or will be applying to work as a Student Support Worker (SSW) in the Vancouver School District, I would be very interest in getting into contact with you. Please email me at cdranu@yahoo.com Thanks!

Sincerely,
Jaswant

[Dione Costanzo]

The ABA Support Network
Presents

“ABA in the School Setting…What it Can Look Like”

Special Guests:
Nancy Walton, Teacher, Parent
Sharon Baxter, MA, BCABA

This presentation will include a brief history of ABA in the Surrey School District, presented by Nancy Walton. There are now 60 well trained ABA Support Workers working in an ABA supported environment in the Surrey District. She will explain the process that the district and parents went through to achieve this working relationship as well as give the details of the criteria established for hiring practices in Surrey.

Sharon Baxter, who has an MA in ABA and is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA), will present examples of the design and implementation of ABA programs in the classroom, including video examples. She will cover programming for academic literacy, communication, self-management (behaviour), social skills, and classroom management for students of varying ages and levels of independence.

Date: Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Time: 7-9pm
Location: Surrey Sport and Leisure Complex, 16555 Fraser Hwy
Use Arena entrance and go up stairs to MP Room #3
RSVP: dione@abasupportnetwork.com

Join now!! http://www.abasupportnetwork.com

We are a membership based, non-profit society. Our mission is to improve access to Applied Behavioral Analysis support and treatment in the home and community for children, youth and adults who need it.

This is a FREE event, donations are greatly appreciated.

[Luke’s mama]

Hello all Therapists and students in Psychology !

We are hiring a therapist for our home team in North Burnaby. Our shifts are available:

Tue, Wed, Thur 4pm-6:30pm (2.5 hrs)

Our little guy is a happy, fun loving, smart and curious 9 and a half year old. He turns 10 this May!

Experience with academics is an asset !

Please send resumes to the following email:

therapistforhirenow@gmail.com

Thanks

[Nancy Walton]

Question for Ontario, Interior BC or Vancouver Island (outside the lower mainland):

If someone has lots of ABA experience, and has been working as an ABA aide in school, how likely is it that they can be hired to work in the school in your district if they don't have Special Education Assistant training courses?

I am asking on behalf of one of our therapists. Please give me any information you can about your district regarding hiring practices.

Please reply to Nancy at wiklo@shaw.ca

Thanks

[Louise Taylor]

Please note the following information regarding the four classes being offered for the upcoming Pro-D day in Surrey, May 7, 2010: resgistration is through the Surrey School Distrcit so please contact them directly is you are interested in attending any of these seminars.

[Louise Taylor]

The following four classes will be offered for the upcoming Pro-D day in Surrey, May 7, 2010.
Several supervisors and consultants have volunteered to teach several classes that may be of benefit to ABA-SW's, or SEA's working with a child with autism in a home program. Please forward this info to any ABA-SW's, ABA-SEA's or SEA's that may be interested.

Class #1):
Stereotypical Behaviors: Tyla Frewing
Mrs. Frewing is an ABA program coordinator and holds a BA in Psychology and has recently completed requirements for a Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis from St. Cloud State University, where her thesis focused on the assessment and treatment of stereotypy. She has worked with over 30 children with varying diagnoses including Autism, PTSD, Rett's syndrome, and Williams syndrome throughout her 10 years of experience.
Stereotypic behaviours are one of the defining features of autism spectrum disorder. Stereotypy may block access to reinforcers, interfere with learning and can be socially stigmitizing. This presentation will provide a brief discussion of current research in the assessment and treatment of stereotypy.

Class #2):
Anxiety: Kathryn Theroux
Kathryn Theroux, MS, RCC, clinical counsellor and behavior consultant at ABLE Developmental Clinic, Inc, will discuss common behavioral interventions for anxiety. Topics include identification and assessment of anxious behaviors, teaching students to perform strategies to manage anxiety, and ways teachers and aides can respond to anxiety in the moment. There is a focus on practical strategies, professional collaboration, and problem-solving.

Class #3):

Lunch Bunch- Leah Mumford
Leah Mumford, BA is a Program Supervisor who has worked several schools to set up social groups with children of all ages and developmental levels over the past 12 years.

The playground can be a difficult place for children with autism. Often, there are so many games, rules, and social interactions happening simultaneously on the playground that children with autism are overwhelmed. In addition, they may also lack the confidence and/or social skills to enter and engage in appropriate play, and often end up alone or on the perimeter. The Lunch Bunch is a way to help children with autism spend lunchtime with a specific group of friends that all eat, play, learn social skills and have fun together. The Lunch Bunch is a structured social skills group with several objectives: 1) to provide children with autism greater possibilities for developing friendships with peers; 2) to provide a structured setting to facilitate learning specific social skills and behaviour management; and 3) to provide the framework for SEA’s and ABA-SW’s to effectively integrate and include children into successful play. The discussion will cover what a Lunch Bunch looks like, how to set one up, and benefits and challenges associated with these groups.

Class #4):

ABA in Schools: Dr. Sara White and Leah Mumford

Sara completed her master’s degree in applied behavior analysis at the University of the Pacific (2000) and doctoral degree in clinical psychology at Binghamton University (2005). In 1999 she co-founded a company to provide behavioral consultation services for children with developmental disabilities, which is now in its fifth year of business. She has also presented several workshops on behavior management techniques to parents, school personnel, and health care professionals.

This workshop will give participants a brief overview of the basic concepts in applied behavior analysis and how these can be applied within the school setting. Additionally, participants will learn about the importance of consistency and collaboration between the home and school teams. There will be ample opportunity for discussion of current barriers to successful collaboration and ways in which the home-school relationship can be improved.

Sessions fill up quickly, so be sure to register asap. if the workshop is full, and you are unable to register, please sign up on the waiting list, and check in at the door, as many people often sign up and do not show up. Please contact Leah at leahmumford@gmail.com with any questions. Thank you.

[Author]

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