[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

[Debra Antifaev]

Well said Roxy-babe.
I wanted to draw parents' attention to another problem I am witnessing and get some input.
In the Surrey School district we also worked a long time to have competant ABA trained SEA's in our school.
Now we have parents who do not have a home-based team requesting ABA SEA's. One parent even told my friend that she lied on her application, putting in the name of her friend in the area for "Consultant". (I cannot blame the parents as they have heard that ABA is best and they want the best for their children but, thanks to chronic underfunding, they cannot afford to run a program on the miserly $500 per month)
This is a problem though because a child cannot be "fixed"(as some parents believe)on approx. 3 hours supervision at school and ABA SEA's cannot design effective programs. The undesired result is that the schools will begin saying that ABA "doesn't work", etc. They are already eager to see the project fail and leave it up to our CUPE/BCTF administration to allow the complete ruin of years and years of hard work. Part of me suspects that they are already aware of this problem and simply not motivated to correct it.
Any ideas on how to motivate??

[Brad & Roxanne Black]

I just want to back up the previous post regarding Hewko. My little boy is in fulltime kindergarten in Surrey and has received everything he needs thanks to Hewko. He is probably the only child in a full day kindergarten program in all of Surrey, thanks to Hewko. We have a fully qualified ABA Support Worker, thanks to Hewko. My Support Worker receives an extra 1/2 hour a day for data taking, thanks to Hewko. No one from the Surrey School District wanted him there full time but I knew the law (thanks to Nicole Kaeler – fellow parent) and I knew it was his right as a child diagnosed with Autism. He is thriving in the full day program!!! He has his ABA table set up with all of his ABA programs, when he cannot participate in the regular curriculum he goes and does his ABA table work. He is not sent to the segregation room AKA the Rainbow room, I'm sure you all know what I am talking about. I used Hewko every step of the way and I never threatened, I came up with a plan along with my Consultant Sharon Baxter and we didn't take no for an answer. But I always referred to Hewko and promised that I would consult a lawyer if the rights of my child's health core needs and educational needs were being threatnend. People you no longer have to put up with mediocre… Everyone needs to realize that your child has rights, thanks to Hewko it can be obtained. And yes Hewko benefits all children on the spectrum, it doesn't matter if your child is high functioning or low funtioning!! They need what they need period…..

[Deleted User]

Hello, I'm new here but not to school problems. Right now I'm dealing with an indefinite suspension of my Asperger son….administered on October 1. No IEP, no staff training…the whole works.

This is no longer an advocacy issue, but to seek a resolution for placement with staff who can and do support his needs. What have other districts done for students when it's obvious their in-house staff cannot provide? Thank you for any suggestions or success stories.

[Micky So]

Hi All,

My family and I are potentially looking to move from Richmond to Vancouver. I have a couple of questions;

1) Supported Childcare – my son currently has an aide in his Richmond preschool funded by Supported Child/Richmond Society For Community Living. If we move to the Vancouver District, what do I need to do to secure the funding for an aide in an Vancouver preschool? Do I have to reapply?

2) SW Marine Drive – we are looking into living in the SW Marine Dr area…approx. 64th and Granville Street. Does anyone know of any good preschools in South Vancouver that supports ABA teaching methods?

If anyone can help me, I would really appreciate it. My phone # is (604)484-7810. My email is micky.so@maxxium.com cheers, Micky

[Deleted User]

Hello everyone!

Has anyone out there been trying to deal with another child that possibly has special needs? We are in contact with a 9 yr old and he is very difficult to be around. The parents are clueless and the teachers agree. They have had yrs of meetings and only found out just on Tuesday that the parents are clueless their child is in a modified program. They now think the school is against them and refuses to let their son to any assessments. They refuse to see any doctors which missed the diagnosis (kept saying he is ok).

To date this child has little or no friends, people just don't want to be around him, he has bullied, physical manipulation is happening and my child is one of the victims.

If he were not bullying my child I would not be involved anymore. When the parent did not discipline the child, I admit I did not want to be involved because you can only say so much. We are hitting a brick wall. Until they are ready to face this…besides maybe he is not autistic but has anger mgt? It is the right of every child to acccess all services available to help him succedd. What a sad case of denial this one is.

Any opinons would be appreciated. Thx
Yipee mom

[Dave Collyer]

Hi all,

The Canadian Association for Community Living is circulating a survey with regard to "inclusive education". If you are interested in letting them know your perception of how our educators are doing (positive or negative or somewhere in between) with regard to inclusion and meeting the educational needs of your child please go here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=PBiTxo3P0ApmO3aHwpXaVA_3d_3d

It seems that the need is for at least 65 BC respondents by October 31st…

Dave.

[Deleted User]

Peter, Christine and Dave

I was reading on your all writing about the school funding for private schools. I agree with Dave and I believe it is a matter of going to the right people. But more importantly is that I also believe as Dave quoted that once the diagnosis is in — none of you should have to go through the "re-assessment" part again. Diagnosis is good from now till they turn legal adults.

From what I know the Ministry of Health, Education and the Family & Child Developoment (MCFD) do not have a policy that echoes equally. What is going on is the people at BCAAN, FHAN, SunnyHill, Ministries above are trying to come up with something to be able to help parents filter through this cross jurisdiction issue. I am caught in it myself with no answer just yet. But start by contacting the Ministry of Education and look for the Special Needs department and perhaps they can tell you more about the funding for private or religious schools. I do know of a case that my girlfriend put her autistic son in a private school and they also cut her funding. I am not exactly sure if they have appealed or not.

I am not sure the comments help but I just wanted to express that as another parent of a child with special needs I am really supportive of all you parents advocating and fighting for the best your child can be. Keep it up.

God bless parents of special needs children!

[Theresa Jouan]

Posting on behalf of another FEAT member:

Hi,
I am wondering if anyone has any information/experience with homeschooling in the Langley or surrounding areas. I am trying to find information on funding, where to enroll, how to get started. Please email me at cobrattack@telus.net

Thanks so much,
Natasha S.

[Amber Himmelright]

I am trying to put a letter together for the Delta school district as to why they should bring ABA Support Workers into their system. I am having a hard time with some of the wording and am wondering if anyone else out there has letters they have drafted, or pieces of information that I could put into this letter. Any input would be useful. Thanks. email me at ahimmel @ dccnet. com (without the spaces)

[Kim Harding]

I am looking to contact with other Delta Families that would like to get an ABA support worker with their child. I have written a letter to the delta school district trustees and I am willing to share the letter. I am hoping that other families will write their own letter expressing their concerns. If all of those that need this for their child get busy we may be able to pressure them into doing something about the poor job they are doing for autistic children in the school system.

Please contact Kim at mybad8@telus.net

[Author]

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