[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

[Dione Costanzo]

ABA in Schools – Victoria Presentation
SD36: An Example of Collaboration

Friday, June 5th, 2015, 12:30-3:00pm
Camosun College, Lansdowne Campus
Alan Batey Library & Learning Commons (LLC)
Campus Map – http://camosun.ca/about/campus-maps.html

Please reserve your seat – info@autismsupportbc.ca

Speakers: Sharon Baxter, Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA)
Dione Costanzo, Director, Autism Support Network, Parent

Sharon and Dione will lead a presentation and discussion about what ABA can look like in the classroom and will review Surrey’s journey in establishing an ABA Support Worker program in the district.

The Surrey School District is demonstrating their commitment to meaningful collaboration with the Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) community. In 2006, the ABA Support Worker (ABA SW) job classification was collaboratively developed with input from the ABA community.

ABA SWs are required to complete the ABA SW Certification Program collaboratively developed and offered through Surrey College. Surrey presently employs approximately 170 ABA SWs. A collaborative model that includes other related special education professionals has been embraced by the district. To enhance supports, Surrey has recently hired a District Behaviour Specialist who has BCBA credentials in order to continue to refine their practice and support home team to school team collaboration.

At the district level, an ABA District Advisory body was created in 2006 to ensure opportunities to collaborate and communicate effectively with home teams and community-based consultants.

Please RSVP for this event – info@autismsupportbc.ca

See our event page for full listing of events – Autism Support Network Events

About the Autism Support Network:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMnYOYO1rxs

More events will be announced soon!

Are you looking for support, information or want to connect with other parents? Follow us!
https://www.facebook.com/austismsupportbc and Twitter @autismsupportbc
and on our online calendar on our website – http://autismsupportbc.ca

[Ronald Roy]

My 3 year old grandson will be starting Preschool in North Vancouver this September for two morning sessions. We would appreciate any advice or tips that other parents may have had in the school system in North Van.
Our grandson is well adjusted and is becoming verbal thanks to intensive ABA therapy over the last year. He can be obsessive at times when he really likes something, which could be a problem at school.
The North Shore Child Development Program has said that they might be able to send an SEA to preschool with him but aren't sure if they will have the funds. We have a BI who is willing to attend the school with him but we don't have the funds for this support ( we're already way over the BC Government funding limit).
Did your child get much support in preschool? Were you able to find funding for this support? Any experience or issues you had might be very useful to us.
Thanks for your help. You can email me at ronsid98@yahoo.ca
Ron

[Fei Wang]

I am a parent whose asperger kid is going to kindergarten. Anyone had any experience with Taylor Park Elementary? Any opinion would be greatly appreciated!
Cell: 604-781-0486
wangfei02@hotmail.com

[Shu]

Behavior Interventionist Wanted (Metrotowm)

We are looking for a Behavioral Interventionist to join our home based ABA team for our 5 years-old child. Candidates must have previous experience working with children diagnosed with autism. Also, should have strong play skills, patience, be a good multi-tasker.

Successful applicant is expected to work 2 sessions per week. Times of intervention are 6:30pm-8pm Monday/Tuesday/Friday or 10am-12pm Saturday.

Pay is based on experience.

If you are in interested, please send your availability, cover letter and resume to ritashu@hotmail.com

Thanks!

[Hong Jia]

Hi everyone, I'm choosing from two high schools for my 13-year-old autistic son to go to this summer: Elgin Park Secondary and Semiahmoo Secondary. Both of them are in south Surrey. My son is high-functioning but has lots of inappropriate behaviours and lacks self-regulation. I think he may take the BASES and LST programs almost half and half. Does anybody know anything for those two schools? How well they run the BASES and LST programs? Which one might be better for the autistic high-functioning students?Any info is welcome and much appreciated! pls email me to lidiajiahong@hotmail.com

[Grace Khanansho]

Full-time or Part-time SEA with ABA experience needed for a 10 year old boy entering grade 6 at a North Vancouver school. This is a highly supervised position via monthly overlaps from a BCBA. The primary focus will be academic support (of grade level curriculum), as well as teaching social skills. The position would begin in September, but candidate must be able to participate with the home team during the summer. If interested, please email your resume to: gkhanansho@yahoo.ca.

[Cindy Hung]

Hi Everyone,

I live in the Willoughby area of Langley and am looking into kindergarten/elementary schools for my two children with ASD. I would love to hear from some parents regarding their experiences with children on the spectrum and different schools, particularly in the Langley and Surrey area. We are considering the Surrey school district as we have heard it is easier to get an ABA SW. If anyone has had a similar experience and can share any advice on this process, I would really appreciate it! My email is amazingabateam@gmail.com Thank you!

[Dione Costanzo]

Hey everyone

Anyone got a good thing going in school in Burnaby (or ANY district???) please message me dionec@shaw.ca

Thanks
Dione

[Tim C]

Over the years, I've occasionally mentioned homeschooling in my posts (usually regarding selling curriculum). Every time I do, I get emails asking me to help people regarding homeschooling.

I don't mind helping people (people helped me, I consider it paying-it-forward). I thought I'd quickly post a few things for people to think through if the thought of homeschooling has crossed their minds.

1. Without my consultant, it wouldn't have worked. I always recommend that people who are considering homeschooling discuss the pros and cons with their consultant (and I'm assuming that people have a good working relationship with their consultant).

2. I burned out after 4 years. I don't regret it, because I believe my child benefitted greatly from the years I homeschooled, but it took so much out of me. Personally, financially, etc – it was tough.

3. I researched for a whole year before I began. I interviewed schools, searched for curriculum and had a game plan fully ready to go before I started. I also made the decision to put my child back into school a year before I did. That gave me and my consultant a year to plan and prepare my child for re-entry.

I feel that homeschooling my child was really successful. We used the funding through the school to further our home ABA program and the transition back into school was better than expected, so there are great things about it, but it was a tough road.

Again, I don't mind helping people along, so if someone is seriously considering homeschooling, I don't mind answering some questions, but keep in mind, I am not a consultant, and I don't know your child or your situation.

Merry Christmas!
Tim (aba.team@shaw.ca)

[Dione Costanzo]

ABA Support Network : Parents Helping Parents

Special Presentation – "Social Skills and School"
Date: Thurs, November 27th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Kerrisdale Community Centre, 5851 West Blvd, Vancouver, BC V6M 3W9

RSVP to dione@abasupportnetwork.com

This is a free event. Please RSVP so we can plan for space and refreshments.

Thank you!

Description:
We are thrilled to have special guest speaker Leah Mumford (M. Ed, BCBA, BA) who has prepared for us a presentation about social skills and school for children with autism.

Children with autism often have challenges with the social skills required to enter and engage in appropriate play, and often end up alone or on the perimeter of the group when at school.

Structured social skills groups (or "Lunch Bunches") are one way to help children with autism spend lunchtime with a specific group of peers that play, learn key social skills and develop friendships together.

These groups are a structured social skills setting 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 and generalizing 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 situations.

The discussion will cover how to create a structured social skills group within the school setting, the benefits and challenges associated with these groups, and how to measure progress.

PLEASE HELP US and forward this information to any parents or educators that you know! THANK YOU.

http://www.abasupportnetwork.com

[Author]

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