[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

[Nancy Walton]

I would like to take up David Chan's call:

I would like to collect "storys" of experiences
you have had with SEA's. Especially let me
know of any problems caused by union
issues. Give rough dates, and any details
you wish to include. Please resend anything
you may have already posted.

If you send this to me, I will let you know if I
plan to show them to anyone else and to
whom. I won't send them on if you object.

Please send your stories to
wiklo@shaw.ca

Also feel free to contact me through this e-mail
if you have any questions about this.

from: Nancy Walton (Casey's mom)

[Deleted User]

Thanks very much for the information about Good Start. We have the choice to join this program. However with us starting ABA very shortly I am a bit hestitant to join something that might not be beneficial. I want of course to seem very friendly with the school as well.

[David Chan]

Anon 10:37

Many of us have said exactly what you posted
amongst ourselves, and it's about time that
some one put it in print. The truth is, their
livelihoods are DIRECTLY linked to our
children's disablilty. Talk about biting the
hand that feeds you. Want something done
right, just gotta do it yourself, and I have been
for the last two years.

Here's the up side. The kid is kicking bottom
at school. What a price I've had to pay to see
this wonderous little boy succeed.

It's worth it.

Mr. P's Dad

[Deleted User]

I have seen SEA's, Special Ed teachers, and Teachers take a variety of courses similar to Good Start in our District as well. I have also observed their failure to put what was taught into action. Some of these courses went to 4:30 pm but many of the union district staff left at 3pm sharp (no pay past 3 !). As a mother of an autistic child I am still astounded at the way SEA's will resist the urge to put any training into action just because the SEA next door doesn't do it. There just isn't anything at stake for these people. In addition the classroom teacher has the power to override anything the SEA is trained to do. SEA's are assigned to classes and teachers, not children. The child just brings the funding in.

[Cory McLaughlin]

My understanding is that Project Good Start is
a Surrey-based program to assist SEAs in
learning about autism. It involves (or it did last
year) your child staying home for half a day for
about eight weeks so that district SEAs can
receive general group training. Parents are
invited to one session and I believe the
teachers are included in one or two as well.
Each week has a different topic. The district
special education helping teachers organize
this program. It is not about ABA training!
Please do not think this will train an SEA in
ABA – it does not.

[Deleted User]

Any word on the program Good Start? Our school suggested it to train our SEA. We are going to be starting ABA and I would appericate feedback on it.

Thanks!

[Deleted User]

A note to the mom of the bolter:

I have a bolter and she tends to do this as an avoidance strategy and also when overstimulated by her environment. Plus she needs to run in order to meet her sensory needs at various times. Last years aide built running time into her day at school by taking her to the gym or into an empty hallway to give her 'running breaks'. And we took 'running breaks' after school before transitioning home on many days. She knew the choice was there if she wanted it. We also do a lot of work around where she can run and where she can't, always identifying for her when and where she can run so that she knows she will get the chance to do it. If you have a behaviour consultant call them as they will know your situation and what will work for you.

Cheryl,
mom to Angel and Allie

[Deleted User]

Is any of the children having difficulty in the transition to school? Our child tends to run alot and of course we have a new SEA. Any input would be helpful.

A mom

[Lise O’Reilly]

To anonymous considering homeschooling.

I'm a homeschooling mom and so it was an easier decision for us to school Philip, our autistic son, at home. But as time goes by, and I hear more and more about the terrible troubles families are having with the school system, it becomes more clear that this is a good choice for kids "on the spectrum".
Here's how I see it. Education has only been mass produced (i.e. one size fits all) for the last hundred years or so. It has allowed for many more children to get an education, which is great, but the quality has suffered. For families who can manage homeschooling (it's a big commitment), they can offer their children a better quality education than even the best of schools.
Some children do better in school than others — that has less to do with intelligence and ability than with the fact that they happen to be the kind of learner who thrives in the group setting. Autistic kids benefit from one-on-one education: they are not that kind of lucky kid who was "made for" school. They end up having to learn their academics in therapy sessions after school, which makes for a terribly long day for children.

So I encourage you to look at the option of homeschooling in a very positive light, not something second-best you do only because everything else has failed. If you want to talk more about it, here's my email address.

liseoreilly@shaw.ca

Hope this helps!
Lise (Philip's mom)

[Deleted User]

http://www.nathhan.com/forbes.htm here is a good link for all those considering homeschooling.

[Author]

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