[FEAT BC Admin]

In this topic area, discussion is on all issues relating to setting up and running a home-based intervention program. Please feel free to bring up any problems or suggestions. Parents can help each other greatly by sharing information and giving suggestions.

In addition to parents helping parents, A.B.A. professionals on in the Discussion Group can also help provide insight and guidance.

Topic

[Nancy Walton]

ABA Support Network Parents have expressed interest in receiving training in the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis to better support their children involved in ABA programs. So, we will be offering a course called "ABA 101 for Family Members" which will be taught by consultants with degrees in ABA. The exact cost of the course will depend on how many people register and what grants the ABASN can get for this course. This will be an excellent opportunity to learn from experts in the field on how to improve your child's successes.

If you are interested in taking this parent course, please fill out this survey to help us better meet your needs as a parent. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QBSXPDV

Here is the rational (backed by research) for the course:

Children with autism may have more difficulty participating in activities of everyday family life: e.g., going out for dinner, grocery shopping, to a movie, self care skills, etc. Parents often find these activities stressful and worrying. Support from an ABA consultant can assist parents find strategies and systems that can help the child be successful. The goal of this course is to empower parents to implement effective strategies with their children to improve their quality of family life.

A large body of research has demonstrated that parents can effectively implement behavioral strategies to teach their children a variety of skills (Reagon & Higbee, 2009; Ingersoll & Gergans, 2005; Lafasakis & Sturmey, 2007); and to reduce the occurrence of problem behaviors (McIntyere, 2008; Rickert, Sottolano, Parrish, Riley, Hunt& Pelco, 1988). Additionally, increased parent involvement in the therapeutic process has been shown to result in decreased parental stress (Smith, Buch & Gamby, 2000), and improvements in generalization and maintenance of their children’s skills and improved behavior (Lovaas, Koegel, Simmons & Long, 1973).

References

Ingersoll, B. & Gergans, S. (2006). The effect of a parent-implemented imitation intervention on spontaneous imitation skills in young children with autism. Research in Developmental Disabilities

Lafasakis, M. & Sturmey, P. (2007). Training parent implementation of discrete-trial teaching: effects on generalization of parent teaching and correct responding. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 40, 685-689.

Lovaas, O., Koegel, R., Simmons, J., & Long, J. (1973). Some generalization and follow-up measures on autistic children in behavior therapy. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 6, 131-166.

McIntyre, L.L. (2008). Parent training for young children with developmental disabilities: Randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Mental Retardation, 113, 356-368.

Reagon, K.A. & Higbee, T.S. (2009). Parent-implemented script fading to promote play-based verbal initiations in children with autism. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 42, 659-664.

Rickert, V.I., Sottolano, D.C., Parrish, J.M., Riley, A.W., Hunt, F.M. & Pelco, L.E. (1988). Trainign parents to become better behavior managers: The need for a competency-based approach. Behavior Modification, 12, 475-496.

Smith, T. Buch, G.A. & Gamby, T.E. (2000). Parent-directed, intensive early intervention for children with pervasive developmental disorder. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 21 (4), 297-309.

[Mike & Jean]

Attention all parent-advocates:

The "Getting it Done" Advocacy workshop scheduled for this Saturday, April 30th by Medicare for Autism Now! is FULLY BOOKED. We are wait-listing people until Friday afternoon, in case of cancellations

Due to the exraordinary interest, we anticipate scheduling more workshops in the near future both in the lower mainland and Vancouver Island. Don't be disappointed – stay posted here and at http://www.medicareforautismnow.org for details on future workshops and other Medicare for Autism Now initiatives.

If you haven't already done so, please go to http://www.medicareforautismnow.org and sign the on-line petition. While you're there, check-out the message board to see who in this election campaign will publicly commit to supporting legislation to include autism treatment under Medicare. Share your own candidates' responses…but…do so before election day!

Questions about "Getting it Done" Advocacy workshop? Future workshops? Candidate responses? Other Medicare for Autism Now! initiatives?….contact us at mfanow@gmail.com

We're looking forward to a great workshop – see you all this Saturday!

Jean and David

[shashi maharaj]

If anyone has any feedback regarding Behavioura Consultant: Eylssa McKee from Laurel Possibilities Group, please contact me ASAP at shashimaharaj@hotmail.com with your feedback.
Your advice and guidance would be MUCH appreciated everyone!!!!

[Nancy Walton]

Thursday night, this week

The ABA Support Network Presents

“The Birds and the Bees and ASD”

Guest Speaker:

Kathryn Theroux, MS, RCC

ABLE Developmental Clinic

Kathryn Theroux, behavior consultant and registered clinical counselor, will join ABA Support Network on Thursday April 28 to discuss the challenging subject of sexuality and autism spectrum disorders. She will address whether and when to have "the talk," what to say, and how to say it, leaving plenty of time for audience input and questions.

Please join us to learn about this key aspect of human development and its impact on the treatment, education, and quality of life of individuals with ASD. Kathryn is well known for her informative, interactive presentations.

Date: Thursday, April 28, 2011
Time: 7-9pm
Location: Surrey Sport and Leisure Complex, 16555 Fraser Hwy
Use Arena entrance and go up stairs to MP Room #2
RSVP: dione@abasupportnetwork.com

The ABA Support Network is a parent run, 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 can be taken at the door or made on line at http://www.abasupportnetwork.com

Thank you for your support!

[Joanna Ng]

Dear Featers,

It is so true. As a new generation of parents in the 'A' community, we do not know much about the history of it. Of course, that included me.

When my child was diagnosed, we went to sign the papers, and started our Autism Funding. Who do you think will tell us about the history? I once thought that our BC government so take care of our children, we took it as given. The day we signed the papers, they bombarded us with numerous info and papers and manual; but nothing about the history. The government itself is too shameful to admit the history.

I even called those agencies which I later knew that were against ABA treatment in the Hewko case. Isn't that ugly? And they are so full [of clients] that they did not even bother to call me back even on a waitlist. I'm glad they did not.

History? Sad to say, not many people are interested. Ugly as it sounds, that is the truth.

Even when inviting a parent friend to an advocacy group, she said to me, "Don't bother to ask me, I'm not interested to meet with these people." and hung up on me. She's a parent friend, has a child on the spectrum too.

Sad to say, even when history is essential and so is the knowledge about advocacy [especially in school], some are not even interested to know or tend to ignore. People are too scared to come out of their comfort zone.

I do hope every parent who has child on the spectrum will join Jean's workshop. We need to wake up people! It's April, it is not a coincidence. April is Autism Awareness month.

Before we expect change from the government, we need to be united. Autism community, I'm sorry to say, is so very divided.

History needs to be taught; and the piece about it cannot and should not be missing from the Feat board, because this is the only network that will tell the truth.

[Ducky Piyo]

ALMOST FORGOT..

THANK YOU ALWAYS, DR. SABRINA FREEMAN

MAY WE NEVER FORGET YOUR FIGHT AND ALL THE BEST DOWN SOUTH

PIYO

[Ducky Piyo]

HI Dave, FEATers,
Thank you Dr. deLevie!

When there was no hope you gave, you work tirelessly for our children. Our boys have a better quality of life at school because you turned over each stone until we had exhausted all options. Without professional and loving doctors like you my son would be continually mis-diagnosed and never get ABA treatment.

Talking about you makes me cry because they could not pay you enough for all and above you do for us. I heard about your son's situation and I immediately burst into tears in 2008 at the rally.

You have done so much for us and I am forever in debt to you. Your love for kids have made you shine in BC. We are so proud that you are our pediatrician and I sure wish there are more out there like you.

You are ONE of a kind and nobody comes close!

Thanks again for Dave's posting to remind people what makes Autism wars bearable…people like Dr. Melvin deLevie!!!

I am glad we can express our thanks and honor these unsung heroes.

Sadly however..

Instead of a lot of groups out there that say they advocate and help you when it is all about business…yes they are doing business with our kids. For these people it is nothing about Autism, just more money in their pocket.

Remember there is no regulation out there for the Autism Funding, the BCBA certification. Well there is no guarantee on anything that has AUTISM written on i.

The only truth these days are beautiful people like Dr. deLevie! These are the ones you trust!!!!

Once again thank you for sharing this Dave and the truth is there are not too many like Dr. deLevie.

P.S. Thank you Jean, Bev, Dave, David Marley, Paul, and all the fighters out there for our kids!!!

Piyo

[David Chan]

Dr. DeLevie has helped countless children with autism in this province. I was at a rally in Surrey when Dr. Delevie came to speak for our children. It was shortly after his own son had his accident.

He is truly an exceptional human being.

People like him make fighting the Autism wars a little more bearable.

http://www.theprovince.com/news/Physician+imports+walking+machine+help+paralyzed/4629780/story.html

[David Chan]

Shane Matthews
11:05 AM on April 15, 2011

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Shane Matthews. Show Details

@Davester: You need to either be more overtly sarcastic, or less circumspect. I can't tell if you support or oppose Smyth's column. At first you appear to criticize the BCTF, but then you appear to criticize the government. So what's the deal?

P.S. My oldest son has autism and he received $2200 a month until age 6 and now receives $500/mo. until age 18, so I'm not sure what you're getting at with autism funding, either.

Read more: http://www.theprovince.com/life/government+special+needs+problem/4619917/story.html#ixzz1JcpNiozt

Yes, people, they are out there, is as if AUTON and HEWKO NEVER happened.

Be afraid, very afraid, not to mention kinda P.O'ed

Mr. P's Dad

[shashi maharaj]

Has anyone had experience with the Summer Camp led by ABA LC program supervisors and BIs? It seems to be the only one I have heard of that is a full day camp and works on social thinking skills and flexible thinking in the Burnaby/Vancouver area. I am also a new parent on this site and am grateful to the other parents for all the support and helpful tips. Thank you!!

[Author]

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