[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

[nate searle]

Re: Verbal Behavior

In reference to Franca's request (and the ongoing discussion) I do not feel a post would suffice to answer this question.

I would offer an alternative instead:

If there is sufficient interest I would be willing to do a presentation on ABA, Verbal Behavior, Discrete Trial Teaching, Lovaas style ABA followed by a discussion. I am envisioning an information / question format (not a debate) designed to increase consumer ability to make choices and chose direction for their students.

Nate Searle MS BCBA
Behavior Analyst
ABLE Developmental Clinic Inc.
natesearle@gmail.com

[Dione Costanzo]

Hi Dave

Some of us are actually hoping that the government will get a clue (through the survey) and put their million dollars towards actually increasing capacity of quality ABA in BC.
In the meantime, there are several of us who are willing to do some legwork on Nancy's proposal.
Let's chat! dionec@shaw.ca
Cheers,
Dione

[David Bridges]

Re: Scholarships/bursaries/loans for MA studies in ABA

A great idea, but why wait for govt. to raise its sluggish head & act? Maybe I'm wrong, but I seem to recall Sabrina Freeman looking into this a while back. Don't know what, if anything, resulted.

Anyhow, it's a fantastic idea & I'd be willing to do some legwork on it.

I'd suggest a stipulation that it has to be done at a replication site or other bona fide Lovaas-based or -oriented school. There's already too much pablum being peddled in graduate programs, esp. close to home (I won't mention any names!)

With support from individuals, corporations & esp., from charitable organizations (such as the Vancouver Foundation), I'd bet we can get started on this concept and get it going sooner.

Anyone else interested?

[Nancy Walton]

Hi Everyone,

Barbs suggestion of Penn State is another good idea. It also has a built in supervision component that ties theory to practice. I am replacing my old post as seen below. A simpler message:

YOU can help bring quality ABA to all of BC. Please fill out the survey mentioned below:

MCFD is circulating a survey to assist in the development of a new Outreach Program for Young Children with ASD. Directors of featbc and the ABA Support Network have discussed ideas for this program, based on input from parents we have assisted throughout the province. We feel that there are two very important things to put in place in BC and we would like parents and professionals to focus on these two goals when filling out the survey:

1) To give scholarships to 5 ABA therapists in BC to complete a Masters degree in ABA with a focus in autism at a university where clinical supervision is provided, with the proviso that these therapists return to work in the Interior BC, Northern BC or on Vancouver Island for 3 years.

2) To establish a Masters and Doctorate ABA training program that includes clinical supervision at a university in BC.

We strongly recommend you complete the survey (see details below) and suggest the above recommendations,

Two surveys are also available NOW through the Autism Community
Training website http://www.actcommunity.net/
Or Direct Link:
Survey for Parents and Caregivers:
http://fluidsurveys.com/surveys/act-autism-community-training/popycasd-survey/
Survey for Autism Service Providers
http://fluidsurveys.com/surveys/act-autism-community-training/popycasd-service-providers

[Franca Pastro]

Thanks, Dave. Excellent article!

Franca

[Franca Pastro]

Hi Barbara, Dave and Bev,

I think this IS a topic that needs to be discussed here to help those of us who need clarification of the definitions used. Actually, I would like to see a posting explaining this topic from a certified behavioural consultant – not that don't appreciate the great knowledge many parents have to offer. I am suggesting this to add to our own education and better understanding.

Thanks,

Franca

[Dave Collyer]

Hi Barabara,

re. CABAS and peer review

That was not my point. Bev indicated that it was appropriate to discuss ABA approaches that have "science" behind them (peer reviewed supportive literature), DTT methodology and that are ABA. Verbal Behaviour was her "targeted offending" topic and yet AVB utilizes DTT, has peer reviewed literature supporting it (more IS needed… but the same can be said of Lovaas ABA), and is in fact ABA. My post was simply to suggest that efforts to limit scope of discussion need to be clear… if the intent is to limit discussion to Lovaas based ABA then it would perhaps be better to say exactly that as "DTT", "science", "ABA" are not unique to Lovaas based ABA.

Here is an interesting article if any one is interested in exploring the differences between Lovaas ABA and Applied Verbal Behaviour ABA:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_6887/is_1_2/ai_n28321072/?tag=content;col1

(Also of interest, at last to me, since 2005 (article date of publication) there have been a number of + research efforts focusing on AVB published in peer reviewed journals.)

Understand, that I am not "championing" Verbal Behaviour… we in fact do not utilize the approach in our home and school based programs. My point is/was that we need to be clear when setting terms of reference limiting discussion.

D.

[Barbara Rodrigues]

Dave:

The peer reviewed articles – are they on CABAS or Verbal Behavior? I ask because there are a lot of 'jump on the bandwagon' sidespins (as with ABA) I did some background checks and my understanding is CABAS doesn't follow (or the school in the website) B.F. Skinner's verbal behavior principals in full. Bobby Newman has it classed differently from VB in his book and the name is trademarked. Anyway parents whom I trust said that they would NOT recommend it to their friends with kids with autism. So I think for us to be supporting sending our best/brightest to get trained in it – well…..I would rather see us sending them to Penn State.

http://harrisburg.psu.edu/programs/master-arts-applied-behavior-analysis

you can email me privately if you wish as I know this off topic -sorry Bev.

Barbara

[Dave Collyer]

Hi Bev,

It might be better to simply say that this forum is for, and limited to, the discussion of issues relevant to Lovaas type ABA.

This would perhaps serve to set some loosely defined limits.

I mention this as Applied Verbal Behaviour ABA that the CABAS program incorporates(the "offending" post) also utilizes a Discrete Trial Teaching methodology, has a small but growing body of peer reviewed published research literature (the basic foundation of a science based intervention), is rooted in the same basic principles as Lovaas ABA (as articulated and described by B.F. Skinner) and is, in fact, a form of Applied Behaviour Analysis.

Dave.

[Bev Sharpe]

The FEAT BC Discussion Group has been designed to discuss any topic relevant to home-based A.B.A. programs (including Government funding and school issues). When we use the term A.B.A., we mean discrete-trial-based interventions, also referred to as "Applied Behaviour Analysis" or "Lovaas-type" Intensive Behavioural Treatment for autism and related disorders. This is not an appropriate forum to discuss the latest, unscientific 'cure of the day.' If you would like to discuss alternative autism treatment options, please use the discussion forum hosted by the Autism Society of B.C, at http://www.autismbc.ca, or the THE AUTISM MAIL LIST.Parents, it is incumbent upon yourselves to research the data, and make the best possible treatment choice for your children.
FEATBC is dedicated to giving you information about the single most effective, science based treatment, which is Applied Behaviour Analysis.
A recent posting citing a website referencing verbal behaviour does not meet this criteria.

Beverley Sharpe
FEAT Board Member

[Author]

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