[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

[Deleted User]

Quite often the terms "bona fide LOVAAS" and "bona fide LOVAAS consultants" have been mentioned on this list.My son has been in treatment for over 6 years and several of these recommended consultants have provided their services to his program. I know discrete trial teaching is the main component of a LOVAAS program but in the programs designed for my child by these "bona fide" consultants implentation of DTT was sporadic, combined with other methods and data was not taken except anecdotally. What qualifications are required to be considered a "bona fide Lovaas consultant" and what does a "bona fide Lovaas ABA program" look like? I know discrete trial is a big part of it but what about the data collection methods and analysis of this data? If an ABA program involves methods of instructions OTHER than DTT, i.e.Verbal Behavior, Precision Teaching, Social Stories etc.does that prevent that program from being considered "bona fide"? Is ongoing upgrading of skills by a consultant and knowledge of current research considered to be necessary? As a parent who has been involved in the implementation of an intensive home-based program for my child for a long time I feel that this area is not specific and has never, to my knowledge, been defined for the consumers of these services. My question basically is "What is LOVAAS ABA and what qualifications are recommended for a consultant providing "bona fide" programming to a child with autism?"
I ask these questions sincerely and look forward to responses from the list.
DeeDee Doyle
deedeedoyle@hotmail.com

[Deleted User]

Hello Anonymous, latest in the series of people who think it's tasteful to hide behind "anonymous" and criticize from the peanut gallery. Look! I can do it too!

First of all, a personal attack is one that uses NAMES, like for instance if I knew yours and said nasty things about you, even if they were true. THAT would be a personal attack. Saying that government-sponsored imposters are hacks is not a personal attack — it is a restating in common colloquial terms of what the courts have already etched into the laws of the land. I didn't rule that the government's pitiful excuses for autism treatment are imposters, THE COURTS DID. Try reading the judgements.

Second of all, yes, you're right, I am quite convinced you are one of these government employees here trolling the FEAT board to create confusion for new parents and dissension among the rest of us. In fact, you more or less admitted the same, so I don't really need to assume anything, now do I? You say you're on our side? I say no ethical, responsible person with half a brain would work for these government-sponsored hacks. I might ask you, Ms. Anonymous, whether you're witless or immoral, but then THAT would be a personal attack, so I won't do that. Instead, I'll just tell you that one day you will look back on your life and understand that you helped these snake-oil salesmen prey on defenceless children. I don't think you'll be so smug or pleased with yourself then.

There is NOTHING lower in my books, no more despicable slimebag, than those who sit with their snouts in the government trough, sucking up tax dollars while pretending to care about our children, while instead keeping them from getting the help they so vitally need, from QUALIFIED, EXPERIENCED, EXPERT Lovaas ABA consultants and therapists. I would dearly love to name these evildoers, to make a list for anyone to peruse, but THAT, Ms. Anonymous, would be a personal attack. So instead, I will remind all new parents — Caveat emptor. Buyer beware. Check references. Demand names and phone numbers of parents who have used them before. Ask all the questions up front. Never settle for hacks. Always remember that the "treatment" by frauds is worse than no treatment at all. One day these impersonators will rot in jail or in hell for their crimes. I really don't care which.

[Deleted User]

I am posting this message in response to Stephen Paperman’s post from Nov 16th.

You can feel free to call a spade a spade, but I believe that the FEAT board rules state that you can’t personally attack others. I believe that it very clearly states that name calling is a personal attack. I also think that this rule applies to people that you don’t like as well. Or am I mistakes? Does this rule only apply to people that FEAT likes? Finally, I also think that by using the word “hacks,” “creeps,” “butchers,” “imposters,” and saying, “There is a
special hell waiting,” falls within the criteria for name calling and personal attacks!

Now, I know! Right now you are sitting back saying, “Obviously this is one of those government ‘hacks’ that has infiltrated FEAT and is trying to gather information to use against us.” I have heard it all before. Well, let me humor you for one minute. Let’s say, hypothetically, that I am working for one of “those” agencies. Lets also say that I completely support FEAT, it’s mission, purpose and goals. I completely, 100% support ABA. Lets also say that I promote ABA being done only by qualified ABA consultants. I recommend to all parents that they go out and hire a qualified Lovaas ABA consultant. I recommend that they contact FEAT for information. Finally, lets say that I am not alone, there are others that do this as well.

What I am trying to get at, is that not only are you breaking FEAT chat board rules, you are directly insulting people who may be on your side. (I know, how could they be on your side if they are working for the government. That is a discussion for another time. More information that your anger has blinded you too.) It appears to me that someone like what I described above would be a good ally to have within the government agency circles. Like having FEAT parents on the board of ASBC. This helps spread the word and such! If hypothetically, Sabrina and a few other parents started working for these government agencies (in order to change them into qualified ABA programs with qualified ABA consultants), would you then call these parents, and Sabrina, “hacks,” “creeps,” “butchers,” “imposters,”? My guess is no, so maybe you shouldn’t be blindly insulting people that you have know knowledge of!

Okay, my final point to you has to do with theory of mind. If you are going to insist on going around insulting people that you don’t even know (as you insulted EVERYONE who works for any autism related government funded organization, as apposed to only the people you have hade experience with.), I would recommend that you stop and perspective take. I do not know what you do for a living, as I don’t know you, but I would say that if someone from another company, that did the same work as you, was talking behind your back, calling you “hacks,” “creeps,” “butchers,” and “imposters,” you would not be too happy about it.

I would like to direct you to Catherine Cooper’s e-mail from November 16 at
4:00 pm. Please read this e-mail and notice how she RESPECTFULLY indicated to people that Suzanne may not be a qualified ABA consultant. She did not insult, name call, or disrespect in any way. Catherine, I believe, is someone who possesses good theory of mind. I think we all could learn from her example.

[Deleted User]

In response to Anonymous regarding Suzanne Jacobsen:

I believe that Suzanne is a very knowledgable and qualified PSYCHOLOGIST, however, although she is a certified Verbal Behaviour Consultant, I do not believe that she is "qualified" to be running an ABA program (yes, she may have the certificate, but families need to research their consultants and other consultants before picking a consultant to run your program). If you would like further information, email me at adanacstrainer@hotmail.com.
I would be more than happy to help you in your search for a consultant by providing you with my experiences.

[Deleted User]

Please take this question in the spirit it is intended – I really do not know the answer and would like a factual, basic answer:
What is the difference between an ABA trained therapist and an EIBI one?
One of the messages here mentions the two and I am wondering what the differences are?
Thanks.

[Stephen Paperman]

If I may just call a spade a spade here, our friends over at A.S. of B.C. seem to be doing their best, but I have to say that service providers list of theirs is a total piece of crap. There are like a half dozen to a dozen or so legitimate people who have the appropriate training and expertise in Lovaas ABA, and then there are all these old government hacks. It really burns me to see these creeps who slammed ABA for so many years suddenly trying to re-invent themselves as "behavior consultants". My personal suggestion for all new parents is to take that list with a gigantic cube of salt. Email a longstanding FEAT parent or four and ask who they use, have used, and are/were happy with. Avoid like the plague anybody who was ever involved with Gateway, POPARD, Laurel Group, and those EIBI butchers. There is a special hell waiting for these imposters who harm out children by keeping them from accessing legitimate Lovaas ABA consultants. Sooner or later, they'll all be roasting in it. In the meantime, don't get caught by their lies and impersonations.

[edgecombe]

Dear Anonymous (November 15th, 2003),

I also highly recommend Catherine Sharpe. We have been under her direction for the past two months and we are very happy with her services. My son was recently diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome by Suzanne Jacobson. Please feel free to email me at dedgecombe@telus.net and I can discuss this further with you.

Thanks you.

[Jenn Ralph]

In response to anonymous re consultants Nov 15th – I have not heard of Suzanne but my consultant is Catherine Sharpe and I would highly recommend her. Feel free to email me at jenn.ralph@shaw.ca if you like.

[Deleted User]

I am looking into getting an ABA program on track for my son. I am wondering is anyone has ever worked with Suzanne Jacobson. Any info or insight wold be grealy appriciated. I have heard different attitudes on what kind of therapy she dose. I am unsure of what therapy she practisis.
Also, has anyone ever heard of Catherine Sharp? Any info would be greatly appriciated.

[David Chan]

Hi All,

This topic has come up a number of times
regarding multiple languages while doing ABA
therapy. I had the oppoutunity to meet an ABA
service provider from Hong Kong. I asked
him regarding the language, and
implementation of programs in Hong Kong
and this was his answer:

"Most of our staff are bilingual and parents
choose the language to train in. Basically I
don’t see any difference in treatment you just
do it in a different language. The main
consideration is the choice of language. We
typically recommend that parents choose only
one language to train in as most of our kids
have a language delay. It is not useful to try
and conduct sessions in two languages as it
creates confusion. Thinking long term is
important as looking to where the child will be
living long term will usually define the
language. Also looking at available school
and therapy placements is another
consideration we take into account as there is
somewhat better facilities in hong kong in
english medium so families sometimes
choose english for that reason."

I thought I would share this bit of information
with everyone, it appears that using English is
not a bad idea even in China.

Something to consider

Mr. P's Dad

Dave

[Author]

Replies