[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]

AUTISM BEHAVIOURAL THERAPIST TRAINING WORKSHOP

FEAT of BC Island Chapter is sponsoring a 1-day workshop on the implementation of behavioural treatment of autism spectrum disorders based on the techniques of Lovaas-style ABA.

The workshop will include general information on autism and behavioural theory, but will focus primarily on the practical aspects of delivering effective behavioural autism treatment.

Topics to be covered:
· discrete trail techniques
· basic principles of behaviour modification therapy
· data collection
· commonly used behavioural analysis terminology

Who can benefit from this workshop:
· parents/caregivers
· present and potential behavioural therapists
· classroom assistants
· aides or other individuals interested in working with children with autism spectrum disorders.

DATE: Saturday, November 8, 2003
TIME: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
LOCATION: University of Victoria
COST: $25.00
PRESENTERS: Sr. Behavioural Instructors Theresa Tournemille and Michelle Karren.

More information and registration details at http://www.featbc.org/downloads/abtw.pdf
In Victoria: (250) 598-9701 or (250) 386-1338

[Deleted User]

AUTISM BEHAVIOURAL THERAPIST TRAINING WORKSHOP

FEAT of BC Island Chapter is sponsoring a 1-day workshop on the implementation of behavioural treatment of autism spectrum disorders based on the techniques of Lovaas-style ABA.

The workshop will include general information on autism and behavioural theory, but will focus primarily on the practical aspects of delivering effective behavioural autism treatment.

Topics to be covered:
· discrete trail techniques
· basic principles of behaviour modification therapy
· data collection
· commonly used behavioural analysis terminology

Who can benefit from this workshop:
· parents/caregivers
· present and potential behavioural therapists
· classroom assistants
· aides or other individuals interested in working with children with autism spectrum disorders.

DATE: Saturday, November 8, 2003
TIME: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
LOCATION: University of Victoria
COST: $25.00
PRESENTERS: Sr. Behavioural Instructors Theresa Tournemille and Michelle Karren.

More information and registration details at http://www.featbc.org/downloads/abtw.pdf
In Victoria: (250) 598-9701 or (250) 386-1338

[Nancy Walton]

Hi Kerry

Welcome aboard.

We have had success finding therapists both from our local newspaper (ads in help wanted and even in the career section) and by advertising at the local colleges/universities (Kwantlen College, Trinity Wester University and Fraser Valley University College).

When advertising in the newspaper, say things like "3 hour shifts ideal for college students" and "must have good play skills with young children" or "training provided".

If you have time, put "send resume to box #…" so you can weed out the people looking for a "job".

You will probably start with a completely green team, but if at all possible, try to get at least one experienced therapist to help train them. That, you can try advertising on feat for.

Take up the offer of other parents who invite you over or attend one of the feat meetings, or an ASBC meeting (West Vancouver and South Surrey have good ABA support) to get to know other parents. Through these meetings, I feel very connected to other people doing ABA therapy and it is a comfort.

Feel free to let the Chat know where you live, as you may then get a reply from a "neighbour". (I am lucky to have ABA neighbours and have shared many therapists over the years)

Nancy Walton
ASBC Surrey facilitator
(and Casey's mom)
wiklo@shaw.ca

[Mike & Jean]

Bobby Newman workshop – Oct. 24, 2003

I would agree with Barbara Rodrigues, and highly recommend anyone who is involved in an A.B.A. program attend this workshop. Make sure your S.E.A. and school district people attend, because October 24th is a provincial professional development day. We couldn't ask for better professional development.

Dr. Bobby Newman is the Director of Training at the Association for Metro area Autistic Children—AMAC. He is a licensed psychologist and was New York’s first Board Certified Behavior Analyst. He received his Ph.D. in psychology, with a sub-specialty in Applied Behavior Analysis, in 1996. He is the author of several books, including The Reluctant Alliance: Behaviorism and Humanism, No Virtue in Accident, When Everybody Cares: Case Studies of ABA, Words from Those who Care, Graduated Applied Behavior Analysis, and the soon to be published Behaviorspeak. His research has centered around effective means of teaching children and adults with autistic-spectrum disorders, particularly in the area of self-management training. His original research has been published in Behavioral Interventions, Behavioral Disorders, Perceptual and Motor Skills, The Psychological Record, Analysis of Verbal Behavior, Education and Training in Mental Retardation, and elsewhere. Dr. Newman is a Past-President of the New York State Association for Behavior Analysis, and lectures on the autistic-spectrum disorders and ABA throughout the United States and United Kingdom. He has been named as Autism Professional of the Year by New York Families for Autistic Children (NYFAC) and Empowering Long Island’s Journey through Autism (ELIJA). Dr. Newman has also been an expert witness in Canadian litigation.

For registration information contact Arbutus Coast Presentations, Inc. at:
phone 403-394-9470
fax 403-394-9471
email ArbutusCoast@shaw.ca

Regards,

Jean Lewis, Director – F.E.A.T. of B.C.

[Anna Aquino]

Hi Kerry,
Before choosing a consultant and eventually putting a team
together to do ABA therapy, I made sure to visit some
families who were already up and running or at least spoke
to them on the phone regarding their experiences. I was
lucky enough to visit another family during their team
meeting and actually sat in on one of the therapy sessions.
It solidified my views on therapy and gave me a clearer
picture of what it is I am getting myself involved in. It can
be very overwhelming and that feeling actually never really
goes away. Aside from the financial aspect of it, home
therapy is quite demanding since it requires a lot of your
time and constant effort. I feel there is no choice but to be
truly involved. Its a lot like starting a business wherein the
investment is on your child's future. :-)
So, get ready for the ride of your life and know that you
have other parents who are willing to give support and
encouragement. Frequent these boards because you see a
lot of postings from families who have blazed the trail and
truly shed wisdom and much needed inspiration in this
long hard battle to "recovery".
We've been in therapy for a year now and my son is making
good progress. Contact Jenny Obando, who is such a great
resource (best move I've ever made towards starting an ABA
program).

Good luck and congrats on your decision to do therapy for
your son.

Warmly,
ANNA
anna_aquino@mac.com

[Anna Aquino]

Hi Kerry,
Before choosing a consultant and eventually putting a team
together to do ABA therapy, I made sure to visit some
families who were already up and running or at least spoke
to them on the phone regarding their experiences. I was
lucky enough to visit another family during their team
meeting and actually sat in on one of the therapy sessions.
It solidified my views on therapy and gave me a clearer
picture of what it is I am getting myself involved in. It can
be very overwhelming and that feeling actually never really
goes away. Aside from the financial aspect of it, home
therapy is quite demanding since it requires a lot of your
time and constant effort. I feel there is no choice but to be
truly involved. Its a lot like starting a business wherein the
investment is on your child's future. :-)
So, get ready for the ride of your life and know that you
have other parents who are willing to give support and
encouragement. Frequent these boards because you see a
lot of postings from families who have blazed the trail and
truly shed wisdom and much needed inspiration in this
long hard battle to "recovery".
We've been in therapy for a year now and my son is making
good progress. Contact Jenny Obando, who is such a great
resource (best move I've ever made towards starting an ABA
program).

Good luck and congrats on your decision to do therapy for
your son.

Warmly,
ANNA
anna_aquino@mac.com

[Jenn Ralph]

Hi Kerry,
I know how you feel. Our program is now in it's fifth week and I am finally starting to relax and watch the wheels in motion and resulting progress. It really is amazing! I found all of my therapists (except one) by advertising on the UBC job advertising service (which is free and you can accomplish it all online in a few minutes) called Joblink. I probably got 15 responses over about 2-3 weeks, and hired 7 of them, of which 5 have worked out better than I ever imagined. It is very stressful indeed, but just keep plugging along and it WILL work out. Good luck.
Jennifer Ralph

[Jenny Obando]

Hi Kerry and welcome.

We all know how you feel. It is very overwhelming,but don't worry you have come to the right place.

As far as therapist go you could advertise here,but remember that this site is usually for people who are involve or know something about autism and the therapist who are members here are probably full .

Putting an ad in the local papers is always and option,but you probably won't find someone with experience. But that is how regular people become therapist.
Another place that has worked in the past for us are the local universities or colleges.

I wish you luck. If you want you can contact me directly I will help you in any way I can.
I have a 5 year old and we have been doing therapy for 2 years. The best choice I have ever made.

Jenny Obando divedoc@telus.net

[Kerry Stratton]

Hello,
I'm a new parent to FEAT. Our 4 year old son has been diagnosed and we are trying to find therapists for our team. If anyone could give us some info as to who they recommend or know where to go that would be very helpful. All of this is a bit overwhelming and want to make sure we are doing all the right things for our son!! Your help would be greatly appreciated!!
Thank you,
Statton

[David Chan]

Hi all,

Well, me and the boy went to the Lion’s game
last night. Truth, I’m not a real big sports fan,
and sporting events are kind of expensive. As
luck would have it, I was given a pair of tickets
to the game, so me and Mr. P headed for the
game.

We went to the stadium, now, if memory
serves, they showed the total attendance that
night to be 25,681 give of take a few souls.
There were fire works and realllllly loud music
all round!! It was deafening. Oy, such a
headache!

Following the game is pretty darn hard. Mr. P
was paying enough attention to tell me which
way the Lions were, going, I was pretty darn
impressed. He liked his ice cream way better
then the game, and he actually liked looking
the cheerleaders (That’s my boy!), and mascot
Waaaaay better. .

The game was pretty slow until about the end
of the 3rd quarter, and people started to stand
up and cheer, some guy had one of those
aerosol horns, it was just really obnoxious.
He sat maybe two rows ahead of us. Cool
part—we would all stand up and cheer, and
this guy would honk his horn, Mr. P would
cringe, but he would keep cheering and
clapping

Extra cool—I didn’t have to prompt him to
stand, towards the end the game he knew
what to do….

What does any of this have to do with Autism
and ABA therapy, hmmm? –Well, Lets see,
when he was in kindergarten, THEY said loud
noises would set him off, and he would start
to tantrum so really he shouldn’t be in
assemblies, and of course those echo filled
gyms well, he couldn’t possibly participate in
gym class.

Me and Mr.P’s mom came to this conclusion.
People—I mean by that, people with very little
vested interest in seeing our children make
gains–You all know who they are, so I won’t
bother to list the litany of professionals and
para-professionals you all already know.
These folks will take a few features that tag a
kid and decide way ahead of time what they
are like, and that is the way it will like forever
and ever Amen.

Think about what that is doing to our children.

Not only do they marginalize our children, they
diminish any possibility that OUR CHILDREN
WILL have, some kind of a LIFE. It’s as if it
just doesn’t matter. We have our nice jobs
helping SPECIAL children, and we are doin’ it,
so your kid is just one of those unfortunate
souls. What can we do about that…. But I
digress,

Our family has been fortunate and grateful, to
have started Lovaas therapy with Mr. P when
he was five and a half. We have chosen to
share his successes, and triumphs with all of
you, but please, always remember, especially
the new parents reading the chat board, that
this was not always so. This child had 50 to
60 tantrums a day, and was afraid of
thresholds, whenever, he crossed one, he
would tantrum, yep that’s right, every door.
Loud noises, I don’t even want to go there.

It’s the beginning of his 7th year of therapy, is
he done yet? NO, Has he made PROGRESS,
You bet your bottom-mortgaged dollar, and I
have the DATA to back that up, not just good
stories.

Are we going to continue doing ABA therapy?
What do you all think.??

And no, I don’t get a cut or commission from
ANY of the ABA service providers.

During the Football game, I wept; I have an
eleven-year-old Son! I think that says it all

Still living La vida Lovaas

Mr.P’s Mom and Dad

[Author]

Replies