[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

[Shirley Cheung]

Re: Social Stories

Hi, my name is Shirley. I am an ABA therapist and a SFU psychology student. I am doing a research paper on Social Stories, and I was wondering if anyone can give me some information about social stories, or any good, reliable sources (i.e. websites or books). I am interested in the research behind the validity of social stories, how it works, where did it originate from, and why does it work so well with children with Autism.
If anyone has any information about it, please feel free to contact me at scheungb@sfu.ca

Thanks everyone, and have a great day!
Shirley

[Mike & Jean]

I am very alarmed by the increasing reports to us (F.E.A.T.) from both families and therapists about people who are representing themselves and selling their services as Lovaas – style A.B.A. consultants.

Lovaas – style A.B.A. therapy is extremely powerful treatment. If done correctly it has amazing results as evidenced in the research. If done improperly by unqualified or ‘wanna-be’ consultants and therapists it can be harmful, damaging and cause regression. For an unqualified individual to design and set-up an A.B.A. program for a child with autism is akin to performing surgery without a medical degree.

Unfortunately the availability of I.E.I.I. funding has brought the ‘imposter consultants’ out in droves. Some have smelled the money and moved here from other provinces. Some of these greedy imposters actually have Ph.D.’s. A Ph.D. in psychology however without the very necessary A.B.A. component does not qualify anyone regardless of their academic credentials to design, implement or monitor Lovaas – style A.B.A. programs for children with autism.

A recent report from a parent stated that her ‘local consultant’ with a Ph.D. has never actually done any type of A.B.A. therapy with any child. This ‘consultant’ is now ‘designing’ A.B.A. programs for children at $800.00 per month. This same ‘consultant’ is also instructing the team of therapists to ‘make up their own programs’ as they see fit.

M.C.F.D. have a list of ‘consultants’ and ‘service providers’ who, if utilized by families, qualify under the I.E.I.I. funding guidelines. M.C.F.D. personnel readily admit that they have no idea who is a bona fide Lovaas consultant. The legitimate providers and consultants are on the list but unfortunately most of the imposters are also on the list and taking full advantage of I.E.I.I. money, unsuspecting parents and worst of all seriously disabled children.

So, how do parents know the difference?

By asking the right questions:
– Give me a copy of your C.V.
– What are your academic qualifications?
– From where?
– Where did you receive your training to design Lovaas A.B.A. programs?
– How long ago?
– How many supervised hours of A.B.A. therapy did you do?
– How can I contact them for a reference?
– How many children have you done A.B.A. therapy with?
– Show me some samples of programs that you have taught
– Show me examples of behavior plans you have designed
– Show me examples of the data collection methodology you employ
– How many hours of curriculum development using the Lovaas protocol have you done?

The above questions are straight forward. If your potential consultant cannot or will not answer these questions you need to beware.

Also – be sure you get at least three references from the parents they have set up programs for.

Other ways of keeping informed are by:
– Staying connected with other parents who are running Lovaas – style A.B.A. programs
– Going to F.E.A.T. sponsored workshops
– Going to F.E.A.T. parent meetings (3rd Monday of the month)
– Understanding the history and politics of autism treatment in B.C.
– Contacting F.E.A.T. of B.C. if you want any information on Lovaas A.B.A.

Protect your children by being informed consumers!!!

In closing a word of advice to the ‘imposter consultants’ and therapists.

‘Consultants’

If you really want to help children then become part of the solution. The solution is this: Re-tool; go and get properly credentialed. Go to a Lovaas replication site or to a university in the U.S. that can provide the appropriate training. If you are unwilling to do the necessary work and continue misrepresenting yourselves and possibly harming children in the process beware…because one day you might be held to account by a judge rather than unsuspecting parents.

Therapists

There are many very competent and skilled A.B.A. therapists in B.C. who want to become bonafide consultants. We all need this to happen for obvious reasons. Not the least of these being the shortage of Lovaas consultants currently in B.C. One of the best ways is to get the training in the U.S. At least four former ‘senior therapists’ have done this. Two have returned to B.C. as consultants and are helping dozens of children. A third is returning to B.C. late this year and will presumably have a full client load in no time.

Like any other profession it takes a lot of work, time, and energy to become qualified and credentialed. Don’t derail your career path to professionalism by modeling the imposter consultants you may be working under. Big egos. arrogance and over-estimating your abilities are not qualities anyone should emulate. The mark of any true professional is humility and knowing what you don’t know – a virtue, which is seemingly absent from the imposter’s values.
Therapists – do not let incompetence and avarice be what you aspire to.

Children with autism in B.C. deserve to have the most competent and properly trained consultants available anywhere.

If you are a therapist and want more information on how to set a career path to becoming a properly qualified Lovaas – style A.B.A. consultant, please contact F.E.A.T. of B.C. at 604.534.6956 or email info@featbc.org

Our children are relying on us.

Thank you for your attention

Jean Lewis
Director – FEAT of BC

[Sabrina Freeman]

Hi all,

This coming July 19th, FEAT is bringing a Behavioral Therapist Workshop to the Island. This is an excellent opportunity for Islanders to benefit from an ABA workshop that's closer to home. I strongly recommend that all interested islanders attend this event since the subsequent island session will likely be several after this upcoming July workshop.

You can download a registration form and workshop flyer from the FEAT server at this address:
https://featbc.org/downloads/abtw.pdf

Please send registration with payment as soon as possible. We regret it is not possible to reserve a spot by phoning FEAT BC. Since space is limited to only 70 people, a seat can only be guaranteed when you mail in the registration form with payment.

We hope to see all you Islanders at the workshop!

Sabrina Freeman, PH.D.
Executive Director,
FEATBC

[Deleted User]

Subject:
Re: Room Two: Behavioural Treatment Topics
Date:
Fri, 20 Jun 2003 17:15:34 +0000
From:
"linda knoph"

Dear Colleen,

While this is in no way an immediate solution to the problem of your son running away I
thought you might be interested to know that the National Dog Service Assoc. of Canada is
now training dogs for children with Autism. The dogs are trained to help sooth and
protect the children. They are larger dogs so that the dog is able to block or gently push
the children down so they do not run away, step into traffic and other dangers. Please have
a look at the web site; you can search by category or use the name itself. The costs are
minimal but if your son is a danger to himself your case may be pushed forward. You will
need documentation and need to write a cover letter. The demand is getting high so you
should get right on it if you are interested.

As for the immediate, your consultant should be able to help with the behaviour. But
sometimes dangerous behaviours cannot wait for therapy to change the behaviour. You
might consider looking for a device that attaches to his waist that alerts you when he goes
beyond a certain distance (programmable). I don't know where to get them, my apologies,
I just read of there existence in a parents magazine a couple of years ago.

I wish you both well.

Linda

>From: "FeatBC Discussion Board"
>To: lindaknoph@hotmail.com
>Subject: Room Two: Behavioural Treatment Topics
>Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2003 22:11:20 -0400 (EDT)
>
>————————————————————
>FeatBC Discussion Board: Room Two: Behavioural Treatment
>Topics
>————————————————————
>
>By Colleen Braeger (Braeger) on Monday, June 16, 2003 –
>07:09 pm:
>
> Hi everyone,
>We are looking for some help concerning our 6 yr. old son
>with autism. Lately, we have been finding ourselves in very
>scary situations where he keeps running away at any
>opportunity he can get. We have figured out that he is
>running because he wants to explore other people's houses
>and so he is just running in and out of people's houses very
>quickly. The problem is he seems to be running further and
>further away every time, despite our efforts to stop him. We
>obviously have locks on all our doors and windows but he
>waits for those brief moments when a window may be unlocked
>(and I have quickly gone to the bathroom or something) and
>climbs out. Has anyone else had a similar problem? Or can
>anyone think of any ideas that may work? We're willing to
>try anything! Thanks for all your help and support
>

[Susan Burns]

good morning all. My charming, soon to be teen, James need therapist/s.
James is deaf with emerging social skills and he really wants to succeed. He is friendly, cooperative with encouragement and wants to try hard. Please contact us if you sign and want to see this boy excel. We have Andrea Sharpe at the Able Clinic. Susan spbpt@catholic.org 604-467-8313

Susan [James' mom]

[Rachel Russell]

Hi! I just heard about an interesting OT-type company with all sorts of toys, it is called Pocket Full of Therapy (www.pfot.com). I checked out the website and it has all kinds of great toys for task completion and interactive games that work on grip, fine motor movements etc. Great site!~ Rachel Russell

[Colleen Braeger]

Hi everyone,
We are looking for some help concerning our 6 yr. old son with autism. Lately, we have been finding ourselves in very scary situations where he keeps running away at any opportunity he can get. We have figured out that he is running because he wants to explore other people's houses and so he is just running in and out of people's houses very quickly. The problem is he seems to be running further and further away every time, despite our efforts to stop him. We obviously have locks on all our doors and windows but he waits for those brief moments when a window may be unlocked (and I have quickly gone to the bathroom or something) and climbs out. Has anyone else had a similar problem? Or can anyone think of any ideas that may work? We're willing to try anything! Thanks for all your help and support

[Deleted User]

We're starting an ABA therapy for our 31/2 yr. old son. Do I need a sign contract w/ our therapists, if so can anyone share a sample contract. Thank you so much.

Gina (jing62@telus.net)

[Isaac]

The Weighty Debate on Elephants and Government Policy
________________________________________________________

Is it conceivable that two thoughtful, eloquent folks on the FEAT Chat Board can BOTH be right at the same time, even when they have seemingly opposite views and opinions on the long running autism treatment struggle in BC? Take a close, careful look at the forum’s ‘Tina the Elephant’ debate, and it’s arguable this thread on heavy mammals (thoughtful as it may be) is yet another instantiation of the ‘Cool Hand Luke’ paradigm i.e., "What we have here is a failure to communicate."

How so? Well, the first opinion posted speaks of the strong public outcry regarding an ailing descendant of mastodons residing in Langley, which markedly contrasts with the largely muted public reaction to the outrage of ongoing government discrimination against children struggling to overcome the ravages of autism; this is valid commentary. The second opinion posted (anon#1) speaks to how much better things are now as compared to a short year or two ago — the huge gains made in terms of public policy for autism treatment funding. This is also irrefutable. The autism treatment progress made via the Auton case and targeted efforts of FEAT’s autism advocates are unprecedented and are literally saving hundreds of children in the province.

So where’s the disagreement? There really is none. The first poster is speaking about society’s comparative views on zoo animals vs. disabled kids. There’s merit in that opinion; many in society haven’t evolved sufficiently to rise above that. It remains a sad fact that systemic discrimination against our children continues to run very deep in this society, ergo the disproportionate compassion for an elephant (loveable as she is … I’ve taken my own kids to see her many times and we talk about her pictures in the photo album).

And what of comments by Anon#1? They speak to progress made in terms of individualized funding for autism treatment, compared to the dark days (the low point) of autism treatment policy when Joy & Co. were in charge. Quite true as well. This represents huge progress in autism treatment policy, but the roots of Section 15 (1) discrimination remain firmly entrenched and the battle to maintain gains and see this struggle through continues apace.

Isaac (Miki’s Dad)

NOTE: the term ‘autism’ actually didn’t appear in the name of ANY BC government programs prior to the Auton case … they were all generic special needs ‘support’ programs — AND means tested by social workers, just to complete the discriminatory picture.

[Deleted User]

Hi all
I've heard that the funding for autistic in Ontario is about 50 thousand dollars a year and in Alberta is 70 thousand a year. I wonder if it is true .I'd rather move there to get that funding for my child if it is possible . I don't know if it is O.K to use the diagnose in BC to prove that my son is autistic and to apply for the funding there? Will there be a wait list,can I get the funding right after I arrive or do I need to live there for a period of time to be eligible for it?Does anyone know how much is the funding if the child turn 6 and any infromation which relates to this please let me know so that I could do the best to help my little child. Thank you so much .
My email adress is trinht28@hotmail.com

PS :Thank you very much for every one's help when I posted the ad to ask about how to apply the money to buy the stuff I need for my son's workshop.Unfortunately I was refused to help from my welfare social worker no matter how I tried to convince her that I really need that money.

[Author]

Replies