[Judy Anderson]

Behavioral Interventionist Needed

Location : Lynn Valley North Vancouver

Job description:
There is an opportunity to join the established home based ABA program of a 23-year-old young man with Autism. He has been in an ABA program since the age of three. Training will be provided. Shifts will be 3 1/2 to 5 hours, three days per week. Behavioral Consultants are Courtney Phillips and Dr. Sara White.

The program focuses on social and language skills, fitness and support for the client in his place of employment.

Employment requirements:
– ABA experience preferred but not mandatory.
– must be at least 19 years old and able to obtain a current criminal record check
– must have your own transportation as programs require vehicular access to the community
– must be fit in order to support the client in 45 minute cardio workouts
– must be fluent in English
– must be willing to commit for at least one year
– compensation will be based on experience
– there is also the opportunity for Respite shifts in the evenings or during the day on the weekend.

Interested parties please contact Judy at djanderson4444@gmail.com

[Judy Anderson]

ABA TUTOR WANTED

This is an opportunity to join the established Home ABA Team of a 21 year old male young adult with Autism. He has been in an ABA program since the age of 3. He has a good sense of humor, is eager to learn & socially motivated so working with him can be a rewarding experience. This position is for you if you wold love to work with Special Needs children/young adults, are very comfortable with discipline, want to work in a team environment and are excellent at multi-talking. You will gain experience in behaviour management and you will learn to master the discrete trial method including data collection. These skills will particularly benefit those entering the fields of education, kinesiology, speech & language pathology and psychology and/or someone seeking and enriched learning experience.

No experience is necessary. Training is provided. This position is for a minimum of 10 hours per week, mornings (9:00a.m. to 12:00 noon), afternoons (12:00 noon to 5:00pm), evenings and weekends. Home Team meetings take place once per month and are currently on Tuesday mornings from 9:30a.m. to 12:30p.m. A car is an asset, our home is located in the Lynn Valley area of North Vancouver.

You will work one-ion-one with the young adult at his home, in the community or at his new job site teaching/supporting him in some or all of the following areas:
– employment; provide one-on-one support to the young adult on his job site weekdays
– life skills; menu planning, grocery shopping, cooking & house keeping
– fitness; running, weight training, swimming & Taekwondo, plus Special Olympics Golf and Track & Field

Training could commence immediately. The candidate must be at least 19 years old, be able to provide a clear criminal record check and make a one year commitment.

For additional information please contact Judy Anderson at djanderson4444@gmail.com or at (604) 986-1975.

[Judy Anderson]

Male Camp Caregiver Needed

We are looking for a male caregiver to attend Stillwood Camp at Cultas Lake from August 5 to 10th with a 15 year old boy with Autism. The child is verbal, academic skills are approximately Grade Three level. He has attended the camp for the previous three summers and it has been a very positive experience. Potential candidates would be prepared to get ABA training and behavioural training specific to the child. They should also be able to obtain a criminal record check.

For more information please contact Judy Anderson at d.j.anderson@shaw.ca

[Judy Anderson]

ABA Line Therapist Wanted

Come and experience an ABA success story.

There is an opportunity to join the established home team of a 15 year old boy with autism. No experience necessary. Training is provided. Need to fill two, two hour shifts after school or on the weekends. Must attend bi-weekly team meetings. There is an opportunity for regular Respite work as well.

The child has a great sense of humour, is eager to learn and socially notivated. He also plays percussion in the high school band and is artistically talented. Experience in either area is an asset, but not mandatory.

Our consultants are Shelley Davis and Sara White.

We live in the Lynn Valley area of North Vancouver.

Please contact Judy Anderson at d.j.anderson@shaw.ca for more information.

[Judy Anderson]

ASW POSITION IN NORTH VANCOUVER SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR NOVEMBER 25, 2005 TO NOVEMBER 25, 2006

The position is for the one year maturnity leave of an Autism Support Worker working with my 13 year old son, who is attending Grade Eight at Argyle Secondary School. Potential candidates would have Lovaas type ABA training and experience with elementary and/or high school students in academics, leasure skills and social interaction.

Our son has been in an ABA program for ten years, since he was three years old. His academic abilities in the areas of reading, writing and math are at a low Grade Three level. He plays percussion in the school Band and is artistically talented, so musical or artistic talent is an asset, but is not manditory. He attends school at Argyle as a regular student and does not participate in the Life Skills program. His classes consist of: Exploration 8 (Art, Home Ec, Woodwork & Metalwork), Art 9/10, Band, PE and one block made up of activities which include community programs and academic programs developed by his consultants in conjunction with his ASW.

His Lovaas type ABA consultants are Shelley Davis and Catherine Sharpe.

REQUIREMENTS
Proven Lovaas ABA training and experience
Willingness to join the Home Team immediately for training
Comfort working in a team environment
Comfort with discipline
Positive and caring attitude
Willingness to attend School Team Meetings and Behavioural Consults

The ASW position commences November 25, but training in the school and home settings could begin immediately.

Please forward cover letter and resume to both Judy Anderson (Parent) at: d.j.anderson@shaw.ca as well as to Ms. Sue Altman, District Princpal, Special Education, North Vancouver School District at: saltman@nvsd44.bc.ca

[Judy Anderson]

I am a very private person and do not often respond to FEAT posts, even when I have an opinion (so often my opinion is voiced by others much more eloquant than myself – thanks David, Avery, Nancy, Robin, Barbara to name a few), however I believe that sometimes there comes a time to speak out.

My husband and I are the parents of two amazing children, Sarah almost 13 and Ryan 11 1/2. Ryan is Autistic. We began a Lovaas type ABA program for Ryan 8 1/2 years ago when he just turned three. We started with a "green" team and operated our program with an expensive out-of-town consultant for a year and a half. It became obvious that they did not have the experience or knowledge to long distance consult and we dropped them and "self" ran our home program for the next six months (a disaster) until we were able to hire an amazing, qualified and effective individual that we continue to employ. The sole reason we were able to gain access to this individual is Sabrina Freeman and her dear friend and amazing side-kick Jean Lewis. Between these two women (and the equally hard working men behind them) they have roped in a support network for us parents of children with Autism that matches no other. I for one am proud to be associated with it and am ever so grateful that it exists.

FEAT of BC provides us with so many valuable tools that eliminate some of the horrible experiences that some of us have had to experience before FEAT existed. One point worth remembering, no therapy is far far better than bad therapy and no school is better that school with a untrained Aid (Special Education Aid to us in North Van)- from personal experience I will tell you that you can pay for years to come.

This chat site has become a bi-weekly respite for me. I can listen to the stories of others, laugh, cry and feel that I am not alone in my fight to provide my son with the ability to learn from his environment and to become the best he can be. We parents are here to help each other, to support each other. There is no other forum where we will find a group so much on our side. We can use this forum to sharpen our arguments for the cold cruel world outside. We have come together as a group of people brought together by tragedy, let us go forward stronger and united in our desire to do everything that we can for our children. As friends let us agree sometimes and agree to disagree sometimes, but let us always remember why we are here.

On the topic of treatments other that Lovaas type ABA, we looked at a variety of other types of treatment and discussed each of them with Ryans's Pediatrician. His words to us eight years ago have provided us with a meaningful guideline. "Don't stop looking at other forms of treatment to help Ryan. But, first please review them with me to ensure that they are safe (Don't laugh one was actually dangerous). And,second do not let them reduce the time or money that you need to provide a meaningful Lovaas type ABA program for Ryan."

Thank you again Sabrina and Jean for a remarkable job with FEAT and the Auton/Anderson lawsuits. Sabrina you once said to me regarding those people we will come across in the real world in the battle to educate our children "they don't have to like you, they just have to respect you". Well, cheers to you both, I like you and I respect you (bonus) and I am glad you are on my team.

Sincerely,

Judy Anderson

[Judy Anderson]

Dear Anonymous;

Regarding your posting on Tuesday, September 17, 2002. We are in the North Vancouver School District and have had the following wording located at the top of the "standard" S.E.A job postings for the 2000 – 2001 and the 2001 – 2002 school years: "Knowledge of autism and experience implementing educational and behavioural programs for autistic individuals required. Training in instructional strategies such as Discrete Trial Format required. Other relevant training for autism and related disorders desired." I have a copy of the full job posting which I can fax to you, if desired.

Due to the N.V. School Boards attempt to provide trained individuals to children with autism in A.B.A. programs, they created a new job category called the "Autism Support Worker". My son's S.E.A. for this year was hired under this category. I do not have a copy of this posting, but I can attempt to obtain one if you are interested.

Your can contact me at douganderson@acncanada.net or (604) 986-1975.

Good luck,

Judy Anderson

[Judy Anderson]

Does everyone know that there is a method of expensing all of your ABA costs as well as any costs that are recommended by a Doctor and that these costs can be pre-tax expenses?

The main requirements are that you need to have your own company or work for a company willing to understand the program, you need a letter from a Dr. saying that he/she recommends ABA and you need to sign up for the program through Frank Molinka 929-7241.

We have been doing it for a number of years. It is regularly checked by a local large accounting firm to ensure that the Gov. has not ruled against it. It costs 10% per year (still pre-tax dollars)which is a lot better than post-tax dollars and a measly 17% tax credit.

Good luck

Doug Anderson

[Author]

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