[Deleted User]

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[Deleted User]

RE: costs of a lead therapist

First of all, I don't think the original poster of this thread said anything offensive, enquiring about pay and levels of experience is a valid question. There are different types of lead/sr. therapists out there and different levels of experience. We would all love to pay $25 an hour and there are some exceptional seniors out there who don't get paid that but there are also different degrees of ability and every once in awhile you stumble across someone who is worth twice that amount but you pay them $25 because they have the education, the experience and the ability to charge that.

I once had an senior therapist whom we paid $25 an hour. She was exceptional. She had over 5 years experience, taught courses on how to be an ABA therapist and data collection etc. Her job on our team was that of a Jr. Consultant really. She organized and trained our staff, she was our liaison with our consultant, but because she was capable of more, our consultant gave her a longer leash (so to speak) and she also wrote programming and with our consultants guidance made behavioural decisions. I would never have allowed this much responsibility if she did not have the extensive level of training that she did. She is now completing her masters degree in ABA and works at a much higher level in an academic setting. She was of a calibre that doesn't just happen every day.

When she was leaving she trained a new senior for each of my teams (2 kids, 2 teams). As we considered them seniors in training we paid them $12 an hour. While our original senior oversaw everything, she was not at our house ever day. In fact the most she ever worked for us was between 6-8 hours a week. THe set up we had then was that I was the senior who reported to her. I did alot of the grunt work and she trained me as to how to do it. And of course I did it for free! That made $25 an hour a bit more affordable.

With our seniors in training, they took over from me (phew!) and she oversaw them. We paid them $10 an hour then. We did this because the $25 an hour therapist only had 6 more weeks with us, so even though it was an expensive time, it was worth it trainin wise. When our senior left, the new seniors took over at$12 and I oversaw them. THe were in charge of the book, the data, they led team meetings with my assistance and they trained staff ongoing. Our Consultant took on a larger involvement with us at this time because we needed more guidance. And as my seniors gained more experience, became more highly skilled etc we increased their pay.

Fortunately our seniors were also EXCEPTIONALLY understanding that with 2 teams and 1.25 incomes, we were limited in what we could pay. They never complained about getting paid less than they were worth. THere are a lot of senior therapists out there who are like this. THey do this work because they have a heart for our children and they are excellent at what they do. they live and breathe aba and they are very understanding about issues of $ thank you to all of you :-)

We did give pay raises as our therapists became more skilled. And when we did start receiving money from the government, the first raises we gave were to our wonderful senior therapists.

In sum I think it is fair to start new senior therapist ie: one with no experience as a senior, at $11-12 an hour. AS they grow in experience and ability, this amount should increase. However at the same time, therapists do need to come into this job with an understanding that we pay out 30,000-60,000 a year and that many families get no assistance.

As a self-employed individual you have the right to decide what you are willing to work for, under what conditions. And never underestimate the joy of working for a family that financially doesn't pay well but appreciates you, treats you well, and works hard to follow through, my therapists don't stay for the pay, they stay because we work as hard as they do and we treat them well, and sometimes we feed them too! And remember that no amount of money makes working for an unappreciative family who treats you poorly and don't follow through, worth it.

Okay that is enough from me, no flames please!

Michelle

[Deleted User]

Look…money is an issue for all of us. These programs cost too much to run for anyone, and our government would rather spend millions trying to beat us up in court than two cents to help our children. Money money money. Here's my two cents — pun intended:

Let's not bring up the $ word here, okay? I would love to pay my therapists more money, line and lead alike. They deserve it. But I just don't have any more. Period. $25 an hour for a lead? Sure, why not, if she's worth it. But I couldn't afford that for a second. Right now I can afford therapists who are in this for the joy of making a difference in the life of my child, the ones who can survive on what I can pay. I'd rather not spend any more time getting depressed over things I can't change right now, so please give this topic a rest. Thanks.

[Deleted User]

I'd like to add my 'two cents' as a full-time therapist.

I work as a line therapist for two families at $10/h and as a lead for one family at $12/h. I also do some respite care for a fourth child at $10/h.

As line, I show up, read through the previous notes, run a session with the child, and write up the session, making suggestions for problem areas – suggestions which are followed if the lead agrees with me.

As lead, I am at the house every day (not always to do ABA). I look over the data and notes from the previous day, make sure mastery criteria is being followed, and decide what measures to take in problem areas. I make target lists and keep the data binder in order, I make graphs for our meetings with the consultant, and I have been known to develop programs for this child (a peer play program and a come here drill). I come up with new ways to generalize learned skills, and I even design data sheets.

As a respite caregiver, I design worksheets to help the child to learn at home what he is having difficulty with at school.

In all three capacities, I offer as much support as I can to the parents. I interact with siblings, and I try to offer as much accurate information as I can in answer to their questions.

I work Monday through Saturday and have to take transit to get around – luckily, a couple of kids have parents who are willing to drive me home or to my next destination a lot of the time.

Monday through Friday, I leave at 8:30am and rarely get home before 7:00pm. I don't get paid for my travel time.

I work approximately 40 hours per week. I pay rent, buy a bus pass, and feed myself on what I earn. Of course, it helps that a couple of families also feed me meals while I'm at their houses.

It is possible to live on $10/h if you have to. I even have digital cable and internet from Shaw!

Would I like to be paid more? Sure. More is always nice. But it's not necessary.

[Deleted User]

Hi all, I am glad someone started the "salary – topic" again. I am a therapist, with some experience and a University degree. I would like to work more hours per week as a therapist, but I cannot afford to do so – one cannot make a living from $10 per hour. I certainly think that a lead therapist is worth $25 an hour!

[Deleted User]

You don't wish to criticize anyone with your post!!!!!!!!! How dare you. We pay our lead therapist a little over $12 per hour because that's all we can afford. We pay our consultant $80 per hour for writing programs. How dare you ask such "innocent" questions. Questioning the experience people have. My lead therapist reads this chat board, what have you just said about his/her ability by writing your post? Think before you write in future.

One very angry parent.

[Deleted User]

Can you briefly define the responsibilities of your lead? The reason why we are able to pay our lead a much lower rate is because we don't require them to make-up programs. Certainly, they give their valuable input regarding our child's case but making the programs is our Consultant's job (THEY get paid the big bucks, by the way). Our lead is the crucial liason between our Senior consultant and the line therapists and his/her main job is to manage, maintain and motivate the team. A degree and university training in ABA is a huge bonus but not necessary for us (now for the Senior Consultant…that's another story). Mind you, we believe we have an excellent lead therapist (very passionate about his/her work, motivated to progress in the field, and is an excellent leader) in our hands and just like you, we wish we could pay him/her more.

You have been very fortunate to find such a gem for a lead therapist and I wish you well in your pursuit of a replacement. Good luck!

[Deleted User]

Hello,

I would like to ask a question to parents in the Vancouver area about how they pay their therapists. We have a wonderful lead therapist who we pay $25.00 an hour to work with our son. Our therapist is a wonderful lady with a University degree and University training in ABA. We are deeply sadden, however, because our therapist has been offered a job in California where she will be making twice what we pay her. Our therapist (who has been with us for over a year) is certainly worth twice what we are paying her. We understand that she needs to move in order to make a salary comparable to her education; however, I don’t understand how some families hire lead therapists for $12.00 an hour. What type of education and experience do these individuals have? Are these individuals good lead therapists? I ask this question as I will be looking for a new therapist soon and I can’t foresee anyone with the education/experience my lead has working for less.

Thank-you for your kind help in answering my question. I am not looking to criticize anyone with my post, I am just looking for some constructive input.

:)

[Deleted User]

Here's a letter I sent to my social worker that just recently told me I was at the top of the list for behavioral services. I haven't heard from her for over 2 years.

Dear Social Worker,

Could you forward this to your supervisors.

I must direct my outrage to someone and since you are all the first line of this Governments' Defense, the buck has to stop with you. I realize you can't change policy BUT it is up to you to express this outrage from not
only me but from ALL PARENTS of AUTISTIC CHILDREN OVER 6!

Thank-you for your offer to provide behavioral services to my son who is 7, (we've only been waiting since he was 2),but unfortunately the services you are offering from the Laurel House or Gateway, have been DISCREDITED by the courts as far as providing treatment for AUTISM.

I already have behavioral services provided by the EARLY AUTISM PROJECT, and want this gov't to fund those services. You see my son started with
this service provider only one year ago and already he is testing in the normal ranges in his cognitive abilities. To date, we have paid everything as far as my son's treatment but one day he will be paying taxes because of it.

I could yell, scream, plead, beg, fight…… but what good would it do?
Surely one of you have a moral conscience and will help us parents by doing the right thing for our children?
Fund the BEST PRACTICE TREATMENT!

How many cries for help will it take?

…….'s Mom

[Deleted User]

As the original anonymous poster of the thread I wanted to add a few clarifications:

I don't care what other parents think of me, my concern isn't myself being snubbed, I'm a big girl and I can handle anything. And I am actually very outgoing and the first to strike up conversations with all the other parents.

My concern is for my child. Having entered this school with no one knowing that there was anything different, suddenly now people are finding out and changing how they treat my child. THey are not finding out because of anything noticeable that my child is doing, rather they are questioning who the aide is. If it were not for the aide, I'm sure they would not know a thing. (the school is completely aware of the diagnosis as well as the child's progress and is a wonderful support to our program. THey also support our desire to allow our child to have a fair go at being a regular kid.) We are working to fade our aide out but in the mean time I have a few parents staring at my child searching and looking for clues of a diagnosis that really no longer exists. One parent even asked my aide several times "is that a sign of autism?" while staring at every move my child made. What bothers me about this is that they are searching to see something different. And if that is their perspective how will they treat my child? what influence will they have on their child and in turn how will their child treat mine?

And amazingly we have had numerous playdates and field trips, these parents have seen my child and thought nothing different of my child until they heard the word "autism". It is a very small school and a small community, once that label is stuck, it will be hard to shake.

I agree that I wouldn't want my child to be friends with someone who would look down their nose at them, but would they look down their nose if they did not know? No. I wanted my child to finally get to be just like any other child because finally that is where they are. But now that eggshell has cracked I guess I was hoping there might be some great ideas on smoothing the situation ;-)

thank you Michelle for your encouraging comments and Jenny your ideas are greatly appreciated.

And one final note, to the parents who mentioned being proud of their children and not hiding diagnosis… that is a great idea under certain situations… I've been there and have done that but my child no longer has a diagnosis, and is in the process of ending therapy… my child deserves a chance for normalcy, its what we worked for over the last years. I'd like to remind you that those children who lost their diagnosis in the original Lovaas study entered grade 1 with no one knowing of their diagnosis. When people know they treat a child with different expectations and sometimes that is necessary, sometimes it is beneficial but for my child it is not. But let me assure you I am immensely proud of my child and completely amazed at every aspect of progress that has been made

thanks everyone.

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