[Rachel Russell]

Hi- I just wanted to add a few notes to the post re: video modeling for play scripts. I was involved in similar research at the Lovaas Institute in NJ replication site with Tricia Donahoe of LIFE who presented her findings at ABA in New Orleans last year. In her study- we presented the kids with a particular video script for a certain number of days and the kid simply watched it. We then presented the video and then gave the child a limited time period of access to the same toys independently. Eventually, we faded out the videos and simply gave access to the target toys. (the child never got open access to the target toys during the video stages- only at the end). What we saw was that the child I worked with appeared to love the videos and quickly learned to request them (but again- access was not permitted unless we were running specific research trials)We found that he quickly learned (within a few days) to act out the script with the toys in the home. He acted out the script with specific detail and precision- never varying from the exact video script. The child I worked with created rituals out of the videos and tried to re-enact them all day long, with or without the toys in sight. If an instructor attempted to interact with the child and the toys- the child would scream and abandon the play. If the instructor attempted to change the words in the script, add a new idea, or simply take a role in the scripted dialogue- the child would scream. We had created a long and complicated video stim and could not get rid of it or break it! And he now knew 5 of them! A year later when I left New Jersey- the child would still mutter the scripts under his breath when unsupervised. That said- I still feel video modeling has huge potential. Our mistake was not to build in major variability from the first video showing. We did not build in interaction, novelty and unpredictability. I have not read the studies from Dr. Eric Larsson who is very amazing and I am sure he has done some amazing things to fix the problems that we had 2 years ago! I would love to read the study he presented at ABA in Toronto of Michelle has the journal and date! Thanks for the great info- Rachel

[Rachel Russell]

Hi- I just wanted to add a few notes to the post re: video modeling for play scripts. I was involved in similar research at the Lovaas Institute in NJ replication site with Tricia Donahoe of LIFE who presented her findings at ABA in New Orleans last year. In her study- we presented the kids with a particular video script for a certain number of days and the kid simply watched it. We then presented the video and then gave the child a limited time period of access to the same toys independently. Eventually, we faded out the videos and simply gave access to the target toys. (the child never got open access to the target toys during the video stages- only at the end). What we saw was that the child I worked with appeared to love the videos and quickly learned to request them (but again- access was not permitted unless we were running specific research trials)We found that he quickly learned (within a few days) to act out the script with the toys in the home. He acted out the script with specific detail and precision- never varying from the exact video script. The child I worked with created rituals out of the videos and tried to re-enact them all day long, with or without the toys in sight. If an instructor attempted to interact with the child and the toys- the child would scream and abandon the play. If the instructor attempted to change the words in the script, add a new idea, or simply take a role in the scripted dialogue- the child would scream. We had created a long and complicated video stim and could not get rid of it or break it! And he now knew 5 of them! A year later when I left New Jersey- the child would still mutter the scripts under his breath when unsupervised. That said- I still feel video modeling has huge potential. Our mistake was not to build in major variability from the first video showing. We did not build in interaction, novelty and unpredictability. I have not read the studies from Dr. Eric Larsson who is very amazing and I am sure he has done some amazing things to fix the problems that we had 2 years ago! I would love to read the study he presented at ABA in Toronto of Michelle has the journal and date! Thanks for the great info- Rachel

[Rachel Russell]

A response to Anonymous, July 19, 2002:

When I suggested that a parent 'begin your own program', to decide if Lovaas-style ABA is the best treatment for your child, this means to hire a qualified program supervisor to design your program, train your instructors, provide detailed consultation reports, attend frequent follow-up consultations and to provide daily support through phone and e-mail as needed. I believe that a good program requires a qualified program supervisor and skilled instructors to be successful. Rachel

[Rachel Russell]

A note regarding random assignment in studies of Lovaas-Style ABA therapy:

1) Yes, complete random assignment to treatment groups is very important in a scientifically sound study. Will we ever get true 'random samples' of children for various treatment groups when we are researching young children with autism? Maybe-maybe not, but we can try our best.

This is always a very difficult issue in studies that are investigating treatment in young children with autism because most parents will not subject their children to a 'random table of numbers' to decide whether they will receive a scientifically proven effective treatment, or whether they will receive a 'maybe' treatment.

While there are are possible ways to improve this issue in future treatment studies: comparing one treatment style with another; comparing different 'amounts' of treatment (20 hours vs 40 hours)of the same treatment; or comparing treatment children with those on a waiting list for services, I do not believe that there is every going to be 'true' random assignment in this area of research, because parents have choice. Parents do not have to give up their right to demand the best treatment available-to be randomly assigned to this group or that group so that treatment studies are scientific, so 'true random assignment' may not be the best criteria to dismiss treatment outcome data altogether.

If parents are unsure about trusting treatment outcome data for Lovaas-style ABA therapy because they are do not believe that true random assignment was used in the treatment outcome studies to date- they do not have to. Lovaas-style ABA therapy (unlike most other therapies for children with autism) requires the instructors to take scientific data for every program, for each specific child to prove that that child is learning in areas of language, play, social skills, academics, self-help and independence. The child is also given standardized tests by psychologists who are not involved in the treatment. Simply begin your own program, take your own data, graph your own results and go from there. You can see the results in your own logbook. Just my 2 cents-Rachel

[Rachel Russell]

Hi- just a few words on some new rienforcers I have loved recently:

1) Disney Sticker Activity Book (for kids 5 and up)by Phidal Publishing- available at Toys R Us, Costco and Wall Mart. 360 stickers from 5 fav. movies with great tasks (sorting object items into rooms, count/how many, opposites etc. Phidal has a web site with other great sticker books (Wierd and Wacky, Things that go etc- http://www.phidal.com)

2) Bubble Machines (Battery) from Toys R US for all ages

3) Magic Sound Blocks (Numbers, Animals and Things that go) for preschoolers Available from Autism Resource Network Catalog- call 952-988-0088 and fax 952-988-0099 (great catalog for teaching resources and fun stuff in the back)

4) 'Klutz' company makes great stuff for older kids (Klutz amazing sticker book is great and also love 'Klutz craft kits' like making 'hemp necklaces', "lip gloss making kits", "how to braid hair' etc) Great for older kids

5) Body Crayons (Linen's and Beyond)

6) Excellent wind-up toys, paper yo-yos, musical light-up balls and fortune-telling fish from Toy Box (West Broadway in Vancouver)Always see what they have on the counters by the cash register- some great toys for rienforcers for therapy

7) Very cool wooden blocks (tunnels) with marbles- the next step for Marble Works lover kids- can build large structures and a bit more age appropriate for school age kids. Available from Today's Parent Imagination Catalog.

Also want to say huge thanks for all parents and children involved in the B.C. court case (who are now too old to receive any of the funding) who have made the $ available to all the young kids following them. Even though these parents/kids will not see a penny of the money from the current new Individualized funding (so far)that they fought for- they have changed the situation for the next generation.

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