Do you have a child with autism that is receiving special education services? Did you know that Applied Behavioral Analysis, is the research based educational treatment, for autism? Did you know that if ABA starts at age 3 by age 7 many children are able to be mainstreamed, have a more productive life, and save society money? Would you like to know, how to avoid a "fake" ABA program that will not educationally benefit your child? This article will discuss several ways to avoid, agreeing to an ABA program, that is not being done in a correct manner, to the detriment of your child.
1. Avoid a fake program, by making sure that any program that special education personnel want to use for your child, is developed by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. The professional should have a masters or a doctorate degree; and ask for written proof of this. The person also must have over one hundred hours of specific course work and thousands of hours of supervised experience. The program is individualized for each child with autism, and will not be effective if it is not developed by a trained person.
2. Avoid a fake program, by making sure that the professional person that develops the program also has experience working with children with autism. The program will be more effective, if the professional person developing it, has experience working with many children with different types of autism.
3. Avoid a fake program, by ensuring that the ratio is 1-1; which is 1 adult to 1 child; any other ratio is not the correct way to do the program. Many schools say they have ABA programs, but the ratios are 4 students to 1 adult; not the way ABA is carried out. If the program is not done on a 1 to 1 basis, your child will not be getting the most benefit from the program.
4. Avoid a fake program, by ensuring that your child receives a minimum of 25 hours per week or a maximum of 40 hours per week. Many disability organizations estimate that a 40 hour week costs approximately $50,000 a year per child. If your school district wants to give your child 2 hours of ABA a day, tell them that ABA must be given a minimum of 25 hours a week, and you will accept no less. One way that special education personnel try and save money, is to offer the appropriate interventions, but not for the effective amount of time.
5. Avoid a fake program, by making sure that the instruction uses discrete trial training, which is the main component of the program.
6. Avoid a fake program, by making sure that the teacher assistant that is carrying out the program, has received extensive training from a professional with a Masters or Doctorate in ABA; and works under the supervision of the professional. The professional, should also meet with the teacher's assistant on a regular basis, to see how the child is progressing, and if the program needs to be changed.
Why is it important to make sure that the ABA program your child receives will bring the maximum benefit? A study that was done in 1998 Entitled: Cost benefit estimates for early intensive behavioral intervention for young children with autism shows that If a child receives ABA between the ages of 2 and school entry the cost savings range from $187,000 to $203,000 per child for ages 3-21. Also the cost savings is from $656,000 to$1,082,000 per child from ages 3-55 years.
It is not only in your child's best interest to receive an appropriately developed ABA program, but it is in societies also. Advocate for an effective program that is going to benefit your child, for the rest of their life.
JoAnn Collins is the mother of 2 adults with disabilities and has been an educational advocate for over 15 years. She has helped hundreds of parents navigate the special education system, for the benefit of their child. She is the author of an advocacy book for parents entitled: Disability Deception. For more information on autism and a free E newsletter entitled: The Special Education Spotlight go to; http://www.disabilitydeception.com
By JoAnn Collins
1. Avoid a fake program, by making sure that any program that special education personnel want to use for your child, is developed by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. The professional should have a masters or a doctorate degree; and ask for written proof of this. The person also must have over one hundred hours of specific course work and thousands of hours of supervised experience. The program is individualized for each child with autism, and will not be effective if it is not developed by a trained person.
2. Avoid a fake program, by making sure that the professional person that develops the program also has experience working with children with autism. The program will be more effective, if the professional person developing it, has experience working with many children with different types of autism.
3. Avoid a fake program, by ensuring that the ratio is 1-1; which is 1 adult to 1 child; any other ratio is not the correct way to do the program. Many schools say they have ABA programs, but the ratios are 4 students to 1 adult; not the way ABA is carried out. If the program is not done on a 1 to 1 basis, your child will not be getting the most benefit from the program.
4. Avoid a fake program, by ensuring that your child receives a minimum of 25 hours per week or a maximum of 40 hours per week. Many disability organizations estimate that a 40 hour week costs approximately $50,000 a year per child. If your school district wants to give your child 2 hours of ABA a day, tell them that ABA must be given a minimum of 25 hours a week, and you will accept no less. One way that special education personnel try and save money, is to offer the appropriate interventions, but not for the effective amount of time.
5. Avoid a fake program, by making sure that the instruction uses discrete trial training, which is the main component of the program.
6. Avoid a fake program, by making sure that the teacher assistant that is carrying out the program, has received extensive training from a professional with a Masters or Doctorate in ABA; and works under the supervision of the professional. The professional, should also meet with the teacher's assistant on a regular basis, to see how the child is progressing, and if the program needs to be changed.
Why is it important to make sure that the ABA program your child receives will bring the maximum benefit? A study that was done in 1998 Entitled: Cost benefit estimates for early intensive behavioral intervention for young children with autism shows that If a child receives ABA between the ages of 2 and school entry the cost savings range from $187,000 to $203,000 per child for ages 3-21. Also the cost savings is from $656,000 to$1,082,000 per child from ages 3-55 years.
It is not only in your child's best interest to receive an appropriately developed ABA program, but it is in societies also. Advocate for an effective program that is going to benefit your child, for the rest of their life.
JoAnn Collins is the mother of 2 adults with disabilities and has been an educational advocate for over 15 years. She has helped hundreds of parents navigate the special education system, for the benefit of their child. She is the author of an advocacy book for parents entitled: Disability Deception. For more information on autism and a free E newsletter entitled: The Special Education Spotlight go to; http://www.disabilitydeception.com
By JoAnn Collins
Post a Comment