ABA and 'recovery' - is it possible?

[RockinSockBunnies]

So, having read Catherine Maurice's 'Let me Hear Your Voice', I was wondering whether, aside from her book, anyone was aware of children who have been wholly recovered from autism through ABA?

The book is great, very inspiring and has a happy ending. Obviously though, no-one knows what has happened subsequently to the children. Are they NT adults? Do they have any residual autistic traits?

Are there any other experiences of ABA being used an actual 'cure'?

Pipin, I'd love to see that 28 page slag off...
Boy oh boy, I'd love to make a response to that.

An ABA trained TA is a fantastic asset to any school.
It will be someone woh understands about

-correct use of reinforcers
-how to fade prompts
-how to take data and make data based decisions
-how to write factual and non subjective reports

What is not to like?

Some LEAs will employ ABA folk as freelancers (ie on hourly rate) which rids them of a big headache in terms of pensions, job contracts and so on.

But often, they end up being so impressed by what they have to offer, they snap them up anyway for reasons outlined above.

Pipin sorry I don't have the formula
Our LA was at the time putting some SEN resourced provision into a mainstream school and had costed it out for that
A normal TA was £19.50 hour
Autism outreach TA £21.50 / hr
Autism outreach teacher £45 / hr

It was called something like earmarked financial overhead.
If you can find similar on your LA website then you can use their figures back at them

I'd like to see it-can't promise anything because that's not what I do for a living but even so...

You got what you wantyed in the end din't you?
How so?

Thanks agnes - yet again I am hugely grateful for your help

Interesting costs - even the cheapest TA is more than our most expensive tutor (though of course have to add on supervisor/consultant fees).

I am pretty scared about what will happen with school actually - I don't even know if our first-choice school will even accept an ABA tutor, even if we do win any funding. And not sure if I should ask them - we find out about applications in April, and the statement is due by June so just don't know how it will work, so in a way don't want to jeopardise a place at the school we want, but also do we really want it if they won't have an ABA tutor??

When does your ds start primary school?

He starts in Sept. But...we have transition review in April and am scared they will mess with us before Sept as DS is probably the most expensive 4 year old in the County since Tribunal and am sure they have no intention of paying out to this extent for very long.

Agnes, do you know which school he is going to? Is it ms?

You are presumably seasoned enough at this game to prove that he still needs it though? How could they justify removing it simply based on his age and that he's starting school?

We should have heard by 15 Feb so am anxious now.
It should be MS+ABA support
The Tribunal wording is vague about the future, they addressed what was needed at that point (pre school) but not what would happen next. I mean its obvious he needs ABA still once in school but my LA won't bother about whats right or obvious. They have a history of dragging parents back to tribunal by offering a bit more or SS and saying the child has to try it as its cheaper. I mean we proved the pre school support was useless but they will say we haven't tried their school age provision
We looked at a lot of MS schools which had children with ASC and TA support and without fail the TA was at the child's elbow sort of trying to encourage them to do things but usually failing to engage them at all - DS needs the systematic programming he functions at a much higher level with ABA staff. He actually loves learning when he is made to do it but does not have the skills or motivation to learn for himself.
The school we chose are sympathetic (for now), thats the key getting the school to say he needs it and is making good progress and cannot make progress without it, but of course we can't do that until we get him in. Also its hard to get schools to say we can't help this child when the LA say but we delegate all this money so you should be able to.
For me ABA means he will be able to live independently and work - it might be supported housing / employment but he will have a life. Without ABA he would be at home forever and never work.
But in theory the test is whether he is making progress - which he is, great progress
But my LA don't bother about what the rules say.

I have to confess to knowing very little about ABA before reading this thread. DS (13) is finally receiving cbt and seems to be responding well to it. It seems as if the principles are similar to ABA. Demand avoidance is a big problem with getting ds to apply himself to any schoolwork. Does anyone have experience of or know about using ABA with older children/teenagers? Is it less likely to be successful if started later - with years of ingrained habits to overcome? Also wondered if anyone can recommend particular ABA practitioners in the southeast - London/Surrey/Sussex?

Thank you.

Smallwhitecat, Thank you for the recommendation, I'll look them up.

"smallwhitecat Wed 23-Feb-11 16:02:10
sometimes I wonder, reading her posts, if sickof is actually me. I could have written almost everything she has written here. I have also had the "don;t do ABA" spiel from HCPs - becasue "you can't let autism take over your life", apparently. I wonder what these excuses for doctors think happens to a parent when their child is diagnosed with a serious neuro-developmental disorder? Do they imagine we shrug and say hey-ho, damn shame, but we can't let it take over our lives?"

ha ha, i was thinking the same thing .... i was thinking did i sign on to this discussion group and not remember because sickof's experiences mirror mine in a way that is truly scary!!!!

says a lot about the 'standard' spiel we get from so called experts!

Hi All,
I know this thread is old but I read it so many times when I was scouring the internet for information about ABA during the summer. We are now 2 months into our ABA programme (home and nursery, 30 hours per week) and the improvement in behaviour, play skills and communication has been quite staggering.
I know my son has autism but, being completely honest, I desperately wish he didn't. He has no accompanying stims or sensory issues and sleeps and eats well so far (he will be 3 at the end of January).
I just wish I had a crystal ball.... I would be ever so grateful if any of you would get in touch with me either commenting on the thread or PM if you prefer. I desperately want him to have a normal life... What's normal you say? Well I'd like him to be doing ok academically at a mainstream school, I'd like his behaviour to be such that it doesn't stop him or us doing everyday things, I'd like him to be toilet trained and able to dress himself,I'd like him to be able to talk and read and have friends his own age, I'd like him to be invited to parties and able to attend.

All messages of hope gratefully received - as are messages of 'new normals'. Thank you mummies x

Hi there

I would be very grateful uf you share your experience and provide advice plz.

I also started ABA for both my autistic kids (aged 4 and 5) last year and have a court hearing soon for mainstream + Aba..

How did aba help ur son? Pls share ur experience...

My son will be 5 in january and still non.verbsl :(

How long did u have it before you saw its positive impact?

It is helpful for us but absorbing all my income :(

Please advise me.

Thanks