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Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

Nuts and bolts of ABA

8 replies

accordiongirl · 26/06/2012 00:10

Hello everyone - new(ish) to this - used to post in multiple births when my twins were babes... But now they're 5 and things have moved on... DS had dx of Asperger's just before Easter. Feel very positive about this dx, it feels constructive step, he's in mainstream with his sister, in reception, and Im working with (caring, cooperative but possibly a bit clueless?) school on getting him statemented, guess it will take some time... But please I want to know about, with ABA therapy - you all seem very much in favour of this - but can you dO it while attending MS school or is it a home ed or Special School thing? Does it need to be loads of hours a week? HOw does it fit into family regime? Thank you for any answers you can offer x

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StarlightWithAsteroid · 27/06/2012 07:06

Most ABA school programmes happen in mainstream.

It can be as many hours as suits. The outcomes are better though if you are involved as parents and know the targets/programme in order to continue making the most of any learning opportunities outside of the official programme.

FauxFox · 27/06/2012 07:13

We do ABA with DS at mainstream school with an ABA TA in the mornings and sessions at home with ABA tutors in the afternoons and it's a great balance for us. He's just finishing year 2 and we've had this set up since he started reception.

We've got the Annual Review this morning and i've got everything crossed they will let him stay the same for year 3 < bites nails >

accordiongirl · 27/06/2012 12:05

Thanks for replying, both of you.That's very useful. Good luck with the review FF! So, it was at the point of choosing a TA that the ABA path was taken? I asked the school, if he gets a dedicated TA on the back of the statement, how do they choose the TA and they said they just interview and appoint, so I guess that's the time to push for it tO be an ABA one, rather than a normal one? But it's great to hear it can work this way cos I am not at the moment anxious to put him in a different school.

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FauxFox · 27/06/2012 13:53

Yay! Got another year Grin

We trained an existing TA at the school in ABA techniques, and she is fab! You can specify in the statement you want a TA with ABA experience but it's an ABA desert around here so it made more sense for us to offer to train someone they already had. (my DS is a twin too accordion and it's much better having him and DD at the same school Smile)

bialystockandbloom · 27/06/2012 14:58

It is almost always the case that ABA would work within or alongside mainstream school. One of the purposes of ABA is that it aims to teach children the skills needed in mainstream life, so to remove children from that kind of works against that principle. Exceptions are of course ABA schools. But on the whole, most programmes work towards the aim of genuine inclusion and participation in ms schools.

We do a light-version of ABA in ms school, ds goes full-time. Like fauxfox, we have trained a TA provided by the school. Others might bring in their own tutors (who can be e,mployed by the school).

The number of hours depends on what you can afford (if self-funding), and how intensive a programme your child needs.

The path to getting ABA in mainstream school is anything but straightforward, sadly. Most families start doing a programme (often at pre-school age), have to demonstrate that it works, then fight the local authority for funding. It is almost unheard of for a LA to offer to fund it without a fight - most have to go to tribunal to get it. Even that is not a guarantee.

This is because the cost of an ABA programme (inc tutors, supervision and consultant) is much more than the minimum salary for bog-standard TAs.

There is also the consideration of how supportive the school will be of having 'outside' experts coming in working with your child. Your school sounds supportive, which is a good start.

If I was you first step would be to look into ABA providers (either organisations like Peach or UKYAP) or independent consultants to discuss a programme - first things to decide are how it would be tailored to what your ds needs, how much you can afford, how it will be work within the school. Next step is getting school/LA to fund it!

bialystockandbloom · 27/06/2012 14:58

Well done fauxfox - brilliant Smile

AgnesDiPesto · 27/06/2012 17:27

DS has 35 hours per week. 12.5 hours in mainstream. His ABA provider (a not for profit company) provide the 1:1. Not all schools would be happy with that but we won the provision before DS went into school so they had no choice.

In future we may train a TA but my DS has severe autism (although IQ ok-ish) + language disorder so he is not a 'mainstream child' in many ways. He is only there because of the ABA programme he could not be there without it. So at the moment he needs a very skilled, experienced 1:1 in school, not a newbie

It works brilliantly and the school are pleased with how it has worked (he's just finishing reception year).

If you can find other parents doing ABA whose schools are happy and put your school in touch with those schools that can help dispel the myths.

accordiongirl · 01/07/2012 10:15

This is fantastic information - thank you! And great news, FF! Might have to get the deputy head / senco into reading mumsnet! He has never heard of ABA and i dont know much about it so we'll be working on this...

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