Help with ABA - How do i get started?

[mum2fred]

OK. There seems to be a consensus on here that ABA is a really effective way to go and dh and I really want to get a program started (ds1 2.5 ASD). Just wasted an hour trying to source good info on it (should have just stayed on MN!)

So far I have had a good look at PEACH and requested an info pack.

Does anyone else know of an organisation/ case manager / consultant that works from central or South London? Personal recommendations would be adored.

ALSO

We have miraculously managed to get DS into a very nice local nursey for 2 days a week (as his socialisation sits on zero) and would like to keep him in that. Would ABA be able to work around that - ie. is is possible/ effective to do it part-time over 3 days a week?

ALSO

how long will it take me (if i push hard) to get a program up and running?

Any other thoughts, links or first-hand experiences with ABA would be appreciated.

Phew! Thanking you in advance.....

[moondog]

I'd like to just add that SALT and ABA can and do work together very well indeed.
I'm a SALT who is near completion of my MSc in ABA and it has improved my abilities as a SALT no end and I am happy to be quoted on that!

Trouble is that most SALTs misunderstand ABA.
I doubt there are more than a handful in the UK who really get it (the same is true of ABA therapists understanding SALT to a certain , if significantly less extent).

[mum2fredandpudding]

will try to get access to some sessions. i have already watched every ABA video available on youtube!

i just heard back from Duncan Fennemore who is based a half hour drive from me, and get a really good feeling from him (as well as him coming recommended from a few. He has told us that if i had tutors in place we could get a program started within the month. Problem is, no tutors..... Well, that's not the biggest problem

At the moment I have so many things on complex decisions on my shoulders that i dont know where to begin. As I have mentioned, we are thinking about returing ot Aus to get DS1 close to family and in a stable environment that we will live in for hte long-term. DH's work told him yesterday that they would be happy to accommodate a move to Australia if he felt that is what we needed to do for our family Which is great news. However this puts us in limbo for a few months as this sort of move takes time. And I really wanted to start things here, but wonder if there is any point. We were thinking of maybe not worring about hiring the tutors, but getting an assessment and training made up that DH and I can implement on a very minor level for the next couple of months and then take the program to australia to get implemented. (and hiring a supervisor/tutors over there). Mind you, if we are going to pay for the training, might as well get a few people to watch. Argh. DOnt know.

On top of this we are losing money on a one bed flat that we own and cant rent out. The house we are currently renting was sold and we are due to move... next monday... and hte house we are going to move into has fallen through. the last thing is not the worst thing to happen becuase in light of moving back to aus soon, a 12 month contract is hardly the way forward. Howeve the upshot is that it looks like we might have to move into a tiny open-plan (cue no sound or light restrictions) one bed flat at the top of 5 flights of stairs for hte next few months. With no phone or internet. Plus we need to sell our car. Orgnaise a house to return to in AUs. Get boxes packed for not only move in a week but shipping ot oz in a month or to. We need to figure out nursery and whether we een bother ot settle him in one. Plus i will have no phone or internet access as of monday.

in the middle of a sheetstorm at moment.

However what pains me most is that in all this upheaval, DS1 is going to be stuck in crappy conditions for a couple of months and we wont be moving forward with therapy. I am so anxious to get it started.

DO you htink it is worthwhile to get ABA up and running now if only for a month or two?

[mum2fredandpudding]

im just so lost as to how to go forward with Fred. I dont know how ot discipline him, dont know exactly how to encourage his very few words or even what types of words i need to push. I just want a really good teacher to come into my life and give me a game plan to stick to. can do that. I'm good at plans.

ANyway - thanks for all the info above. your experence nad thoughts are so invaluable to people like me.

Interestingly the two places that offer ABA in Adeliade (australia) both offer the VB program... so guess not much choice at this point. ALSO the person I am talking to who runs htis companywww.keyearlyyears.com has an interesting thing where they not only offer hte home-based ABA therapy, but have a dedicated ABA centre/daycare. Unfort it only takes on 8 kids at a time, but down the track should be able to do a combintaion of hte two.

[moondog]

Electra, I don't think you need to apologize.
I think what you say is sopt on re SALT.
The examples you give regarding your own child show how ABA and SALT can work together briliantly.

I often say that SALTs know what needs to be worked on but lack the skills needed to teach, reinforce and maintain that behaviour.
Which is where ABA comes in.

In the right hands, it's a match made in heaven!

[mum2fredandpudding]

hiya - new question!

one of hte things we are thinking of doing is taking on some of the ABA hours ourselves. Well, myself anyway. I know that it's not for mums to do this. Does anyone have any experience of this?

im worried that ds's behaious might be dfferent wth me/dh and less productive. any thoughts

[mum2fredandpudding]

whoops!!!! dropped a word in that sentence. - and what a bad word to drop! meant to say 'it's not UNUSUAL for mums to do this!' Sorry!!

i get the feeling that in most ABA programs a parent is heavily involved. I sort of want to know that me (who always gets the poor behaiour from DS1) taking on a good portion of therapy myself is just as effectove as anyone else. (In which case hope to take the lead roll.)

Like a lot of SN mums and dads, when faced with helping the people they love most in the world... well...it feels very important for me to be instrumental in this. I feel like ds developing well is my thing, my goal for the next fe years. THe most imporant thing i've ever done.

Just want to know other mums take on being involved in a program.

[moondog]

Pipin, I am doing my level best to make sure that our numbers grow.
The Greek SALT sounds great!
A man too!

[moondog]

Pipin, this sums it up wonderfully

'he felt he did not have the skills before this to manage ASD children to achieve best outcomes and he is so confident now'

My feelings too. Traditional SALT trainig does not prepare you for this population at all.

[mum2fredandpudding]

pipinjo - i should hope some do. being passionate about and committed to my son is something I hope all my tutors are.... and what cute little boys to bond over

(ps LOVE the idea of having a male tutor, but suspect they are few and far between )