ABA/VB - therapy for Finn where do I start??

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Hello

Two weeks ago I wrote in asking for advice for my little boy Finn (age 5) and just diagnosed as 'on the autistic spectrum'. The support and info from this site has been great.

Mum2fredandpudding and Agnesdepesto mentioned success and support for the ABA/VB programme. If you are still out there - how did you go about finding a tutor? I've heard that it can be hit and miss. Finn is in reception at a main stream school - do the tutors go into the school? Is there an accredited agency linked to ABA? Is there funding for this? If so does your child have to have a statement?

We live in London.

Thank you and take care

M x

No direct experience of this. There is a ABA group on yahoo who could give you info relevant to the UK. In terms of funding - it's possible but tends to be a battle to get LEAs to fund ABA.

there's general info on VB if you google the mariposa school, california, it has a link to a VB manual.

agree with swc. we started dd1 (now 5.7) on a home ABA programme 2 years ago. It has been the best thing for her, it really is the only way she learns.

We used Sean Rhodes as a consultant (he is brilliant) and had to find our own tutors (can be hard - the ABA yaho group can help a bit with htis, as people may know someone who has space)

we too are in the middle of taking LEA to tribunal to pay for our ABA - in our case we are chasing ABA school

Hello

Thank you very much for this advice. What a road we're on.... just met a mother at the school gate and she was moaning about her cleaner!!

thank you marie x

What part of London are you in? I think you are lucky as you will have lots of places to look for tutors, not that it makes it easy. There are plenty of colleges and universities and also charities for SN/ASD where you can find people. I have always heard good things about Sean Rhodes and UKYAP, also look at Peach as a provider and there are various others, some I wouldn't touch with a bargepole, some that are great and some that can work well if you can get it to iyswim.

Hello

Electra & Davros - this is very helpful. My head is spinning abit but I'll make some notes and start at the start.

Thank you x marie

We run an ABA programme with PEACH - they do training courses etc and while experienced therapists are fab we are doing well with a team of psych students than we have trained up at the moment.

PEACH have a helpline you can call to discuss everything - no obligation and make it all fairly straightforward to undersatand (and they are very lovely people too)

Good Luck!

Hello

I'm going to find out about BIBIC - some people have mentioned that. Once we get the formal report from paed. back we will have mtg with ed. psych & start the 'early bird' prog. I'll ask lots of questions there. (If I knew what to ask!!)

I think it may be next sept. before we start the whole statement process. I'm not looking forward to 'working with the school' on that, as they are pretty shocking in terms of support -(catholic london school).I think this is the right road - I hope so. It is still early and I'm just trying to see things clear ( not sleeping well)!!

Electra - does your ABA tutor go into your little girl's school?

Thanks a million for this advice.

Marie x

We use Autism Partnership in the North. Don't know about their London provision. Very happy with them - really like the oversight from senior USA psychologists. Its not VB but naturalised as soon as child is able to cope with more relaxed approach. Tutors are hard for us as we live rurally. We do alot of hours ourselves which has not been hard to learn but is hard to fit into our already busy lives. I think the supervisor is the crucial element - more so than the tutors really. You can get students or mums to be tutors but knowing how to set and adjust a programme is the important bit.

Thank you all v. much - this is all going into my file to dig into later when I get my head clear.

take care mx