Your Ideas Requested: How To Find (Or Create) A High-Quality, Low-Cost ABA Therapy Program for a Child with Autism
In theory, ABA has great advantages. It's old enough to have a record of success. It's been the subject of many research studies, most of which seem to suggest that it can be very helpful for children (and even adults) with autism. And it can be taught readily to interested therapists who are then credentialed by various credentialing organizations (BACB, Lovaas Institute, etc.).
For those parents, teachers and therapists who favor a behavioral approach, then, ABA should be ideal. That is - assuming that commenter Mickey's prerequisites are followed:
... you should check that anyone who works with your kid is properly trained in the science of behaviour. Internationanl standards can be found at www.bacb.com. Other information about the science of behaviour analysis can be obtained from www.behavior.org. Once you make your choice then you can learn about the minute details of the applications of the science. But don’t start there! Science or not, that’s the starting point.But as many people (including me!) have pointed out in prior blogs, that's more easily said than done. Parents don't have an easy time getting hold of therapists' credentials, especially in a school setting. Even if they DO get the credentials, there's no clear path to follow if they don't like those credentials. Private ABA - hiring a private, highly trained therapist for 40 hours a week - is simply prohibitively expensive for most of us.
So... what are some methods you've used to find top-quality behavioral therapy - without paying for it entirely out of your own pocket? Have you just been lucky in your school district or agency? Or are there good methods for ensuring that your child's therapy really is all it should be?
Comments
Hi Lisa, You are absolutely right. Even when you think you are dealing with people who have the right credentials, you may come to find out you have been misled. Any good therapy group should be run by a certified behavorist(BCBA) and programs should always be developed by a BCBA, with at least 6 years experience in the field of autism. Many parents do not realize that a behavorist can get their certification with a small amount of experience and not neccessarily with children with autism. We were misled by our autism school, and we did not receive true ABA. There was no data collection and analysis of data and program updates never did occur, but we were charged a high tuition and very high hourly rates for 1:1 therapy time. I wish there were resources then like you are providing now, so I could have been more aware of how parents are taken advantage of. Thanks for what you do!
One more thing Lisa, when you do get a good, qualified Behavioral Analyst, they should be able to oversee a good therapist who can implement the program at lower cost. Good therapy is all about content and not necessarily the amount of hours.
My son was in a publicly funded school program that “taught ABA” for over one year (age 5 to 6). There were 8 students some with spectrum and some behavioral issues. It was loosy, goosy ABA at best but I admired the teacher for trying and the paper work involved was unreal. I observed more than a few times. He was a brilliant teacher but striving to make sure that each student’s ABA outline was covered was ah…interesting to watch.
Everyone is unique. My son is teaching me that learning can be just as unique as he is. For example, my son can connect the dots easily whether they make sense to him is a whole other issue. He is HF and has a photographic memory so he aces tests and many times he doesn’t “get” it. I must constantly go back and add more dots until he “gets” the picture. Sometimes it doesn’t resemble the picture in anyway to me…then out of nowhere he gets the aha moment.
In ABA my son had made very little progress and I removed him. He is 9 and is thriving in a public school program. It could be any number of things that slowed him in the ABA program or it could be a maturity issue. Will we ever know the difference through science? I don’t know. I think it is a huge mistake to discount any program where a child is having success and to stop looking until success (on whatever level) is found. My son has been in four different schools. Many would say I didn’t serve my son well with so many changes at such a young age…many would say that is what helped him. To me the most important thing was/is to keep searching until I found a program that works for him. I also realize I must be flexible enough to change it if needed.
I think we are all fighting the good fight but we each have to find what is right for our children. We’ve moved four times and are completely drained financially but it is worth it to us!
I agree with Catherine that a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) — not to be mistaken with a Board Certified Associate Behavior Analyst (BCABA), which has less certification — should develop and supervise your child’s ABA programs. And while, ideally, you want a BCBA to supervise your lead and line therapists, most parents can’t afford the $150-$250 per hour (usually with a minumum amount of time required) for a BCBA or BCABA in addition to the cost of therapists. That’s why, in my opinion, parents should educate themselves on the science of ABA so they can observe and supervise the therapists when the BCBA is not available. From my experience, the kids who make the most improvements with ABA are the ones whose parents continue to use ABA after the therapists leave. So, knowing how to run simple transfer trials, teaching for generalization, etc. will encourage socially significant improvements in your child’s behavior.
To get more performance out of therapists, let them know you’re “watching” them. Let them know you’re in the other room listening or install a video camera (the fake ones work) into the primary room where your child does therapy. Most importantly, ask lots of questions and let them know you’re aware of the progress or lack thereof your child is making. Also, don’t be afraid to give a therapist the pink slip. Sometimes a therapist is not a good fit for your child, even when he or she supposedly has lots of experience.
I have been trained and worked as a psychologist for over 35 years and trained as both a behaviorist and humanistic psychologist. ABA is NOT new but a focused effort of behavioral management and learning theory. I taught children with the Autism handicap to say yes please to the question,”Would you like a cookie?” Rather than repeat back,” John would y o u l ik e a c o o k ie.” One on one work is excessive. Of course we all would do better in being taught to input data on a one to one but we also need to learn social interactions, to copy peer responses and behavior in a structured and controlled classroom program. I first worked with the Autism Handicap in 1972 when many MDs were misdiagnosing it. It was not mystery to most psychologists who took behavioral courses. Teaching children with autism was like programing a computer. For me programing a child with autism is too easy and boring. But also too much work! NC has the TEACCH program to evaluate and provide consulting services to parents and teachers. Remember about 70% of Autistic children are MR and need more intense teaching than the average child.
Brittny Spears is more difficult to teach than an child with Autism. She just never seems to get it.
jim
I am currently searching for an ABA therapist in our area. The huge problem for us is money. Florida does not provide finacial support. I am getting a part time job and fortunaley the grandparents are in a position to help. Part of the problem is I have a two year-old who is on the spectrum too. Sadly, we have to do one son at a time. I learned “educate thyself”. I was a little confused by ABA and then attended several Autism seminars that helped me learn my decision. Finding the best fit for my sons is crucial. Verbal Behavior fits the ticket for our family.
Tip: If you have a university in your area see if there are grad students who need clinical hours. I know someone who is using a grad student (under the program directors watchful eye). She is very happy with the progress and it is a lot cheaper. Also, our local university has a study going on in exchange for free services. It is worth a look.
Hi,
does anyone have any leads for a great ABA therapist in Florida. I have the money to spend on it. I am flying to NYC and selling my kidney to a hospital there for ($60,000) which should last for one good year of quality ABA.
thanks and god bless
In my experience the most cost-effective way to deliver ABA therapy is for parents to read, take courses, or work with a consultant so that they are capable of doing some of the therapy themselves, and then hire local college students and neighbors to train and supervise in how to deliver the ABA therapy.
Although it can be very expensive to bring a BCBA level consultant to your home, many consultants can work with you from a distance, using the phone, faxed data, email, etc, and their rates for this can be very low (as low as $30 per hour)
If interested you can find BCBAs at the BACB.com site, or can write me at gcbisset@hotmail.com for names of “distance” consultants.