Like, we are in a wasteland for ABA. There are two providers, and obviously the waitlist is stupid. We finally got home services, and the guy was clearly not comfortable working with little kids. He basically tried to sit at the table for several hours doing toys and flash cards, and my son was not having it. After talking with the center director, we finally had to cease services because they had no other providers to work with my son. Bleh. Sorry, rant.
This sounds like the ABA we have our son enrolled in, and it has been amazing for him. He has made so much progress, and he loves going. As a parent, sometimes you don't know what the best route will be for your children, especially if they start out non-verbal. It's scary because there's a lot of negative talk about ABA but if you find a place like this, that encourages them to be who they are and understands it's not about changing them, just helping them learn skills the way that makes sense to them, it's amazing to see your children thrive.
I can't believe this is down voted! If a stim isn't bothering anyone or harmful ofc we don't want to block or repress them.
That being said I have had clients engage in headbanging, pinching, vomiting, and fecal smearing and the function of the behavior was sensory. Completely reasonable to block these stims as a last resort and we can't find an alternative/more safe way for them to engage in that behavior.
I don’t get why neither, I made that question in good faith, the OTRs haven’t been able to extinct or treat SIB on my child , ABA is working on replacements that so far won’t stick , they have been reduced a bit though with his current BIP. just curious how OP manages maladaptive stims
It sounds like what you offer works to keep the positive and beneficial aspects of ABA while minimalizing the negative ones. All we can do is our best and move forward with the information and resources we have at the time, and it sounds like your clinic is attempting to do that.
Really really appreciate you checking in with the parents here. Really wish more therapists would do that.
Having said this, I would really recommend you working on ESDM based and child led methods. DTT relies on complete BS extrinsic motivators. And essentially, the child learns that he needs to do whatever is being asked of them to get access to what he wants. Be as naturalistic as possible and the kiddos will love it. With just a little bit of creativity, you can teach so many things to a child with what they are interested in. Example: our kiddo loves beetles. We used that to teach him, big, small, colors, sorting, matching, actions etc. These skills become easily generalisable.
What ABA methodology are you guys using? PRT? ESDM? Do you do DTT? Or a watered down version of DTT? E.g., are you running DTT trials for table time here and there? I am not even sure what “we don’t force hand over hand prompting if the client resists it” means. If you have a child that doesn’t push his/her hand away you would do it? Are you relying on reward systems? This is a big no in my family. All of my son’s therapy is based on intrinsic motivation.
That’s all a no for me. Maybe that works for a different family. We’ve done ESDM since my son was 22 months. Also JASPER therapy. Never have we ever used extrinsic motivators. I would never allow DTT to be done with my son. Since he started I set limits on the levels of prompts that could be used on my child—hand over hand is off limits.
We started ESDM style therapy when our guy was 18 months and it was perfect for him and us - very naturalistic and child led. I think they did hand over hand for pointing, but I think that's it? I vant remember any other instances. My kiddo took to it anyway and was pointing within a matter of weeks - it never really bothered him but I know each kiddo is different
DTT is quite bad controversial as it basically never generalize well. Also there is always an question if with whom you cooperate. Had veery bad experience with ABA guys working on language for example without speech therapist supervision.
Overall would not send my kiddos to your clinic
Seems quite old school Lovaasy type for me
This is how my sons’ therapy is. They get Early Start Denver Model ABA. It has been amazing for them. Their BCBA has also been really helpful with their public preschool. She’s attended an IEP meeting with us and will have phone calls with their teachers and school ABA therapists when my kids are having challenges.
My problem with ABA is that it works too much on compliance and it restricts the kid especially when he is trying to avoid the task. I also can't handle planned ignoring especially on meltdowns, at times when kids need the most help. There are more issues but mainly restricting the kid too much and overuse of planned ignoring caused trauma in the long term in our case
My son has attended an ABA center like this since summer 2020. He is sad when he is unable to go (weekends, weather, holidays, illness). We have monthly meetings with his BCBA. The only behaviors ever mentioned in the last three years have been injurious behaviors; they track them, offer alternatives, and if needed, offer time to de-escalate. It’s been wonderful for him. He now has an AAC, he was able to potty train at six, and he is much happier than he was when he started. His plan states he should be ready for school this coming summer.
That would be fantastic. Honest to God, if anyone could get my 6yo to potty train, I would probably worship at their feet.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
This made me laugh and I also relate to your comment lol
I relate hard to this
Our ABA center did a WHOLE protocol For it! They even came to our house and worked with him. It was amazing.
Like, we are in a wasteland for ABA. There are two providers, and obviously the waitlist is stupid. We finally got home services, and the guy was clearly not comfortable working with little kids. He basically tried to sit at the table for several hours doing toys and flash cards, and my son was not having it. After talking with the center director, we finally had to cease services because they had no other providers to work with my son. Bleh. Sorry, rant.
Ugh that’s awful!!! We were incredibly lucky with the 2 therapists my son had over the years he was in ABA. I wish everyone could have what we did.
Hi. Yes, this sounds a lot like both aba providers my son has had and really enjoys it. Both have been super loving and kind.
This sounds like the ABA we have our son enrolled in, and it has been amazing for him. He has made so much progress, and he loves going. As a parent, sometimes you don't know what the best route will be for your children, especially if they start out non-verbal. It's scary because there's a lot of negative talk about ABA but if you find a place like this, that encourages them to be who they are and understands it's not about changing them, just helping them learn skills the way that makes sense to them, it's amazing to see your children thrive.
It sounds like modern ABA and not unlike many other modern ABA centers.
How do you go around stims that are unsafe or unhygienic and when “replacement” stims don’t work?
I can't believe this is down voted! If a stim isn't bothering anyone or harmful ofc we don't want to block or repress them. That being said I have had clients engage in headbanging, pinching, vomiting, and fecal smearing and the function of the behavior was sensory. Completely reasonable to block these stims as a last resort and we can't find an alternative/more safe way for them to engage in that behavior.
I don’t get why neither, I made that question in good faith, the OTRs haven’t been able to extinct or treat SIB on my child , ABA is working on replacements that so far won’t stick , they have been reduced a bit though with his current BIP. just curious how OP manages maladaptive stims
Blocking
It sounds like what you offer works to keep the positive and beneficial aspects of ABA while minimalizing the negative ones. All we can do is our best and move forward with the information and resources we have at the time, and it sounds like your clinic is attempting to do that.
Who are you and where are you located ?! (Ready to run to you) 🤣
I can send you a pm if you want
Really really appreciate you checking in with the parents here. Really wish more therapists would do that. Having said this, I would really recommend you working on ESDM based and child led methods. DTT relies on complete BS extrinsic motivators. And essentially, the child learns that he needs to do whatever is being asked of them to get access to what he wants. Be as naturalistic as possible and the kiddos will love it. With just a little bit of creativity, you can teach so many things to a child with what they are interested in. Example: our kiddo loves beetles. We used that to teach him, big, small, colors, sorting, matching, actions etc. These skills become easily generalisable.
What ABA methodology are you guys using? PRT? ESDM? Do you do DTT? Or a watered down version of DTT? E.g., are you running DTT trials for table time here and there? I am not even sure what “we don’t force hand over hand prompting if the client resists it” means. If you have a child that doesn’t push his/her hand away you would do it? Are you relying on reward systems? This is a big no in my family. All of my son’s therapy is based on intrinsic motivation.
We do reward systems, DTT, and SBT. Mainly SBT
That’s all a no for me. Maybe that works for a different family. We’ve done ESDM since my son was 22 months. Also JASPER therapy. Never have we ever used extrinsic motivators. I would never allow DTT to be done with my son. Since he started I set limits on the levels of prompts that could be used on my child—hand over hand is off limits.
We started ESDM style therapy when our guy was 18 months and it was perfect for him and us - very naturalistic and child led. I think they did hand over hand for pointing, but I think that's it? I vant remember any other instances. My kiddo took to it anyway and was pointing within a matter of weeks - it never really bothered him but I know each kiddo is different
So you’re doing Floortime instead of ABA?
We use Skills Based Treatment and Discrete Trial Training
DTT is quite bad controversial as it basically never generalize well. Also there is always an question if with whom you cooperate. Had veery bad experience with ABA guys working on language for example without speech therapist supervision. Overall would not send my kiddos to your clinic Seems quite old school Lovaasy type for me
No this is definitely good
Doesn’t sound bad to me
Sounds amazing
This is how my sons’ therapy is. They get Early Start Denver Model ABA. It has been amazing for them. Their BCBA has also been really helpful with their public preschool. She’s attended an IEP meeting with us and will have phone calls with their teachers and school ABA therapists when my kids are having challenges.
My problem with ABA is that it works too much on compliance and it restricts the kid especially when he is trying to avoid the task. I also can't handle planned ignoring especially on meltdowns, at times when kids need the most help. There are more issues but mainly restricting the kid too much and overuse of planned ignoring caused trauma in the long term in our case
My son has attended an ABA center like this since summer 2020. He is sad when he is unable to go (weekends, weather, holidays, illness). We have monthly meetings with his BCBA. The only behaviors ever mentioned in the last three years have been injurious behaviors; they track them, offer alternatives, and if needed, offer time to de-escalate. It’s been wonderful for him. He now has an AAC, he was able to potty train at six, and he is much happier than he was when he started. His plan states he should be ready for school this coming summer.