ABA in schools

[Guest guest]

Good point Timary. I went to observe the recommended program in HISD and

was told by the special ed director that the teacher was certified and did

TEEACH and ABA. When I questioned the special ed director specifically who

was the BCBA in charge of the program, she fumbled and said, " uh, well

there's not one. " When I asked what training the teacher had, turns out

that she had been to one TEEACH conference and had no certification, but she

does have a gift for working with kids on the spectrum. It's very

important to compare apples to apples when talking about ABA programs.

Because as ABA is slowly becoming accepted, more schools are talking about

it without a real understanding of what it is.

I have heard of ville ISD having a very strong ABA program, but then I

had also heard Plano had a strong program from one parent and was told by

another parent it's not ABA. Also remember TEEACH is based on ABA, but it's

more of a classroom management technique for teachers who are stuck with a

large number of kids (in my view trying to teach more than 3 children with

autism in one classroom who aren't speaking is a lot).

Re: aba in schools

When you guys say whether your ISD provides ABA or not, can you also specify

whether it is ABA in the classroom, one on one, at home, etc? is it being

run by a certified BCBA, if not then who? All of that would be helpful I'm

sure to anyone trying to obtain those types of services.

T

[Guest guest]

Good point Timary. I went to observe the recommended program in HISD and

was told by the special ed director that the teacher was certified and did

TEEACH and ABA. When I questioned the special ed director specifically who

was the BCBA in charge of the program, she fumbled and said, " uh, well

there's not one. " When I asked what training the teacher had, turns out

that she had been to one TEEACH conference and had no certification, but she

does have a gift for working with kids on the spectrum. It's very

important to compare apples to apples when talking about ABA programs.

Because as ABA is slowly becoming accepted, more schools are talking about

it without a real understanding of what it is.

I have heard of ville ISD having a very strong ABA program, but then I

had also heard Plano had a strong program from one parent and was told by

another parent it's not ABA. Also remember TEEACH is based on ABA, but it's

more of a classroom management technique for teachers who are stuck with a

large number of kids (in my view trying to teach more than 3 children with

autism in one classroom who aren't speaking is a lot).

Re: aba in schools

When you guys say whether your ISD provides ABA or not, can you also specify

whether it is ABA in the classroom, one on one, at home, etc? is it being

run by a certified BCBA, if not then who? All of that would be helpful I'm

sure to anyone trying to obtain those types of services.

T

[Guest guest]

You have got to make sure the district contracts with a BCBA, that is so

important. Schools are getting " smart " and starting to talk " our " language

to avoid the inevitable confrontation regarding ABA. Schools are happy to

use positive reinforcement and prompting but we all are painfully aware that

ABA is far more than just giving a child a skittle for doing a puzzle. I am

about to go on a tangent, and I will stop myself.

Some schools

Carrollton Farmers - Branch, a true ABA/VB program overseen by Dr.

Carbone, BCBA.

ville ISD - several ABA/VB/TEACH classrooms, consultant Kelle Wood

BCBA.

Fluggerville (spelling?) I am told the special ed. Director is a BCBA.

Lake ISD

Carroll ISD

NO ABA - Plano, , Frisco, Dallas to name a few in my area.

There are several more but my mind is a fog due to some bad Thai food. Kim

and if you are out there you both may have more to list.

The tides are turning in our direction, but because each school district is

its own local education agency they have the legal choice to choose whatever

methodology they want to use for their students. TEA does not have a say in

the matter. TEA does have a say in numbers, percentages, outcome data,

basically whatever is a federal or state law. Someone at the Comptrollers

office told me once that 25% of the schools will do the right thing, because

it is the right and good thing to do. 25% of the schools will dig in their

heels and just fight and be difficult and not work with the parents AT ALL.

50% of the schools will do the right thing only if, a lawsuit is threatened,

if a kid dies or is abused, if they just get scared of you, or sick of tired

of you. So basically we have 75% of the schools that will be difficult to

deal with. Lucky are those families who live in one of the 25% that is open

and willing to do good because they should. With all that said, BCBA's are

consulting with more school districts and teachers are understanding the

benefits of ABA, thanks to the perseverance of advocating parents. Keep the

pressure on for our children to receive an effective education. Hopefully

in a year or two this will not be an issue. Liz