ABA in schools

[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