Guest guest Posted April 14, 2003 Report Share Posted April 14, 2003 I am glad it works for you, I dont have a problem with what others decide for their child, but I have decided it is not for Abby. I know that it does work and I am relieved that you are in a good program. Pennie Abby's Mom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 14, 2003 Report Share Posted April 14, 2003 Janna, I just ant to say thank you for the work you do. You cannot know how much it means to us parents that you help give our children so much. I really men that-I know the pay is low and the days are long, but know that you are making a tremendous difference in our children's lives. Chris ABA I would just like to say this regarding ABA and why I am an ABA therapist. It is meant for everyone, but in particular those who see it as an abusive and horrible thing. I am an ABA therapist because it works. I do it because I have seen children who could do literally NOTHING for themselves learn to look after basic self-help needs and increase their communication skills through the use of behaviourist teaching principles. There is nothing evil about what I do. I have an excellent relationship with T in particular. When I come into the house, she greets me with, " Hi, Janna. " She comes when it's time to 'do work' very quickly. When she gets a correct response (which happens more often than not), we do high fives and tons of screaming (she likes loud vocals), and I offer her squeezes (she likes the sensory input). I've been working with her for a year and a half, and in that time we've taught her to speak in full sentences, to call people when she needs them, and to hold her pencil properly for printing. She can spell almost anything if it's practiced enough, and her computational math skills are excellent. T is one whose parents didn't know what was wrong until she was already five years old. Her older brother (now 17) was a 'late talker' (I swear he's on the spectrum somewhere), and they thought T was, too. They started out by using PECS (which, by the way, uses behaviourist principles as well), and she now refuses to use them to communicate, I think because her spoken abilities far exceed the limited communicative span of PECS. To those who think that it is the same as teaching a dog to do tricks... well, I say yes, it looks that way. It's based on the same principle - " I say, you do, something good happens. " But it's more than that. It's the application of a solid learning theory to the education of autistic individuals. EVERYONE learns this way. We do things because we are reinforced in some way for doing them. I watch TV because I get enjoyment out of the shows I choose to watch. I eat food because it tastes good and stops me feeling hungry. People stay in jobs they hate because the money they make is reinforcing (it's one of those situations where the reinforcement of money is stronger than the reinforcement of actually LIKING your job). I work with autistic kids because I love to do it - it's intrinsically reinforcing to me. And I don't use food as a reinforcer unless absolutely necessary; I much prefer to use physical and verbal interactions to let the child know they did a good job. As to the 'not much of a childhood' argument... What kind of a childhood is it if the child can't communicate effectively? What kind of a childhood is it if the child is spending most of his/her time stimming in the corner? I'd rather give a child skills to help her in life than leave her alone. Remember that what we're teaching in an ABA program are things that NT children 'pick up' - or learn on their own. Kids on the spectrum need a lot more repetition and individualized instruction to be able to learn what NT kids just sort of 'get' right away. Kids on the spectrum also do better with the kind of structure provided by an ABA program. An NT kid can roll with the punches much more easily than an ASD kid. ABA tries to give the structure and eventually give the skills to be able to roll with the punches. And that's my rant for now. Check out my web site (linked in my sig) for more information on various treatments. It's still a work in progress, as I haven't gotten to the sensory and communication sections yet, but it should give you an idea of ABA, at least. -Janna ABA Therapist, North Vancouver, BC, Canada BMus, BAPsych **************************************************************************** ***************** " Home is not a place. It is wherever your passion takes you. " - President Sheridan, Babylon 5 (Objects At Rest, Production #522) " Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfall; all of your waves and breakers have swept over me. " - Psalm 42:7 " Rolling river God, little stones are smooth, only once the water passes through... " - Nichole Nordeman, " river god " (wide eyed, 1998) " Nobody else is stronger than I am, today I moved a mountain! I'd like to be your hero, I am a mighty little man! " - Steve Burns, " Mighty Little Man " (Songs For Dustmites, unreleased) http://crosswinds.net/~jlhasd **************************************************************************** ***************** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 14, 2003 Report Share Posted April 14, 2003 Each mom has to decide what is best for their child. I just wanted to let you know about my own personal experience with the program. I sure hope if any moms are in ABA programs like you describe they immediately stop.... Re: ABA I am glad it works for you, I dont have a problem with what others decide for their child, but I have decided it is not for Abby. I know that it does work and I am relieved that you are in a good program. Pennie Abby's Mom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 14, 2003 Report Share Posted April 14, 2003 Each mom has to decide what is best for their child. I just wanted to let you know about my own personal experience with the program. I sure hope if any moms are in ABA programs like you describe they immediately stop.... Re: ABA I am glad it works for you, I dont have a problem with what others decide for their child, but I have decided it is not for Abby. I know that it does work and I am relieved that you are in a good program. Pennie Abby's Mom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 14, 2003 Report Share Posted April 14, 2003 Molly will be in early but need to leave at the time I to usually leave on Tuesdays at 1:30 due to a prior commitment. Sondra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 21, 2009 Report Share Posted April 21, 2009 Our son was just recommended to receive ABA. Didn't know if anyone knew if Deeming Waiver covered ABA services and if they would, any service provider that accepts Deeming Waiver? Also, does anyone have their child in an ABA program they are really happy with and can they recommend that person or facility? We are still new to this Autism diagnosis and are working through it all. Any help is greatly appreciated! - Cumming, GA Mother of 2yo ASD Son, 16yo NT Daughter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 22, 2009 Report Share Posted April 22, 2009 North Georgia Autism Center is in Cumming... I use them and I would have our therapist live with us, if I could afford it. The owner and everyone that works for her is great!www.northgeorgiaautismcenter.comCarmen Subject: ABATo: autism-georgia Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2009, 4:59 PM Our son was just recommended to receive ABA. Didn't know if anyone knew if Deeming Waiver covered ABA services and if they would, any service provider that accepts Deeming Waiver? Also, does anyone have their child in an ABA program they are really happy with and can they recommend that person or facility? We are still new to this Autism diagnosis and are working through it all. Any help is greatly appreciated! - Cumming, GA Mother of 2yo ASD Son, 16yo NT Daughter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 22, 2009 Report Share Posted April 22, 2009 i have heard that the Marcus Autism Center has an ABA program for kids on the deeming waiver. we don't have the waiver so i don't have first hand experience. we are working with our ins co to get ABA covered and plan to use the May Institute. Our daughter's pre-K teach used provide ABA services with the May Institute and Southern Behavioral Services. She recommended both as quality, ethical providers. I have also met and heard presentations by Coby and Janet Lund. Their practice is called Integrated Behavioral Services. The also run the Keystone program which is a center based program. I'm sure Marcus Institite provides inhome services and i know they have a center based program. Emory has a center based program but i think waiting list is years long. The other provider I know of is Reinforcement Unlimited. They provide home based services and are probably pretty good. My family has had a couple of interactions with Dr. Montgomery from Reinforcement and our experiences with him have been negative...i know others have had good experiences with him. Hope this helps! From: Ron, & Alaina Dechant <thedechants02@ yahoo.com>Subject: ABATo: autism-georgia@ yahoogroups. comDate: Tuesday, April 21, 2009, 4:59 PM Our son was just recommended to receive ABA. Didn't know if anyone knew if Deeming Waiver covered ABA services and if they would, any service provider that accepts Deeming Waiver? Also, does anyone have their child in an ABA program they are really happy with and can they recommend that person or facility? We are still new to this Autism diagnosis and are working through it all. Any help is greatly appreciated! - Cumming, GAMother of 2yo ASD Son, 16yo NT Daughter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 22, 2009 Report Share Posted April 22, 2009 There are aba dvd's to help teach parent and caregivers how to develop their own aba programs www.maximumpotentialkids.com or summit learning or kaliedescope in canton, ga. from www.georgiafamilysolutions.com To: autism-georgia Sent: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 7:59:03 PMSubject: ABA Our son was just recommended to receive ABA. Didn't know if anyone knew if Deeming Waiver covered ABA services and if they would, any service provider that accepts Deeming Waiver? Also, does anyone have their child in an ABA program they are really happy with and can they recommend that person or facility? We are still new to this Autism diagnosis and are working through it all. Any help is greatly appreciated! - Cumming, GAMother of 2yo ASD Son, 16yo NT Daughter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 23, 2009 Report Share Posted April 23, 2009 The deeming waiver ( Beckett) does not pay for ABA services. Most private health plans do not pay for ABA therapy either, although a few large employers with self-funded plans have started covering this benefit. If your child has qualified for the NOW Medicaid waiver, you can use some of the self-directed funds for ABA, but the waiting list for that waiver is long and there are few people on it. Ava's Law, which was tabled in the last legislative session, would have required insurers to pay for ABA therapy. Without that law, most parents must come out of pocket to provide the therapy. > > > From: Ron, & Alaina Dechant <thedechants02@ yahoo.com> > Subject: ABA > To: autism-georgia@ yahoogroups. com > Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2009, 4:59 PM > > > > > Our son was just recommended to receive ABA. Didn't know if anyone knew if Deeming Waiver covered ABA services and if they would, any service provider that accepts Deeming Waiver? Also, does anyone have their child in an ABA program they are really happy with and can they recommend that person or facility? We are still new to this Autism diagnosis and are working through it all. Any help is greatly appreciated! > > - Cumming, GA > Mother of 2yo ASD Son, 16yo NT Daughter > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 23, 2009 Report Share Posted April 23, 2009 This is an excerpt from an email i got from the Marcus Center telling about their brief behavior intervention program for kids with Medicaid: "The Brief Behavior Intervention program has secured a grant that allows us to provide in-home behavior intervention for children who have Medicaid. Provided your child has any type of Medicaid, there is no cost other than the cost incurred to travel to Atlanta for the initial intake visit and any subsequent program materials needed to implement skill acquisition and behavior reduction procedures. Typically, you will have most of the materials in your home to implement acquisition and reduction procedures; so, there should be no extra cost. Unfortunately, if you do not currently have Medicaid (i.e., a Medicaid number), the program costs $80.00/hour. There is typically a cost for travel if the services are not covered by our grant, but since there are other families in your area who receive services, the travel fee could possibly be waived. The program is considered a brief behavior intervention program in that it is structured to be brief. Typically, for any specific behavior problem where the function of the behavior is clear (i.e., hitting is occurring to seek attention or yelling is occurring to access toys), the number of in-home visits average around 5 visits. However, if more visits are needed, then more visits will be provided. As long as there is progress being made, the is no current limit to the number of visits provided. Also, the average of 5 visits is per problem behavior identified. The nature of the program is purely consultation in nature. The consulting behavior analyst will work with you, your spouse, your family members, your hired staff, and your child's teachers and parapros to help them reduce problem behavior or to increase skill acquisition. This program is not structured to be direct-care or to provide servcies directly to your child. As for skill acquisition, if what is identified as deficits based on communication or instruction needed in toileting, then we will help you with that too. If an in-home language program is what is needed, then we would typically recommend an Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills - Revised (ABLLS-R). If you have a current ABLLS-R, then we could probably use that assessment; otherwise, we would ask that we be allowed to conduct an updated ABLLS-R so that the goals have more current relevance to your child. To touch again briefly on cost, it can take between 6-12 hours to complete the ABLLS-R and the costs without Medicaid, or being part of the grant, can be high." Subject: Re: ABATo: autism-georgia Date: Thursday, April 23, 2009, 10:16 AM The deeming waiver ( Beckett) does not pay for ABA services. Most private health plans do not pay for ABA therapy either, although a few large employers with self-funded plans have started covering this benefit. If your child has qualified for the NOW Medicaid waiver, you can use some of the self-directed funds for ABA, but the waiting list for that waiver is long and there are few people on it.Ava's Law, which was tabled in the last legislative session, would have required insurers to pay for ABA therapy. Without that law, most parents must come out of pocket to provide the therapy. > > > From: Ron, & Alaina Dechant <thedechants02@ yahoo.com>> Subject: ABA> To: autism-georgia@ yahoogroups. com> Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2009, 4:59 PM> > > > > Our son was just recommended to receive ABA. Didn't know if anyone knew if Deeming Waiver covered ABA services and if they would, any service provider that accepts Deeming Waiver? Also, does anyone have their child in an ABA program they are really happy with and can they recommend that person or facility? We are still new to this Autism diagnosis and are working through it all. Any help is greatly appreciated!> > - Cumming, GA> Mother of 2yo ASD Son, 16yo NT Daughter> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 23, 2009 Report Share Posted April 23, 2009 If this is the same program I was told about last time we went for a visit at Marcus and it does sound like, I was told don't hold your breath for an opening -- that your child virtually has to be in crisis to get moved up the waiting list and seen. EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOODJoin me To: autism-georgia From: andinuri@...Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 11:20:00 -0700Subject: Re: Re: ABA This is an excerpt from an email i got from the Marcus Center telling about their brief behavior intervention program for kids with Medicaid: "The Brief Behavior Intervention program has secured a grant that allows us to provide in-home behavior intervention for children who have Medicaid. Provided your child has any type of Medicaid, there is no cost other than the cost incurred to travel to Atlanta for the initial intake visit and any subsequent program materials needed to implement skill acquisition and behavior reduction procedures. Typically, you will have most of the materials in your home to implement acquisition and reduction procedures; so, there should be no extra cost. Unfortunately, if you do not currently have Medicaid (i.e., a Medicaid number), the program costs $80.00/hour. There is typically a cost for travel if the services are not covered by our grant, but since there are other families in your area who receive services, the travel fee could possibly be waived. The program is considered a brief behavior intervention program in that it is structured to be brief. Typically, for any specific behavior problem where the function of the behavior is clear (i.e., hitting is occurring to seek attention or yelling is occurring to access toys), the number of in-home visits average around 5 visits. However, if more visits are needed, then more visits will be provided. As long as there is progress being made, the is no current limit to the number of visits provided. Also, the average of 5 visits is per problem behavior identified. The nature of the program is purely consultation in nature. The consulting behavior analyst will work with you, your spouse, your family members, your hired staff, and your child's teachers and parapros to help them reduce problem behavior or to increase skill acquisition. This program is not structured to be direct-care or to provide servcies directly to your child. As for skill acquisition, if what is identified as deficits based on communication or instruction needed in toileting, then we will help you with that too. If an in-home language program is what is needed, then we would typically recommend an Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills - Revised (ABLLS-R). If you have a current ABLLS-R, then we could probably use that assessment; otherwise, we would ask that we be allowed to conduct an updated ABLLS-R so that the goals have more current relevance to your child. To touch again briefly on cost, it can take between 6-12 hours to complete the ABLLS-R and the costs without Medicaid, or being part of the grant, can be high." From: Randy Grayson <RGraysongeorgialaw (DOT) org>Subject: Re: ABATo: autism-georgia Date: Thursday, April 23, 2009, 10:16 AM The deeming waiver ( Beckett) does not pay for ABA services. Most private health plans do not pay for ABA therapy either, although a few large employers with self-funded plans have started covering this benefit. If your child has qualified for the NOW Medicaid waiver, you can use some of the self-directed funds for ABA, but the waiting list for that waiver is long and there are few people on it.Ava's Law, which was tabled in the last legislative session, would have required insurers to pay for ABA therapy. Without that law, most parents must come out of pocket to provide the therapy. > > > From: Ron, & Alaina Dechant <thedechants02@ yahoo.com>> Subject: ABA> To: autism-georgia@ yahoogroups. com> Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2009, 4:59 PM> > > > > Our son was just recommended to receive ABA. Didn't know if anyone knew if Deeming Waiver covered ABA services and if they would, any service provider that accepts Deeming Waiver? Also, does anyone have their child in an ABA program they are really happy with and can they recommend that person or facility? We are still new to this Autism diagnosis and are working through it all. Any help is greatly appreciated!> > - Cumming, GA> Mother of 2yo ASD Son, 16yo NT Daughter> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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