U of H offering a degree in ABA for Autism

[Guest guest]

Who decided ABA was the Autism way to go and it's one-size-fits-all

approach? How frustrating. My son didn't learn anything with ABA

and it stopped him from talking altogether until I took him out of

the ABA program, then he returned to talking. The child that learns

with ABA is moderate to severely autistic and even then it is

brutal. I watched some of these young autistic individuals get

worked over by ABA professionals just to say the word 'cookie' or get

some M & M's, really sad.

In the meantime, awesome programs like DIR Floortime and Son Rise

teach all Autistic children, regardless of their severity. Monarch

School and TCH Bridges programs are busting at the seams because of

their success ratio, and with both programs, all individuals learn

how to talk, not just sign, like many with ABA end up doing.

> > UH-Clear Lake gains approval for new behavior analysis program

by

> > Barbier

> >

> > University of Houston-Clear Lake received approval from the Texas

> > Higher Education Coordinating Board to begin offering the Master

of

> > Arts in Behavior Analysis. The new program went into effect

> > beginning with the spring 2009 semester.

> >

> > Prior to the new graduate program, UH-Clear Lake offered an

emphasis

area

> > within the master's program in psychology for those interested in

applied

> > behavior analysis. The strong interest in this sub-plan area,

> > coupled

with

> > an increasing need for professionals trained in behavior

analysis,

> > was

the

> > impetus behind the new program.

> >

> > " Demand for graduates with a degree

> > <http://www.league-city-news.com/Headlines/1-

09/uh_gains_approval.ht

> > m>

in

> > behavior analysis has been growing both nationally and locally

for

> > many reasons, " explained Professor of Psychology Dorothea Lerman,

> > who also

> serves

> > as the director of Center for Autism and Developmental

Disabilities

> > and coordinator of UH-Clear Lake's behavior analysis

program. " For

> > example,

a

> > recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

> > found

that

> > 6.6 per 1,000 children, or about 1 in 150, 8 years of age have an

> > autism spectrum disorder.

> >

> > " In Texas, the U.S. Department of Education found that the

> > prevalence of children with autism in our public schools

increased

> > by 594 percent from

> > 1992 to 2003. Our state also passed a law in June 2007 requiring

> > health plans

> <http://www.league-city-news.com/Headlines/1-

09/uh_gains_approval.htm>

> > to provide coverage for applied behavior analysis treatment for

> > autistic children between 3 and 5 years of age. These are just a

few

> > of the

reasons

> > why this program is so important. "

> >

> > The objective of the new behavior analysis degree program is to

> > provide students with a well-rounded foundation in psychology and

> > behavior

> analysis

> > through an integrated sequence of coursework, practicum and

research

> > activities. Graduates of the program will be prepared to provide

and

> > supervise behavioral intervention services for those with

> > disabilities

in

> > clinics, hospitals, schools and other community settings.

> >

> > All UH-Clear Lake students who were enrolled in the Master of

Arts

> > in Psychology sub-plan for applied behavior analysis program in

fall

> > 2008

> have

> > been switched to the new degree program.

> >

> > For more information on this program, call or e-mail

> > lerman@... .

[Guest guest]

Just like Autism is not the same for every child neither should the

approach be set in stone. I disagree though with the statement that all

children who do floortime or DIR learn to talk even the most severe? No

amount of training of any kind will get a child to talk to has a

weakened pathway in the brain, expecting this to happen is giving up on

valuable teaching avenues in other areas waiting for speech. I've done

floortime some Greenspan I've done ABA and VB and my child does talk but

mostly for wants and needs. RPM was the only thing that ever got him to

be expressive and it's a valuable technique for education. The follow my

lead for my child was a disaster you cannot say this got him to talk he

was running away he just wanted peace. By his own mouth (or finger

actually) he has pointed independently for us that.... " I want to talk

but it is very difficult sometimes the words come out all wrong " " I have

asked God to help me to talk and I will be patient " There is not a PEC

sign for those words...my son's motor skills do not bode well for

complicated signing but he can point and now he's learning to type...not

with ABA or DIR / Floortime or reinforcement but with RPM. Each child is

different nothing should be exclusive nothing should be overlooked all

are good.

Trina

Cookie wrote:

>

> Who decided ABA was the Autism way to go and it's one-size-fits-all

> approach? How frustrating. My son didn't learn anything with ABA

> and it stopped him from talking altogether until I took him out of

> the ABA program, then he returned to talking. The child that learns

> with ABA is moderate to severely autistic and even then it is

> brutal. I watched some of these young autistic individuals get

> worked over by ABA professionals just to say the word 'cookie' or get

> some M & M's, really sad.

>

> In the meantime, awesome programs like DIR Floortime and Son Rise

> teach all Autistic children, regardless of their severity. Monarch

> School and TCH Bridges programs are busting at the seams because of

> their success ratio, and with both programs, all individuals learn

> how to talk, not just sign, like many with ABA end up doing.

>

> > > UH-Clear Lake gains approval for new behavior analysis program

> by

> > > Barbier

> > >

> > > University of Houston-Clear Lake received approval from the Texas

> > > Higher Education Coordinating Board to begin offering the Master

> of

> > > Arts in Behavior Analysis. The new program went into effect

> > > beginning with the spring 2009 semester.

> > >

> > > Prior to the new graduate program, UH-Clear Lake offered an

> emphasis

> area

> > > within the master's program in psychology for those interested in

> applied

> > > behavior analysis. The strong interest in this sub-plan area,

> > > coupled

> with

> > > an increasing need for professionals trained in behavior

> analysis,

> > > was

> the

> > > impetus behind the new program.

> > >

> > > " Demand for graduates with a degree

> > > <http://www.league-city-news.com/Headlines/1-

> <http://www.league-city-news.com/Headlines/1->

> 09/uh_gains_approval.ht

> > > m>

> in

> > > behavior analysis has been growing both nationally and locally

> for

> > > many reasons, " explained Professor of Psychology Dorothea Lerman,

> > > who also

> > serves

> > > as the director of Center for Autism and Developmental

> Disabilities

> > > and coordinator of UH-Clear Lake's behavior analysis

> program. " For

> > > example,

> a

> > > recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

> > > found

> that

> > > 6.6 per 1,000 children, or about 1 in 150, 8 years of age have an

> > > autism spectrum disorder.

> > >

> > > " In Texas, the U.S. Department of Education found that the

> > > prevalence of children with autism in our public schools

> increased

> > > by 594 percent from

> > > 1992 to 2003. Our state also passed a law in June 2007 requiring

> > > health plans

> > <http://www.league-city-news.com/Headlines/1-

> <http://www.league-city-news.com/Headlines/1->

> 09/uh_gains_approval.htm>

> > > to provide coverage for applied behavior analysis treatment for

> > > autistic children between 3 and 5 years of age. These are just a

> few

> > > of the

> reasons

> > > why this program is so important. "

> > >

> > > The objective of the new behavior analysis degree program is to

> > > provide students with a well-rounded foundation in psychology and

> > > behavior

> > analysis

> > > through an integrated sequence of coursework, practicum and

> research

> > > activities. Graduates of the program will be prepared to provide

> and

> > > supervise behavioral intervention services for those with

> > > disabilities

> in

> > > clinics, hospitals, schools and other community settings.

> > >

> > > All UH-Clear Lake students who were enrolled in the Master of

> Arts

> > > in Psychology sub-plan for applied behavior analysis program in

> fall

> > > 2008

> > have

> > > been switched to the new degree program.

> > >

> > > For more information on this program, call or e-mail

> > > lerman@... <mailto:lerman%40uhcl.edu> .

>

>

[Guest guest]

ABA, Floortime, Sonrise...I believe it depends on the child and where they are at that time in terms of their autism and development. My son was in special ed preschool in New Jersey where they used ABA...he did great. His summer camp was Floortime based...he did great. Both groups thought that the other method was "useless" (although Connor's teachers did give some props to Floortime, the summer camp said that ABA would "ruin him"). My son showed great improvement with both. It goes to show that just like any other treatment, ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL, and just as we shouldn't put all our trust in one treatment for all kids, we shouldnt knock one particular treatment if it works for most. I also wish UH would offer other methods besides ABA, but hey, IT'S A START. Let's be grateful for it, support it and show that it

is valuable to train teachers in this methodology, and THEN encourage the teaching of other methods. JMO.

e>> Who decided ABA was the Autism way to go and it's one-size-fits- all> approach? How frustrating. My son didn't learn anything with ABA> and it stopped him from talking altogether until I took him out of> the ABA program, then he returned to talking. The child that learns> with ABA is moderate to severely autistic and even then it is> brutal. I watched some of these young autistic individuals get> worked over by ABA professionals just to say the word 'cookie' or get> some

M & M's, really sad.>> In the meantime, awesome programs like DIR Floortime and Son Rise> teach all Autistic children, regardless of their severity. Monarch> School and TCH Bridges programs are busting at the seams because of> their success ratio, and with both programs, all individuals learn> how to talk, not just sign, like many with ABA end up doing.>> > > UH-Clear Lake gains approval for new behavior analysis program> by> > > Barbier> > >> > > University of Houston-Clear Lake received approval from the Texas> > > Higher Education Coordinating Board to begin offering the Master> of> > > Arts in Behavior Analysis. The new program went into effect> > > beginning with the spring 2009 semester.> > >> > > Prior to the new graduate program, UH-Clear Lake offered

an> emphasis> area> > > within the master's program in psychology for those interested in> applied> > > behavior analysis. The strong interest in this sub-plan area,> > > coupled> with> > > an increasing need for professionals trained in behavior> analysis,> > > was> the> > > impetus behind the new program.> > >> > > "Demand for graduates with a degree> > > <http://www.league- city-news. com/Headlines/ 1- > <http://www.league- city-news. com/Headlines/ 1->> 09/uh_gains_ approval. ht> > > m>> in> > > behavior analysis has been growing both nationally and locally>

for> > > many reasons," explained Professor of Psychology Dorothea Lerman,> > > who also> > serves> > > as the director of Center for Autism and Developmental> Disabilities> > > and coordinator of UH-Clear Lake's behavior analysis> program. "For> > > example,> a> > > recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention> > > found> that> > > 6.6 per 1,000 children, or about 1 in 150, 8 years of age have an> > > autism spectrum disorder.> > >> > > "In Texas, the U.S. Department of Education found that the> > > prevalence of children with autism in our public schools> increased> > > by 594 percent from> > > 1992 to 2003. Our state also passed a law in June 2007 requiring> > > health plans> > <http://www.league- city-news. com/Headlines/ 1- > <http://www.league- city-news. com/Headlines/ 1->> 09/uh_gains_ approval. htm>> > > to provide coverage for applied behavior analysis treatment for> > > autistic children between 3 and 5 years of age. These are just a> few> > > of the> reasons> > > why this program is so important."> > >> > > The objective of the new behavior analysis degree program is to> > > provide students with a well-rounded foundation in psychology and> > > behavior> > analysis> > > through an integrated sequence of coursework, practicum and> research> > > activities. Graduates of the

program will be prepared to provide> and> > > supervise behavioral intervention services for those with> > > disabilities> in> > > clinics, hospitals, schools and other community settings.> > >> > > All UH-Clear Lake students who were enrolled in the Master of> Arts> > > in Psychology sub-plan for applied behavior analysis program in> fall> > > 2008> > have> > > been switched to the new degree program.> > >> > > For more information on this program, call or e-mail> > > lermanuhcl (DOT) edu <mailto:lerman% 40uhcl.edu> .>>

[Guest guest]

The reason that UH has a degree in Behavior Analysis versus other treatments is that behavior Analysis is scientifically proven to be effective. It is based on the actual science of behavior. There are behavior analysis programs all over but they don't necessarily focus on autism intervention because the science of behavior applies to everyone and everything that is a behavior. It is not developed as something just for autism treatment. This is a science that dates back many years. A university won't back treatment approaches that are not proven scientifically through peer reviewed research. It is not because they believe ABA is the only treatment for autismRegan Roth Fitzgerald, M.Ed., BCBABoard Certified Behavior Analyst Autism SpecialistB.E.S.T.www.bestaba.com reganfitzgerald@...Sent via BlackBerry by AT&TFrom: e Slatton Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2009 16:22:26 -0800 (PST)To: <Texas-Autism-Advocacy >Subject: Re: U of H offering a degree in ABA for Autism ABA, Floortime, Sonrise...I believe it depends on the child and where they are at that time in terms of their autism and development. My son was in special ed preschool in New Jersey where they used ABA...he did great. His summer camp was Floortime based...he did great. Both groups thought that the other method was "useless" (although Connor's teachers did give some props to Floortime, the summer camp said that ABA would "ruin him"). My son showed great improvement with both. It goes to show that just like any other treatment, ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL, and just as we shouldn't put all our trust in one treatment for all kids, we shouldnt knock one particular treatment if it works for most. I also wish UH would offer other methods besides ABA, but hey, IT'S A START. Let's be grateful for it, support it and show that it is valuable to train teachers in this methodology, and THEN encourage the teaching of other methods. JMO.e>> Who decided ABA was the Autism way to go and it's one-size-fits- all> approach? How frustrating. My son didn't learn anything with ABA> and it stopped him from talking altogether until I took him out of> the ABA program, then he returned to talking. The child that learns> with ABA is moderate to severely autistic and even then it is> brutal. I watched some of these young autistic individuals get> worked over by ABA professionals just to say the word 'cookie' or get> some M & M's, really sad.>> In the meantime, awesome programs like DIR Floortime and Son Rise> teach all Autistic children, regardless of their severity. Monarch> School and TCH Bridges programs are busting at the seams because of> their success ratio, and with both programs, all individuals learn> how to talk, not just sign, like many with ABA end up doing.>> > > UH-Clear Lake gains approval for new behavior analysis program> by> > > Barbier> > >> > > University of Houston-Clear Lake received approval from the Texas> > > Higher Education Coordinating Board to begin offering the Master> of> > > Arts in Behavior Analysis. The new program went into effect> > > beginning with the spring 2009 semester.> > >> > > Prior to the new graduate program, UH-Clear Lake offered an> emphasis> area> > > within the master's program in psychology for those interested in> applied> > > behavior analysis. The strong interest in this sub-plan area,> > > coupled> with> > > an increasing need for professionals trained in behavior> analysis,> > > was> the> > > impetus behind the new program.> > >> > > "Demand for graduates with a degree> > > <http://www.league- city-news. com/Headlines/ 1- > <http://www.league- city-news. com/Headlines/ 1->> 09/uh_gains_ approval. ht> > > m>> in> > > behavior analysis has been growing both nationally and locally> for> > > many reasons," explained Professor of Psychology Dorothea Lerman,> > > who also> > serves> > > as the director of Center for Autism and Developmental> Disabilities> > > and coordinator of UH-Clear Lake's behavior analysis> program. "For> > > example,> a> > > recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention> > > found> that> > > 6.6 per 1,000 children, or about 1 in 150, 8 years of age have an> > > autism spectrum disorder.> > >> > > "In Texas, the U.S. Department of Education found that the> > > prevalence of children with autism in our public schools> increased> > > by 594 percent from> > > 1992 to 2003. Our state also passed a law in June 2007 requiring> > > health plans> > <http://www.league- city-news. com/Headlines/ 1- > <http://www.league- city-news. com/Headlines/ 1->> 09/uh_gains_ approval. htm>> > > to provide coverage for applied behavior analysis treatment for> > > autistic children between 3 and 5 years of age. These are just a> few> > > of the> reasons> > > why this program is so important."> > >> > > The objective of the new behavior analysis degree program is to> > > provide students with a well-rounded foundation in psychology and> > > behavior> > analysis> > > through an integrated sequence of coursework, practicum and> research> > > activities. Graduates of the program will be prepared to provide> and> > > supervise behavioral intervention services for those with> > > disabilities> in> > > clinics, hospitals, schools and other community settings.> > >> > > All UH-Clear Lake students who were enrolled in the Master of> Arts> > > in Psychology sub-plan for applied behavior analysis program in> fall> > > 2008> > have> > > been switched to the new degree program.> > >> > > For more information on this program, call or e-mail> > > lermanuhcl (DOT) edu <mailto:lerman% 40uhcl.edu> .>>

[Guest guest]

I'm not sure I know what this means, " I watched some of these young

autistic individuals get worked over by ABA professionals just to say

the word 'cookie' or get some M & M's, really sad. " What do you mean

by 'worked over?' I'm sorry you had such a bad experience, and I want

to make sure I don't make the same mistakes with my students.

I use ABA a lot with my students (along with TEACCH, special

education, and other strategies), and I have found ABA very

effective. It also makes learning more fun for my students since they

get to be praised and rewarded for their accomplishments. It also

allows them to constantly feel successful, since the learning occurs

in small steps.

ABA is the most research-based educational intervention for autism,

and it can be used with all degrees of the spectrum. Of course, it

looks different for every student, but all of the programs I do are

based on ABA. ABA doesn't be a cookie cutter approach, and it should

not be.

Caldwell, M.Ed.

http://www.PositivelyAutism.com