failure to retain skills/erratic maintenance data

[Guest guest]

Hi,

We have recently been told our son is not retaining skills and now

only uses a couple signs for his few favorite items at school. This

has resulted in the decision by the school to drop his current ABA/VB

program and use of sign language for what is considered a

more " functional " approach - going back to picture communication and

goals such as emptying trash and sorting cutlery, all with very low

expectations. Past attempts with picture communication became

unsuccessful as they expanded. Teaching sign and language skills

using a mix of DTT/NET made a big difference. It increased frequency,

independence and variety of responses (mands, tacts and

intraverbals), plus an increase in vocalizations. Over the past year

our son's program has undergone rapid expansion. We suspect the

erratic results are more connected to frequent staff changes,

inexperienced staff, numerous data errors etc. than " his inability "

to learn and retain information. We have suggested using a

consultant, but the idea was turned down flat. In order to better

understand, make choices and advocate, we are searching for

information, citations or studies on any of the following:

Possible reasons why/action to take if a student is erratic or fails

to retain skills.

Reasons for opposition and aggression during DTT

Using DTT,VB,ABLLS with older children. (We've been told the ABLLS is

just for preschoolers. While that is ovbiously an ideal age to start,

we can find no reference to age limit or cut off time for

intervention).

What it takes to make a successful sign language program and/or why a

program might fail.

Any advise or information would be gratefully received.

and

[Guest guest]

Consider hiring a consultant regardless of whether the school supports it.

I would strongly recommend Freeman (info below). Although the

blurb says " NC and surrounding areas, " I suspect she would travel more

distantly if her travel were covered. She helped set up a home VB program

for my then 7 y/o autistic foster son until I could enroll him at Mariposa

February 1st. His ability to (still limited but improving) sign really

helped decrease his frustration level, and now that he's at Mariposa, in

just a couple of weeks he's already making more " word-like "

vocalizations--vowels and consonant sounds rather than clicks and whoops.

Freeman, Board Certified Associate Behavior Analyst, is now

available for consultation in NC and surrounding areas. has 12+

yrs. experience with ABA/VB, including 5 years as Program Director for

The Mariposa School for Children with Autism in Cary, NC. Resume and

references are available upon request. Contact information is posted

below.

Freeman, BCABA

Creative Consultants, Inc.

@...

(919)434-9319

Alternatively, if your situation allows, consider enrolling him in

Mariposa.

Best of luck.

Alice

" kpdlsd " <Kaldonovan@...>

Sent by:

02/14/2006 02:34 AM

To

cc

Subject

[ ] failure to retain skills/erratic maintenance data

Hi,

We have recently been told our son is not retaining skills and now

only uses a couple signs for his few favorite items at school. This

has resulted in the decision by the school to drop his current ABA/VB

program and use of sign language for what is considered a

more " functional " approach - going back to picture communication and

goals such as emptying trash and sorting cutlery, all with very low

expectations. Past attempts with picture communication became

unsuccessful as they expanded. Teaching sign and language skills

using a mix of DTT/NET made a big difference. It increased frequency,

independence and variety of responses (mands, tacts and

intraverbals), plus an increase in vocalizations. Over the past year

our son's program has undergone rapid expansion. We suspect the

erratic results are more connected to frequent staff changes,

inexperienced staff, numerous data errors etc. than " his inability "

to learn and retain information. We have suggested using a

consultant, but the idea was turned down flat. In order to better

understand, make choices and advocate, we are searching for

information, citations or studies on any of the following:

Possible reasons why/action to take if a student is erratic or fails

to retain skills.

Reasons for opposition and aggression during DTT

Using DTT,VB,ABLLS with older children. (We've been told the ABLLS is

just for preschoolers. While that is ovbiously an ideal age to start,

we can find no reference to age limit or cut off time for

intervention).

What it takes to make a successful sign language program and/or why a

program might fail.

Any advise or information would be gratefully received.

and

Post message:

Subscribe: -subscribe

Unsubscribe: -unsubscribe