ABA Discussion

[Guest guest]

ABA has it limits, but is it especially good for little children. My daughter

who is 12 and has PDD would just freak if we used ABA, because it would be too

repetitious for her. She gets it after 1-3 tries, so 25- 50 micro tries would

driv eher insane. She also would not do well with mirco-steps, she likes to see

the whole picture and then go for it in a few steps and not 50.

Many behavior therapist think that it is alright to use " punishment " as part of

the regiment and in my opinion it is not. Punishment (as a professional in the

forensic setting and counseling) never has worked and that's why we have a

nation full of priosns;) We have research over and over again that proves that

it does not work. Now, you want to ask your therapist if they use punishment

techniques. ( I can't believe they call them techniques)

Positive behavior supports work, which could be a variety of things- the beach

center has tons of ideas, so do the folks at UT.

Candis

and Trina Sherman wrote:

I too was confused as to why parents didn't want to even TRY ABA. I

admit at first my son did cry a lot. We weren't hurting him but he

wanted to do what he wanted to do and that did not include sitting at a

table (for anything at any time). I could have done floortime or follow

his lead which the school system liked very much since Matt was happy

but he was riding around all day in a wagon. He wouldn't sit at circle

time and if you can't get a child's attention you can't teach him.

Through lots of positive reinforcement he eventually learned that if I

sit and do my work I get to do something fun. I have personally seen the

results of the leave him alone approach when the child turns about 12.

Following his lead turned this child into a child who learned that with

aggression and escape he avoided any unpleasant work and got to do what

he wanted all day. Now that's scary. Don't get me wrong I know kids that

did not progress in leaps and bounds with ABA (even LOTS of ABA) but

they did learn to manage their behavior enough not to hurt others and to

communicate some of their needs. Maybe we need some video of ABA for

parents to see? Just a thought. T

ABA Discussion

Let's keep in mind that ABA has some baggage..... When parents say

they don't want ABA used on their children - some MAY be thinking of

some old time methods and techniques.

I know that when my son was first diagnosed we were referred downtown

Houston to see a therapist that did " ABA " .

What my husband and I saw her doing was just horrendous! Borderline

abuse! That gave us a very negative opinion of ABA and so anytime we

heard or saw the word " ABA " - we immediately said " No thank you... "

I think ABA is so broad --- much like the autism spectrum! A good ABA

therapist will use positive teaching methods that incorporate many

techniques and accommodate many learning styles. It is not ONE set in

stone way of doing things.

Done correctly - it is very individualized - and so should be

incorporated in the best way possible for the child -- which is what

IDEA is designed to be anyway....

IMO

Guppy

Aliza Ratterree wrote:

Okay, I'm putting on my flame retardant pajamas... the

following is MY OPINION.

Sorry, but I don't see how ANYBODY with a child on the

spectrum could possibly overlook the CLEAR, TANGIBLE,

MEASUREABLE, POSITIVE results that ABA can provide for

their child**.

It most certainly should be an option for us in public

school. How many ARDs do we have to go to, how many

BIPs do we have to formulate to have these people

understand that most of the problems our children

encounter in school are BEHAVIORAL???!!!

M. Guppy

www.TexasAutismAdvocacy.org

A Regional Coordinator for The TEAM Project in Houston

www.PartnersTX.org - -