RE: ABA/Lovaas secret tape

[Guest guest]

I normally don't post but felt the need to respond to this. You are wrong

about what extinction is at least those trained in the US. I have just completed

the Master's level coursework and will sit for the Certified Behavior Analyst

Exam in June. Here is the definition of extinction. " To cease reinforcing a

previously reinforced behavior to decrease the behavior's frequency. To

effectively carry out this procedure, the reinforcer maintaining a behavior must

be

identified. F or ex. for children who " flop " or drop to the ground. Woudl you

pick the child up or not? Is the reinforcer avoiding interaction? If so, one

might pick up the student so that he/ she could not avoid interactions with

those present. However, if the student is dropping to the ground b/c he / she

finds being picked up reinforcing, then the proper extinction plan would be to

not pick up the child. Depending on the function of the behavior completely

opposite treatment plans might be needed to be carried out. There is also a

concept known as extinction burst where behviors get worse before they get

better

and this can also occur concurrently. " This procedure can be very effective if

doen correctly. I am sorry to hear of your bad experience with ABA. Florida is

one of the very few states in the US which makes their ABA therapists be

board certified to practice. I have not heard of anything like you have

described.

ABA can be very beneficial to many kids and I believe that my own daughter's

autism has steered me into a profession to help many, many children with

autism adapt or cope more efficiently in their world. Sincerely, Keri Elwell,

MS,CRC (Certified Rehabilitation Counsler),CCM (Certified Case Manager) and mom

to 5 year old ASD/ mercury toxic child

[Guest guest]

I am going to retract my response. After reading it, maybe it sounded harsh.

I did not mean it to be. I was just trying to get the point across that ABA is

not all bad and if done CORRECTLY can be very beneficial. I am saddenned to

hear of your son's difficulties and the problems you face with the government.

Please accept my apologies if I offended you in any way. Keri

[Guest guest]

Keri

Thanks for your very gracious posts. The fact is that ABA takes on many

forms and that for the vast majority of current instances, it is

administered in a very loving and caring fashion. I think all such

therapy modalities (ABA, Son-Rise, Floortime, DAN!, chelation,

homeopathy, etc. etc. etc.) can very rarely be taken to an abusive

endpoint.

God Bless!

Re: [ ] ABA/Lovaas secret tape

I am going to retract my response. After reading it, maybe it sounded

harsh.

I did not mean it to be. I was just trying to get the point across that

ABA is

not all bad and if done CORRECTLY can be very beneficial. I am saddenned

to

hear of your son's difficulties and the problems you face with the

government.

Please accept my apologies if I offended you in any way. Keri

[Guest guest]

Liz, I would suggest that those who said that to you did not say it

because they were ABA advocates, but because they are idiots.

Unfortunately, idiots can permeate all professions. Extinction in my

child's school means they have stopped doing a behavior, not that

they stay strapped to a chair.

> (As for the Nazi slant, the ABA'ers even have a program called

> 'extinction' - it means keeping a child in a chair by force until

the

> unwanted behaviour disappears and total 'compliance' is gained -

if the

> child screams/protests/bites/ he/she is all the more restrained

and parents

> told to leave the room (I was told to '' go in the garden and get

drunk so

> you can't hear the screaming'' ) Bastards!!

>