Re: Preschool in Fall/Home Program questions

[Guest guest]

Hi Cate,

I have a consultant that wrote in reply to my add on ABA connections.com I was letting them know that Northeast Ohio parents need ABA therapists and consultants for home ABA programs. I am only doing this to help parents find help but don't have the means to do background checks so you will need to interview or ask questions.

Here is the letter she wrote back to me.

Dear n,

I am writing in response to the "ABA workers needed in Northeast Ohio" ad posted on the ABA connections website. Specifically, I am looking for tutoring/ consulting hours during the summer and also evenings and weekends throughout the school year in the Akron/ Canton/ Cleveland area.

I have over four years total experience working with children with autism spectrum disorders. I just finished completing coursework for an MS in behavior analysis and therapy from Southern Illinois University- Carbondale, and I will officially graduate this August. Also, I am currently a Board Certified Associate Behavior Analyst (BCABA). I plan to become a registered private provider through the Autism Scholarship Program for the 2007-2008 school year.

I would greatly appreciate assistance in finding families in need of ABA services. I would be happy to send you a copy of my resume, if interested. Thank you so much for your time! I can be contacted at 330-608-1695 or Morgarlc@....

Sincerely, Morgart, BCABA

In a message dated 7/16/07 4:51:38 PM Eastern Daylight Time, cate127@... writes:

I'm really struggling and hope 'those who have gone before' can give me some guidance. My son is 3 and currently attending MMEC's summer program. His IEP is in place with Medina City Schools. Our options for the fall are MEEC 2 days/week @ 2 hours a day (would apply for the scholarship and then add a home program), 4 days/wk @ 2.5 hours a day at Medina's preschool or a combo of Medina/MEEC (2 and 2) but MEEC would be out of pocket and Medina would probably dumb down his IEP quite substantially.

I looked at FCLC out in Tallmadge and didn't think that was a good fit for him. The drive doesn't bother me - he's my only child and I'm a SAHM. He's high functioning and definitely needs peer modeling. Any suggestions/opinions on the options I've described or anywhere else I haven't thought of yet?

Also - for those of you who have home programs, where in the h,e, double hockey sticks do you start? With a consultant? Please, please, please share your experiences with me!

Thanks so much - Cate

[Guest guest]

Cate,

I spoke with you briefly yesterday at school about your

options...please feel free to hunt me down at MEEC and ask more

Here is the website for STEPS Consulting, alot of parents from MEEC

use this BCBA...she is the one opening the school in the fall. I

have had her for over a year and Vinnie is doing awesome!

http://stepsconsulting.org/index.htm

Zevnik

>

> I'm really struggling and hope 'those who have gone before' can

give

> me some guidance. My son is 3 and currently attending MMEC's

summer

> program. His IEP is in place with Medina City Schools. Our

options

> for the fall are MEEC 2 days/week @ 2 hours a day (would apply for

> the scholarship and then add a home program), 4 days/wk @ 2.5 hours

> a day at Medina's preschool or a combo of Medina/MEEC (2 and 2) but

> MEEC would be out of pocket and Medina would probably dumb down his

> IEP quite substantially.

>

> I looked at FCLC out in Tallmadge and didn't think that was a good

> fit for him. The drive doesn't bother me - he's my only child and

> I'm a SAHM. He's high functioning and definitely needs peer

> modeling. Any suggestions/opinions on the options I've described

or

> anywhere else I haven't thought of yet?

>

> Also - for those of you who have home programs, where in the h,e,

> double hockey sticks do you start? With a consultant? Please,

> please, please share your experiences with me!

>

> Thanks so much - Cate

>

[Guest guest]

You may also want to talk to Kiersten at Milestones

Organization. Milestones is a not-for-profit that provides parents

and professionals training/education in scientifically based

treatments for autism. Milestones website is www.milestones.org.

Thanks.

Debbie Z.

>

> Hi Cate,

>

> I have a consultant that wrote in reply to my add on ABA

connections.com I

> was letting them know that Northeast Ohio parents need ABA

therapists and

> consultants for home ABA programs. I am only doing this to help

parents find help

> but don't have the means to do background checks so you will need

to interview

> or ask questions.

>

> Here is the letter she wrote back to me.

>

> Dear n,

>

> > I am writing in response to the " ABA workers needed in Northeast

Ohio " ad

> > posted on the ABA connections website. Specifically, I am

looking for

> > tutoring/ consulting hours during the summer and also evenings

and weekends

> > throughout the school year in the Akron/ Canton/ Cleveland

area.

> > I have over four years total experience working with children

with autism

> > spectrum disorders. I just finished completing coursework for

an MS in

> > behavior analysis and therapy from Southern Illinois University-

Carbondale, and I

> > will officially graduate this August. Also, I am currently a

Board Certified

> > Associate Behavior Analyst (BCABA). I plan to become a

registered private

> > provider through the Autism Scholarship Program for the 2007-

2008 school year.

> >

> > I would greatly appreciate assistance in finding families in

need of ABA

> > services. I would be happy to send you a copy of my resume, if

interested.

> > Thank you so much for your time! I can be contacted at 330-608-

1695 or <A HREF= " mailto:Morgarlc@... " >

> Morgarlc@...</A>.

>

> > Sincerely,

> > Morgart, BCABA

> >

>

>

> In a message dated 7/16/07 4:51:38 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

> cate127@... writes:

>

> > I'm really struggling and hope 'those who have gone before' can

give

> > me some guidance. My son is 3 and currently attending MMEC's

summer

> > program. His IEP is in place with Medina City Schools. Our

options

> > for the fall are MEEC 2 days/week @ 2 hours a day (would apply

for

> > the scholarship and then add a home program), 4 days/wk @ 2.5

hours

> > a day at Medina's preschool or a combo of Medina/MEEC (2 and 2)

but

> > MEEC would be out of pocket and Medina would probably dumb down

his

> > IEP quite substantially.

> >

> > I looked at FCLC out in Tallmadge and didn't think that was a

good

> > fit for him. The drive doesn't bother me - he's my only child

and

> > I'm a SAHM. He's high functioning and definitely needs peer

> > modeling. Any suggestions/opinions on the options I've described

or

> > anywhere else I haven't thought of yet?

> >

> > Also - for those of you who have home programs, where in the

h,e,

> > double hockey sticks do you start? With a consultant? Please,

> > please, please share your experiences with me!

> >

> > Thanks so much - Cate

> >

> >

> >

>

> </HTML>

>

[Guest guest]

Cate - Here is the VBA consultant's info:

Might. Director of Autism Services for Family Behavioral

Resources in Pennsylvania, but is moving to Cleveland (Olmsted Twp,

specifically) in the fall. 724-424-3973 or

horizonsbehavioralconsulting@...

Chris

>

> I'm really struggling and hope 'those who have gone before' can

give

> me some guidance. My son is 3 and currently attending MMEC's

summer

> program. His IEP is in place with Medina City Schools. Our

options

> for the fall are MEEC 2 days/week @ 2 hours a day (would apply for

> the scholarship and then add a home program), 4 days/wk @ 2.5

hours

> a day at Medina's preschool or a combo of Medina/MEEC (2 and 2)

but

> MEEC would be out of pocket and Medina would probably dumb down

his

> IEP quite substantially.

>

> I looked at FCLC out in Tallmadge and didn't think that was a good

> fit for him. The drive doesn't bother me - he's my only child and

> I'm a SAHM. He's high functioning and definitely needs peer

> modeling. Any suggestions/opinions on the options I've described

or

> anywhere else I haven't thought of yet?

>

> Also - for those of you who have home programs, where in the h,e,

> double hockey sticks do you start? With a consultant? Please,

> please, please share your experiences with me!

>

> Thanks so much - Cate

>

[Guest guest]

Cate - Here is the contact info for the Cleveland Clinic. I see

someone already gave you the STEPS contact info, and I don't know

the Columbus Children's Hospital info

The Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital for Rehabilitation

2801 Luther King Jr. Drive in Cleveland, Ohio

http://cms.clevelandclinic.org/childrenshospital/body.cfm?id=68

Chris

>

> I'm really struggling and hope 'those who have gone before' can

give

> me some guidance. My son is 3 and currently attending MMEC's

summer

> program. His IEP is in place with Medina City Schools. Our

options

> for the fall are MEEC 2 days/week @ 2 hours a day (would apply for

> the scholarship and then add a home program), 4 days/wk @ 2.5

hours

> a day at Medina's preschool or a combo of Medina/MEEC (2 and 2)

but

> MEEC would be out of pocket and Medina would probably dumb down

his

> IEP quite substantially.

>

> I looked at FCLC out in Tallmadge and didn't think that was a good

> fit for him. The drive doesn't bother me - he's my only child and

> I'm a SAHM. He's high functioning and definitely needs peer

> modeling. Any suggestions/opinions on the options I've described

or

> anywhere else I haven't thought of yet?

>

> Also - for those of you who have home programs, where in the h,e,

> double hockey sticks do you start? With a consultant? Please,

> please, please share your experiences with me!

>

> Thanks so much - Cate

>

[Guest guest]

Cate, We work with an independent consultant, who is a superb speech therapist with extensive experience in ABA and other treatment approaches as well, and are extremely happy with her. her name is Jocelyn Mills, and she is also a director of an autism school (S.T.A.R.S. Program) in Geauga County. Her number is (330)524-0661. She can provide direct speech in your home, set up the home program, monitor it and train your tutors. She is such a pro and has been so much help, since she understands well that some strategies simply just won't work in the home, that everyone needs to be on the same page and that the programming must be realistic for the given family's abilities to provide it. She understand and incorporates the child's sensory needs as well, which is huge when you are talking ABA! She is also very much willing to cooperate with other professionals and works closely with the parents. Since

we started working with her, my son's behaviors have been much more managable. We all know what to do and he responds to these strategies very well. Highly recommend her! These are very hard decisions to make re. whom to go with, so I'd take your time interviewing consultants. If you want like a cheat-sheet for questions to ask, I could help you with that. Just let me know! C M <picklespaw@...> wrote: Cate -

Here is the contact info for the Cleveland Clinic. I see someone already gave you the STEPS contact info, and I don't know the Columbus Children's Hospital infoThe Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital for Rehabilitation2801 Luther King Jr. Drive in Cleveland, Ohiohttp://cms.clevelandclinic.org/childrenshospital/body.cfm?id=68Chris>> I'm really struggling and hope 'those who have gone before' can give > me some guidance. My son is 3 and currently attending MMEC's summer > program. His IEP is in place with Medina City Schools. Our options > for the fall are MEEC 2 days/week @ 2 hours a day (would apply for > the scholarship and then add a home

program), 4 days/wk @ 2.5 hours > a day at Medina's preschool or a combo of Medina/MEEC (2 and 2) but > MEEC would be out of pocket and Medina would probably dumb down his > IEP quite substantially. > > I looked at FCLC out in Tallmadge and didn't think that was a good > fit for him. The drive doesn't bother me - he's my only child and > I'm a SAHM. He's high functioning and definitely needs peer > modeling. Any suggestions/opinions on the options I've described or > anywhere else I haven't thought of yet?> > Also - for those of you who have home programs, where in the h,e, > double hockey sticks do you start? With a consultant? Please, > please, please share your experiences with me!> > Thanks so much - Cate>

We won't tell. Get more on shows you hate to love(and love to hate): TV's Guilty Pleasures list.

[Guest guest]

Hi --

How far does Jocelyn travel? She sounds very much like someone I may be interested in consulting, but I live in North Olmsted. Do you know if she goes that far?

Thanks!

Margie S.************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour

[Guest guest]

Hello,

The contact information for Might, VB Consultant, is

440-377-0029 and the website is www.stepsconsulting.org. The

information below is a couple years old.

> >

> > I'm really struggling and hope 'those who have gone before' can

> give

> > me some guidance. My son is 3 and currently attending MMEC's

> summer

> > program. His IEP is in place with Medina City Schools. Our

> options

> > for the fall are MEEC 2 days/week @ 2 hours a day (would apply for

> > the scholarship and then add a home program), 4 days/wk @ 2.5

> hours

> > a day at Medina's preschool or a combo of Medina/MEEC (2 and 2)

> but

> > MEEC would be out of pocket and Medina would probably dumb down

> his

> > IEP quite substantially.

> >

> > I looked at FCLC out in Tallmadge and didn't think that was a good

> > fit for him. The drive doesn't bother me - he's my only child and

> > I'm a SAHM. He's high functioning and definitely needs peer

> > modeling. Any suggestions/opinions on the options I've described

> or

> > anywhere else I haven't thought of yet?

> >

> > Also - for those of you who have home programs, where in the h,e,

> > double hockey sticks do you start? With a consultant? Please,

> > please, please share your experiences with me!

> >

> > Thanks so much - Cate

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Margie,

Jocelyn said to give her a call - she would love to talk with you

and work something out!

>

> Hi --

>

> How far does Jocelyn travel? She sounds very much like someone I

may be

> interested in consulting, but I live in North Olmsted. Do you

know if she goes

> that far?

>

> Thanks!

> Margie S.

>

>

> **************************************

> Get a sneak peek of the

> all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour

>

[Guest guest]

Ooops! So sorry! Thanks for correcting me, might2003! Chris

[Guest guest]

Hi Margie (et al),

If she doesn't travel that far, I do!! :-)

Meghan , consultant

> >

> > Hi --

> >

> > How far does Jocelyn travel? She sounds very much like someone

I

> may be

> > interested in consulting, but I live in North Olmsted. Do you

> know if she goes

> > that far?

> >

> > Thanks!

> > Margie S.

> >

> >

> > **************************************

> > Get a sneak peek of the

> > all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Might is actually already set up in this area. This is

STEPS consulant I mentioned already STEPS is also opening a

school this fall in Berea

> >

> > I'm really struggling and hope 'those who have gone before' can

> give

> > me some guidance. My son is 3 and currently attending MMEC's

> summer

> > program. His IEP is in place with Medina City Schools. Our

> options

> > for the fall are MEEC 2 days/week @ 2 hours a day (would apply

for

> > the scholarship and then add a home program), 4 days/wk @ 2.5

> hours

> > a day at Medina's preschool or a combo of Medina/MEEC (2 and 2)

> but

> > MEEC would be out of pocket and Medina would probably dumb down

> his

> > IEP quite substantially.

> >

> > I looked at FCLC out in Tallmadge and didn't think that was a

good

> > fit for him. The drive doesn't bother me - he's my only child

and

> > I'm a SAHM. He's high functioning and definitely needs peer

> > modeling. Any suggestions/opinions on the options I've described

> or

> > anywhere else I haven't thought of yet?

> >

> > Also - for those of you who have home programs, where in the h,e,

> > double hockey sticks do you start? With a consultant? Please,

> > please, please share your experiences with me!

> >

> > Thanks so much - Cate

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Perhaps I am mistaken, but I was under the impression that

Steps " school " would not have neurotypical peers in the same manner

MEEC does. MEEC runs an outstanding program, their staff ratio is

better than anything a public school will give you and they have

50% NT peers to model from. I was also under the impression that

Steps is not actually a " school " but more of an intensive therapy

center. You could always place yourself on the waiting list to

attend more hours at MEEC.

If you choose to run a home program, the best to do is to talk to

parents who have had successful programs. It is a long hard

process, and requires a huge commitment both financially and

emotionally on the parents part to maintain it. The autism

scholarship helps alleviate some of the financial strain, but there

is still the realiziation that no matter how wonderful your tutors

are, the best programs are the ones that are the most consistent.

In other words, when the tutors are gone, you are still maintaining

the same high expectatations around the clock. Set the bar high for

your child and maintain those expectations and realize that if you

choose to do an ABA program, the rewards are phenomenal...and so is

the workload.

Feel free to contact me offlist if you like. We have run a awesome

program for our daughter since she was 2 1/2. (she is almost 6).

Obviously my opinion of my consultant is biased (she has done our

daughter extremely well) as is every other parent on this board who

runs a program. The best way to find a consultant would be to talk

to tutors who tutor for multiple consultants (thru different

families). If the tutors have been in it for any period of time

they are the ones who will truly tell you what they like and dislike

about any consultant you are considering. The other thing to do

would be to ask Miss Bonnie at MEEC of the children she has seen

come through with home programs, which children she felt had

successful approaches and why. She truly would be an unbiased

opinion and could probably put you in contact with parents who have

run successfuly programs with children of similar functioning levels

as your child.

Good Luck.

Patty

[Guest guest]

Hi --

Thanks for your input ... I have heard many good things about Monarch and have put in a call to them this past week. I have heard that they take an "eclectic" approach to treatment? Custom-tailoring it to each individual child? This is what I am interested in -- a little ABA, but also Floortime, TEACCH and RDI. Does Monarch do all of those treatment modalities?

Thanks!

Margie************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour

[Guest guest]

Hi Margie, It's again. As you know, I work with Jocelyn Mills currently and I am very happy with her, but wanted to comment on Monarch also. I think you may be happy with Monarch if you are looking for a little bit of everything... they do use a variety of approaches but understand behavior very well, at least in the preschool/school program. I have not worked with their home team but have observed the preschool program more than once. I have met with the staff there and understand their background. I have seen a speech therapy session with a high functioning child and was very impressed! They were using adapted materials with this girl who was working on expanding her verbal expression - the speech therapist was just so on top of her game, describing the actions in a variety of ways for the girl and had

her use the more advanced version very successfully! The other thing that I liked was a book that they adapted - it was a regular board book that also contained icons for each word in the book - the girl would 'read' the icons, not the word (but would see them still right above the icons velcroed on underneath) - for the sentence 'one white dog' she would have three icons: one with the number one, one with a white square and one with the picture of the dog. She read it as if she was really reading the words and had so much pride and fulfillment doing that! She was 4 years old. I did not get to observe social groups, but I saw them have two preschoolers play a game together briefly in the classroom. I know that they will be having typical peers in the preschool 2 times a week! They do address sensory needs very well. I don't know if they use TEAACH but they do adapt their materials, as I described

above, and TEAACH is similar in that. Again, I have not worked with their home-team but I feel that they may be a great choice for people looking for an eclectic program. Definitely worth exploring before you'd make a final decision. Also interview STEPS. I don't know much about them but heard good reports. I am hoping to talk to Might next week. I can report back on that to you, if you like :-) Hope this was helpful! caitlinsds@... wrote: Hi --Thanks for your input ... I have heard many good things about Monarch and have put in a call to them this past week. I have heard that they take an "eclectic" approach to treatment? Custom-tailoring it to each individual child? This is what I am interested in -- a little ABA, but also Floortime, TEACCH and RDI. Does Monarch do all of those treatment modalities?Thanks!Margie**************************************Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour

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[Guest guest]

Thanks so much, . You've been very helpful.

My son actually attends a social skills group 2x/week at STEPS and it does seem to help him somewhat. But I think we need to take things back a step (no pun intended ;-) ) and teach him the social skills in a one-on-one setting before he can gain maximum benefit from the group experience. I did speak briefly to about her home program, but being strictly AVB, I wanted to explore other options first, although I have definitely not ruled out STEPS for home-based consulting.

But I would be interested in hearing your opinions on what you find out from .

Keep me posted.

Thanks!

Margie************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour

[Guest guest]

I would not call it eclectic just individualized. But, all of their behavioral methodologies are based on research interventions (eg: ABA, Floortime, DRI) it is tailored towards the child. Yes, all of your tutors are trained in all methodolgies.caitlinsds@... wrote: Hi --Thanks for your input ... I have heard many good things about Monarch and have put in a call to them this past week. I have heard that

they take an "eclectic" approach to treatment? Custom-tailoring it to each individual child? This is what I am interested in -- a little ABA, but also Floortime, TEACCH and RDI. Does Monarch do all of those treatment modalities?Thanks!Margie**************************************Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour Be a better Globetrotter. Get better travel answers from someone who knows. Answers - Check it out.

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