DTT vs VB: How to create a balanced program..

[Guest guest]

Hello all,

You all had been very detailed in explaining the difference btw DTT and VB.

We are in similar

dilemma here as our consultant is from the traditional school of ABA. Infact

they claim that they take the best of both- DTT and VB but does not beleive

in manding using sign and prefers to use pictures instead. Our persistant

attempt to make them use the sign language fell to deaf ears and therefore

we discontinued any attempts in that area fearing that we might jeopardise

our son's therapy.

Now the dilemma is this: we just moved in to california, the state of the

masters like sundberg and partington, but unfortunately there is not enough

VB therapists in their very backyard, the bay area. They themselves do not

offer any services in the greater bay(sanjose area). Therefore we are going

to start the program with another group which is pretty reputed in providing

services here. However they are not VB experts and follow the so called

'mixed' approach, while we are strong beleivers in VB.

Now the question is how to integrate a good VB program with the services

they are offering. We are considering some options like we attend the

Carbone clinic and start teaching some VB to complement those area untouched

by the consultant. The fear is how we measure the progress and also it might

really confuse the child.

The other option is to hire an VB consutlant( which is a big task here) and

let him/her run the some of the program independently. This can be very

costly affair and has an high probability of messing up the learing curve

if not done properly.

Since they are yet to write a program, we would like to get your help. So

the fundamental question, is how to do a balancing act of integrating VB

into the DTT mode so that we have an strong language segment in the program.

Our son's main draw back is his labeling ability and poor use of functional

language.

We plan to do an 15 hr/week initially with this company and then increase

the time. Since money is a problem ( as it is not funded the school), we

would like to prudently utilize the services and the same time add more

teaching in natural settings.

Any advise in this regard is appreciated. What we need is how we can design

a program for our son which can encompass the program used by the DTT

therapists and also add our 'own' language intervention.

Sorry for asking a tough question here. But i have strong feeling some of

you must be having similar problem like ours and must be tackling the

problem.

We have son who is 6 year old and time is running out fast..

best regards

sunil

_________________________________________________________________

Create your own personal Web page with the info you use most, at My MSN.

http://click.atdmt.com/AVE/go/onm00200364ave/direct/01/