SAFE VB Project

[Guest guest]

Mindy,

It is a very long explanation for an email but let me take a stab at a very

condensed summary:

Two years ago SAFE (Supporting Autism and Families Everywhere), a parent

non-profit support group in Wilkes-Barre, PA, received a grant from the PA Dept

of

Education to enable two autism classrooms to become model ABA/VB classrooms.

These two classrooms received materials, training, and on-site consultation.

In 2003/2004 school year, this project supported 12 model ABA/VB autism

classrooms throughout the State of PA....again providing materials such as ABLLS

for each student, Language Builder cards for each student, a video camera for

each classroom, etc. These 12 classrooms also received training including two

2-day workshops at the Carbone Clinic, workshops with Tom Caffrey and two

workshops with Mark Sundberg. The biggest thing these classrooms received was

on-site weekly guided practice for 4 hours each week. This guided practice was

delivered by BCBA's or those pursuing coursework to take their Boards. SAFE

consultants went in to the model classrooms each week and helped the

teachers/SLP's and other staff learn how to program using the ABLLS and how to

implement

ABA/VB techiniques within public school autism classrooms.

The project was a huge success. Problem behaviors dropped. Kids began

manding and in some cases began talking for the first time. Another important

thing that happened was a wonderful collaboration between the PA Dept of Ed and

a

non-profit parent support group.

This year there are 57 model sites being implemented with the support of a

large SAFE grant funded by the PA Dept of Ed. If you want to receive SAFE's

newsletter to get updates about the project, go to autismsafe.org or call,

1-877-510-SAFE.

Barbera, RN, MSN, BCBA

Lead Behavior Analyst

SAFE VB Project of PA