Unique Needs for AVB

[Guest guest]

Hi, this my first post to this list. I posted a similar question on

the Verbal Behavior list, so please ignore if you have seen this.

I am trying to define what unique needs a child may have that would

justify the use of a methodology based on the theory of Verbal

Behavior versus more common ABA approaches which I believe, are

essentially based on Skinner's " Behavior of Organisms " and some

subsquent research and methodologies by various other persons

(Lovaas, etc...).

My desire for this information is quite specific. I have a child

with autism who has a significant language deficit. My child had

been in an eclectic school setting which used TEACCH, ABA (aka

Autism Partnership variety), with some use of PECS as a language

augmentative tool. My child's progress was poor, especially with

respect to language. This is not a direct criticism of those

methods in general, but for my child they did not work. We started

a VB based ABA program and his language began improving at a much

faster rate, whereas prior to this it was stagnant to regressing.

I am discussing my child's future education with our school district

and they believe that the eclectic program outlined above (with ABA

procsribed by Autism Partnership) is appropriate and is

comparable/equivalent to VB, which I believe it is not in my child's

case. This creates a fundamental dilemna as I may be legally

required to PROVE that my child's unique needs are being met by

using the theory of VB whereas before they were not, hence the need

to know what criteria must a child with autism have that indicates

that VB is the proper approach. Proof by academic improvement may

not be legally enough, though it seems it should be. I believe this

goes back to various Supreme court rulings that require schools to

provide a baseline " floor of opportunity " with " some educational

benefit " and not the " best " education. Other state precedence

permits the school districts to choose the methodology. I need to

show that VB is the appropriate theory of education based on the

uniqe needs of my specific child. So.... I need a list of criteria

of unique needs that are only addressed when applying the theory of

VB, and then I need a means to assess my child to see if my child

meets any of theose criteria.

Right now they way it works, the industry standards for assessment

define a child has autism, then whatever methodology the school

picks becomes the defacto FAPE. If that methodlogy has any

scientific empirical backing, then it becomes legally valid even if

it doesn't work for that particular child. I think that is wrong,

but that is my understanding of IDEA after the various

interpretations by courts.

There have been several recent due process decisions against VB

because of this lack of understanding of VB and the methodologies

based upon VB.

It is important for the public VB community that this criteria be

established and that there is a means to assess a child to show that

the child meets those criteria, otherwise precedent cases against VB

will increase and it will be harder for it to be implemented in the

public sector.

Any ideas are welcome!

Thanks!

Mark