Re: [VerbalBehavior] Re: Simple Steps

[Guest guest]

Hi Risca,

This is the package that I am referring to. As you and Regina pointed out the

program itself is not a concern. In fact, it appears to be an initiative I can

support. I was misinformed that it would be sold as a way to teach people how

to be behavior analysts via video series. Obviously that was a concern. But as

that is not the case that is not an issue.

The issue we are having with Simple Steps is that they have allowed

Psychologists in Germany to translate the program and are trying to co-opt ABA

by changing the name to VT or Behavior Therapy. Behavior therapy has a history

in Germany, it is cognitive behavior therapy and it is controlled by the

psychology community.

By taking what is an obvious ABA program and bringing it to Germany under the

name VT they are setting the stage for the psychology community to wrest ABA

away from Behavior analysts. They will be able to determine who gets coverage

and what coursework someone needs to get the degree that will be covered.

There is no inscentive or likelihood that the psychology departments when given

this power would give any consideration to the expectations for behavior

analysis laid out by ABAI, the BACB, or the APBA. I think it is a very

disturbing situation and I urge anyone who knows Dr. Keenan or any of the board

members of Simple Steps to contact them and insist that they support the

expansion of ABA as an independent science in every country that they bring

Simple Steps to.

_________________________________

Schramm, MA, BCBA

Author of Educate Toward Recovery:

Turning the Tables on Autism

www.lulu.com/knospe-aba

www.knospe-aba.com

_________________________________

" Trying to teach a child with autism to better communicate and interact in the

social world without a firm grasp of the principles of behavior is like trying

to build an airplane that can fly without understanding Newton’s laws and the

concept of 'lift.' You might get lucky and stumble upon something that works,

but then again, you might not. "

________________________________

From: " Risca18@... " <Risca18@...>

VerbalBehavior

Sent: Sat, March 12, 2011 8:50:47 PM

Subject: [VerbalBehavior] Re: Simple Steps

Hi ,

I think you are referring to the Simple Steps program developed by the

parent-led charity PEAT, based in Northern Ireland. I believe the original

package was made possible by grant funding from The Big Lottery and BBC Children

in Need. I think they have now developed it into a larger online training

package. I have not had any experience of the online newer version of the

training, but did see their original package. The original package was well put

together and seemed to be a good resource for parents, but I can't comment on

their new online package.

Risca

BCBA

--- In VerbalBehavior , Schramm <knospeaba_robert@...>

wrote:

>

> Is anyone familiar with the company or program called Simple Steps?

>

> It appears to be a video based program for training behavior analysts, or for

> teaching families to be their own behavior analysts. Someone trying to get

this

>

> program made available through one of the German Universities instead of a

BACB

>

> approved coursework. I am concerned it might just be a cookie cutter washed

>down

>

> version of ABA that will only hurt the work the BCBA's of Germany have been

> doing for several years.

>

> Does anyone have any experience with this company and what you think of their

> concept of video training for Behavior analysis? Is this set of courses they

> sell approved by the BACB?

>

> Just curious if anyone has any insight to share.

>

>

> _________________________________

> Schramm, MA, BCBA

> Author of Educate Toward Recovery:

> Turning the Tables on Autism

> www.lulu.com/knospe-aba

> www.knospe-aba.com

> _________________________________

>

> " Trying to teach a child with autism to better communicate and interact in the

> social world without a firm grasp of the principles of behavior is like trying

> to build an airplane that can fly without understanding Newton’s laws

and the

>

> concept of 'lift.' You might get lucky and stumble upon something that works,

> but then again, you might not. "

>

>

>