Re: Re: RDI and ABA/ OT: In-home ABA

[Guest guest]

informational about research

http://www.farrsite.org/

Re: RDI and ABA/ OT: In-home ABA

I think every child is unique and responds to therapy differently. I found

with my PDD-NOS son, he does better with a variety of therapies.

He currently gets: DTI (ABA-like) in school, Cognitive Play & Imaginative

Play-speech language based program in-home, hippotherapy, PT, OT & SP in school.

He is also on supplements and a dairy free diet due to a cow's milk sensitivity.

All of these things together (not just one) contribute to his overall

improvements and progress. Some children need strict ABA, some need Floor Time.

The key is to figure out which method works best for your child.

[Guest guest]

Not all ABA is created equal, and you as the parent will

have much input (provided you get a good program coordinator).

It also depends a lot on the therapist providing the ABA and

what they have been taught. I think it's a great idea to check

out the center, tell them your concerns, ask them their policies,

etc. I personally prefer a child-centered program, which can be

done in ABA. If you have a really good creative therapist, he/she

can teach skills using whatever activities your child is doing at

the moment. The ABA I was doing was much less child-centered

and much more tough love; it wouldn't be the program I would

choose for my own child. That doesn't mean all ABA is bad. It

really is as individual as the provider, therapist, child and parent.

As for if your child cries, for the program I did, it was ignored.

If the child asked for mom, it was ignored. Again, your input

would be key in setting these things up. McCann- EFT-CC -Founder My

Mama's Love Blog: Outrunning Autism " Uncertainty is a necessary part of any

leading-edge path. It makes you a better learner. " - Noelle

@...: nitagarner@...: Tue, 6 May

2008 09:36:35 -0500Subject: RE: RE: RDI and ABA/ OT: In-home ABA

Oh wow. yk the more I'm learning about ABA.. the more I'm not sure I want

iteither. Course I already have my car for sale and a few people interested.Yes,

I do need to get rid of the car payment anyway.. but.. I can't stand tothink of

sitting at some table being forced to do something he d/nwant to do.. what

if it makes him cry?Tell me more. Is this an old style of ABA, sort of like CIO

parenting thatpeople used to think was so great but now they know it causes

psychologicalharm? Or is it current method of ABA? I've heard not all ABA is

createdequal..so I might could still get good ABA therapy with a gentle

abatherapist?? I have to check this place out where I have him on the

waitinglist. The problem is, if I don't do their program, I don't know what else

todo. There isn't a RDI training place close by either.. at least, not that

Ihave found. And I have dh in my ear saying aba has proven results. The end is

we wantour son to be able to function and it's been proven they are more likely

towith intensive ABA therapy. His DXing psychologist didn't mention RDI.Personal

bias? He talked about how school systems like to have their pettherapy and try

to get everyone on it, whether it matches the kid or notNita (crew chief) and

the crew: 15, Jon 13, 11, 9, 6, Christian (7/16/03 to

8/22/04), 2 and Isaac, 2/3/08http://momof6.dotphoto.com

<http://momof6.dotphoto.com/> for notnecessarily current

pictureshttp://nitasspot.blogspot.comLearn from the mistakes of others. Trust

me... you can't live long enoughto make them all yourself.I completely agree

with this. I was an ABA therapistfor two years and I always struggled internally

with having to ignore what the children were asking for. [Non-text portions of

this message have been removed]

[Guest guest]

To my knowledge and correct me if Im wrong, Extinction is the preferred way in

ABA to deal with behaviors. This means ignoring the child's behaviors. This

is the exact opposite of RDI, as with RDI we want the child to trust the parent

or therapist and be able to teach them how to learn how to obtain anothers

perspective.

RE: RE: RDI and ABA/ OT: In-home ABA

Oh wow. yk the more I'm learning about ABA.. the more I'm not sure I want

iteither. Course I already have my car for sale and a few people interested.Yes,

I do need to get rid of the car payment anyway.. but.. I can't stand tothink of

sitting at some table being forced to do something he d/nwant to do.. what

if it makes him cry?Tell me more. Is this an old style of ABA, sort of like CIO

parenting thatpeople used to think was so great but now they know it causes

psychologicalharm? Or is it current method of ABA? I've heard not all ABA is

createdequal..so I might could still get good ABA therapy with a gentle

abatherapist?? I have to check this place out where I have him on the

waitinglist. The problem is, if I don't do their program, I don't know what else

todo. There isn't a RDI training place close by either.. at least, not that

Ihave found. And I have dh in my ear saying aba has proven results. The end is

we wantour son to be able to function and it's been proven they are more likely

towith intensive ABA therapy. His DXing psychologist didn't mention RDI.Personal

bias? He talked about how school systems like to have their pettherapy and try

to get everyone on it, whether it matches the kid or notNita (crew chief) and

the crew: 15, Jon 13, 11, 9, 6, Christian (7/16/03 to

8/22/04), 2 and Isaac, 2/3/08http://momof6.dotphoto.com

<http://momof6.dotphoto.com/> for notnecessarily current

pictureshttp://nitasspot.blogspot.comLearn from the mistakes of others. Trust

me... you can't live long enoughto make them all yourself.I completely agree

with this. I was an ABA therapistfor two years and I always struggled internally

with having to ignore what the children were asking for. [Non-text portions of

this message have been removed]

[Guest guest]

I agree. We first used alot of floortime because my son was only 1 1/2 and he

responded well to it. We still use it, but also he has ABA. The ABA helped get

him to sit and let us read to him. Now he loves it and constantly brings me

books to read. He hated it before. That opened up a door for quality time for us

together and learnin opportunity. Many other things such as feeding himself have

come from ABA. I do feel for my son, both are important at this point. That may

change but its as well rounded for his needs as we can expect and he is

progressing in all areas. I do feel learning a naturalistic approach to do with

your child through the day is important. It keeps you aware of his progress in

developement/social areas and not just skill level. I often give suggestions to

the aba therapist and likewise she to me. My son is happy and thats big. Every

child learns differently autism or not. There will probably be a day where I

feel ABA is no longer

important. The best method for one child may not be best for another. Research

and try out a few. It is a help to hear from other parents how a program or

therapy worked for their child but in doing so, remember there is no one proven

perfect therapy that fits every child on the spectrum.

Re: RDI and ABA/ OT: In-home ABA

I think every child is unique and responds to therapy differently. I found with

my PDD-NOS son, he does better with a variety of therapies.

He currently gets: DTI (ABA-like) in school, Cognitive Play & Imaginative

Play-speech language based program in-home, hippotherapy, PT, OT & SP in school.

He is also on supplements and a dairy free diet due to a cow's milk sensitivity.

All of these things together (not just one) contribute to his overall

improvements and progress. Some children need strict ABA, some need Floor Time.

The key is to figure out which method works best for your child.

[Guest guest]

Im glad to hear things are going well with your son. SOmething you said sparked

my interest as I had somewhat the same experience with a friend who says her son

broght books to her to read.

IS there a sharing of the book, a *dance* thru the book so to speak, or are

you reading and your child is following along while you read?

It was a huge difference I saw with my NT daughter and my son with ASD. They

both *let* me read to them, but their reactions were so different!

Im assuming you know what I mean since you have done Floortime, I am just

curious since I have seen the other end of it.

Thanks

Kathy

Re: RDI and ABA/ OT: In-home ABA

I think every child is unique and responds to therapy differently. I found

with my PDD-NOS son, he does better with a variety of therapies.

He currently gets: DTI (ABA-like) in school, Cognitive Play & Imaginative

Play-speech language based program in-home, hippotherapy, PT, OT & SP in school.

He is also on supplements and a dairy free diet due to a cow's milk sensitivity.

All of these things together (not just one) contribute to his overall

improvements and progress. Some children need strict ABA, some need Floor Time.

The key is to figure out which method works best for your child.

[Guest guest]

It can be very confusing for a parent at first. ABA does vary and  is right

in the fact that the therapist plays a big role in how the program will fit or

not fit what a parent might want. When I first met with the program directer of

my sons ABA I was turned off by her sterness an lack of what I would call

compassion. She was all business. I decided to meet the therapist anyways and

she was totally different. The crying part was hard. But our therapist told me

he would be able to see me the whole time and to notice most of his crying would

be anger. The first visit she just played with him and he cried almost the whole

time. But it was, like she said, anger.. He could not believe he wasnt running

the show so to speak. She was kind, gave him hugs and was very gentle and sweet.

The third visit when she came to the door he was so excited!!! He now runs to

greet her and brings her straight to the room and starts pulling out the

activities before she

is even ready. In the beginning it can be hard especially if your child is very

young. My son was 18/months when we started so I was really turned off when

researching mostly by the strict method. Now he is thriving on it. For now its

great. We may switch to something different later on down the road, which yes I

think you can.. but my son loves it and he is doing great..

RE: RE: RDI and ABA/ OT: In-home ABA

Oh wow. yk the more I'm learning about ABA.. the more I'm not sure I want

iteither. Course I already have my car for sale and a few people interested.Yes,

I do need to get rid of the car payment anyway.. but.. I can't stand tothink of

sitting at some table being forced to do something he d/nwant to do.. what

if it makes him cry?Tell me more. Is this an old style of ABA, sort of like CIO

parenting thatpeople used to think was so great but now they know it causes

psychologicalharm? Or is it current method of ABA? I've heard not all ABA is

createdequal. .so I might could still get good ABA therapy with a gentle

abatherapist? ? I have to check this place out where I have him on the

waitinglist. The problem is, if I don't do their program, I don't know what else

todo. There isn't a RDI training place close by either.. at least, not that

Ihave found. And I have dh in my ear saying aba has proven results. The end is

we wantour son to be able to function

and it's been proven they are more likely towith intensive ABA therapy. His

DXing psychologist didn't mention RDI.Personal bias? He talked about how school

systems like to have their pettherapy and try to get everyone on it, whether it

matches the kid or notNita (crew chief) and the crew: 15, Jon 13,

11, 9, 6, Christian (7/16/03 to 8/22/04), 2 and Isaac,

2/3/08http://momof6. dotphoto. com <http://momof6. dotphoto. com/> for

notnecessarily current pictureshttp: //nitasspot. blogspot. comLearn from the

mistakes of others. Trust me... you can't live long enoughto make them all

yourself.I completely agree with this. I was an ABA therapistfor two years and I

always struggled internally with having to ignore what the children were asking

for.

[Guest guest]

I know what your saying. My son is really young, just turned two. He used to use

books as a visual stimm. Two months ago he would flip the pages back and forth

using the pages going past his eyes and not let us near him when doing this . So

the first step to me was having him see there was an even more enjoyable way to

use books. He will sit and let me read to him but doing floortime approach on

this area is much easier having made the first hurdle. He is now pointing to the

pictures and looking at me on occasion for a response. This was also his first

use of speach. We work on doing back and forth communication through books. I

might read the first page, he turns the page and sees an alligator and might say

" allagata " and point to it and I repsond with " whats the allagator doing Eli? "

sometimes he will look at me knowing I am going to say swimming!!! so we are

working on getting him to respond past that point for a bit more back and forth.

I also

try to get books that can use activity. Eli wouldnt jump or kick or follow any

fun body id games. I made a book that we read the page and follow what the boy

in the book is doing. It gives him a chance to compare whats inside a book to

reality. Say the page is Jimmy jumping.. we get up and start jumping. He now can

see what Jimmy is doing on a particular page and do the activity without my

leed. Its fun and we change it up a bit and jump on the couch or on a pillow or

on his mini tramp. Trying to work on generalizing an activity outside just one

black and white way of doing it. The book is full of body ID and motor skills.

We have a long way to go but he has come far in a short amount of time.

Re: RDI and ABA/ OT: In-home ABA

I think every child is unique and responds to therapy differently. I found with

my PDD-NOS son, he does better with a variety of therapies.

He currently gets: DTI (ABA-like) in school, Cognitive Play & Imaginative

Play-speech language based program in-home, hippotherapy, PT, OT & SP in school.

He is also on supplements and a dairy free diet due to a cow's milk sensitivity.

All of these things together (not just one) contribute to his overall

improvements and progress. Some children need strict ABA, some need Floor Time.

The key is to figure out which method works best for your child.

[Guest guest]

Hi

Your son sounds like a sweetie!

I had a similar experience with my oldest sons ABA. I dont want to come off as

disagreeing with you about everything lol...and I want to tread lightly here as

my goal is to just inform and then the parent make the decision. I preface

everything I say with what I believe or what I have learned in my journey. Im

ok with anyone who disagrees Forgive me if I repeat anything as I belong to

a few lol

MY sons ABA therapists were wonderful. So wonderful that one of them is now his

RDI consultant in training We had an excellent program and had 40 hours a

week for 3 year!. I say this because I feel I need to dispell that bad ABA

produces behavior problems and good ABA does not. Again, I feel I need to

repeat that our ABA program was top notch. I was a therapist on the team too!

ok, that being said, here is how the RDI philosphy would see a few things that

you said. The childs crying is anger and frustration. RDI believes as with

typical development, that you need to teach the child to trust you. It is a

philopshy, sort of like the camp who believes in letting an INFANT cry it out

or that you can spoil an infant by holding her too much. I believe that an

infant needs to learn that you can be trusted, and that means responding to

their attempts to communicate. Like I said, this is one camp.

Im just not real sure why ABA believes to take the child away from the parent

when that initial trust bond has not been formed with the parent due to

developmental issues? So I believe the child learns that the parent will not

respond, but the therapist will.

My son was also excited to see his therapists. Turns out, I believe that ABA

sets up a very static environment for the child. Pretty much the have the same

command over and over and when they learn it they get a reinforcer. SO they

feel very competent because they are not really weak in static skills at that

point. Because the therapist cannot give away an answe r in their her face,

they learn not to look to others for their perspective as an infant would imo.

My son thrived also, until 1st grade when his world was not all about him

succeeding in his Discreet trials and the world is not a static place where

there are all yes and No's.

RDI teaches that the world is *messi* and there are good enough answers, etc

etc. This is dynamic thinking.

My son loved his ABA therapy but all crap hit the fan when it was time to live

in a world of 1st grade where things are not always clearcut.

I think that depending on what parenting style is would depend on what you feel

comforable with. I personally would not recommend ABA at all. I had to undo

years of static training with ABA to help my child understand true motivation.

This is my opinion with what I had to live thru. My son is doing great now, it

took a year to undo the damage. It was not damamge from ABA, it was damage

from the Aba PHILOSPHY.

I would be interested in hearing from people who have older children that went

thru an ABA program and feel as though their child has recovered from Autism.

It is difficult to see long term when it is not experienced. If you told me

this when I was knee deep in my sons ABA program I would of freaked out I

thought I saw progress because of his skills! I just ask that everyone try to

be informed as possible before making decisions!

THanks

KAthy

RE: RE: RDI and ABA/ OT: In-home ABA

Oh wow. yk the more I'm learning about ABA.. the more I'm not sure I want

iteither. Course I already have my car for sale and a few people interested.Yes,

I do need to get rid of the car payment anyway.. but.. I can't stand tothink of

sitting at some table being forced to do something he d/nwant to do.. what

if it makes him cry?Tell me more. Is this an old style of ABA, sort of like CIO

parenting thatpeople used to think was so great but now they know it causes

psychologicalharm? Or is it current method of ABA? I've heard not all ABA is

createdequal. .so I might could still get good ABA therapy with a gentle

abatherapist? ? I have to check this place out where I have him on the

waitinglist. The problem is, if I don't do their program, I don't know what else

todo. There isn't a RDI training place close by either.. at least, not that

Ihave found. And I have dh in my ear saying aba has proven results. The end is

we wantour son to be able to function

and it's been proven they are more likely towith intensive ABA therapy. His

DXing psychologist didn't mention RDI.Personal bias? He talked about how school

systems like to have their pettherapy and try to get everyone on it, whether it

matches the kid or notNita (crew chief) and the crew: 15, Jon 13,

11, 9, 6, Christian (7/16/03 to 8/22/04), 2 and Isaac,

2/3/08http://momof6. dotphoto. com <http://momof6. dotphoto. com/> for

notnecessarily current pictureshttp: //nitasspot. blogspot. comLearn from the

mistakes of others. Trust me... you can't live long enoughto make them all

yourself.I completely agree with this. I was an ABA therapistfor two years and I

always struggled internally with having to ignore what the children were asking

for.

[Guest guest]

I agree with alot of what your saying. I also agree in the importance of

generalization and working on core deficits ( sp ). ABA is limited to a degree

and this also depens on how the therapis works. I told the therapist I didn't

want it to all be trials. Repetition of skills is ok to a certain degree as it

can be useful. But the problem comes into play when back and forth communication

and sharing etc are not used. I see my sons progress in language more from a

standpoint of how many times he and I can go back and forth with speach or

gestures in a prticular activity or subject. Say I am sitting on floor playing

blocks. Will my son come over crash the blocks and move to a new activity with

not so much as a glance at me?? That was where we were at not long ago. For him

to look me in the eye and smile, come over and stack a block on top of mine, say

" two " and look to me as a gesture of " moms turn " thats whats key I feel

....and to build on that for

longer and longer appropriate back and forth communication and sharing an

activity together. ABA does not work on that aspect usually unless you can

convince the therapist to implement it. I only have my son in 15 hours a week of

ABA. I do floortime with him the rest of the time. Parents should be playing the

largest role in therapy for their child. imho... The way I see it is that if a

parent is understanding of the missing developemental milestones and how to work

at getting your child to relate, process and generalize..along with many other

things. then ABA can have an important place .. I would not use it as the sole

source of therapy for my child. For me, the RDI program is not likely to come

into play anytime soon. I am a single low income Mom and for sure dont have

anywhere close to the amount of money to complete the program and use it as it

should be used. I think its a great program but not attainable. I also feel

although Floortime and RDI

differ in many ways they are both working on key defecits in a naturalistic

method. Therefore and because I see floortime as an easier and just as effective

method for what is lacking in my sons aba I use it daily.

: )

RE: RE: RDI and ABA/ OT: In-home ABA

Oh wow. yk the more I'm learning about ABA.. the more I'm not sure I want

iteither. Course I already have my car for sale and a few people interested.Yes,

I do need to get rid of the car payment anyway.. but.. I can't stand tothink of

sitting at some table being forced to do something he d/nwant to do.. what

if it makes him cry?Tell me more. Is this an old style of ABA, sort of like CIO

parenting thatpeople used to think was so great but now they know it causes

psychologicalharm? Or is it current method of ABA? I've heard not all ABA is

createdequal. .so I might could still get good ABA therapy with a gentle

abatherapist? ? I have to check this place out where I have him on the

waitinglist. The problem is, if I don't do their program, I don't know what else

todo. There isn't a RDI training place close by either.. at least, not that

Ihave found. And I have dh in my ear saying aba has proven results. The end is

we wantour son to be able to function

and it's been proven they are more likely towith intensive ABA therapy. His

DXing psychologist didn't mention RDI.Personal bias? He talked about how school

systems like to have their pettherapy and try to get everyone on it, whether it

matches the kid or notNita (crew chief) and the crew: 15, Jon 13,

11, 9, 6, Christian (7/16/03 to 8/22/04), 2 and Isaac,

2/3/08http://momof6. dotphoto. com <http://momof6. dotphoto. com/> for

notnecessarily current pictureshttp: //nitasspot. blogspot. comLearn from the

mistakes of others. Trust me... you can't live long enoughto make them all

yourself.I completely agree with this. I was an ABA therapistfor two years and I

always struggled internally with having to ignore what the children were asking

for.

[Guest guest]

Hi again..

Hope didn't come off as a boob.. lol I just wanted to add in that. Having a

child on the spectrum requires much more one on one time with parents I feel.

Having a child even an NT child spend forty hours of their week with someone

else, no matter what the therapy, is too much. Thats a lot of time in a young

childs life to be spending doing the same thing over and over...and I would feel

that time would be enough to brainwash them into that way of thinking as how

life is.. because they live the majority of their day doing it.. Time to be with

Mommy and Daddy is critical. My son loves our after breakfast hug time. We get

up on the couch, hug and kiss and sing songs.. he humms...I do this for at least

a half hour and its great for really connecting. I just think its vital to have

one on one be a big part of your day. Just what I have observed and think but

realize not all parents have that opportunity.

RE: RE: RDI and ABA/ OT: In-home ABA

Oh wow. yk the more I'm learning about ABA.. the more I'm not sure I want

iteither. Course I already have my car for sale and a few people interested.Yes,

I do need to get rid of the car payment anyway.. but.. I can't stand tothink of

sitting at some table being forced to do something he d/nwant to do.. what

if it makes him cry?Tell me more. Is this an old style of ABA, sort of like CIO

parenting thatpeople used to think was so great but now they know it causes

psychologicalharm? Or is it current method of ABA? I've heard not all ABA is

createdequal. .so I might could still get good ABA therapy with a gentle

abatherapist? ? I have to check this place out where I have him on the

waitinglist. The problem is, if I don't do their program, I don't know what else

todo. There isn't a RDI training place close by either.. at least, not that

Ihave found. And I have dh in my ear saying aba has proven results. The end is

we wantour son to be able to function

and it's been proven they are more likely towith intensive ABA therapy. His

DXing psychologist didn't mention RDI.Personal bias? He talked about how school

systems like to have their pettherapy and try to get everyone on it, whether it

matches the kid or notNita (crew chief) and the crew: 15, Jon 13,

11, 9, 6, Christian (7/16/03 to 8/22/04), 2 and Isaac,

2/3/08http://momof6. dotphoto. com <http://momof6. dotphoto. com/> for

notnecessarily current pictureshttp: //nitasspot. blogspot. comLearn from the

mistakes of others. Trust me... you can't live long enoughto make them all

yourself.I completely agree with this. I was an ABA therapistfor two years and I

always struggled internally with having to ignore what the children were asking

for.

[Guest guest]

I totally agree !

Kathy

RE: RE: RDI and ABA/ OT:

In-home ABA

Oh wow. yk the more I'm learning about ABA.. the more I'm not sure I want

iteither. Course I already have my car for sale and a few people interested.Yes,

I do need to get rid of the car payment anyway.. but.. I can't stand tothink of

sitting at some table being forced to do something he d/nwant to do.. what

if it makes him cry?Tell me more. Is this an old style of ABA, sort of like CIO

parenting thatpeople used to think was so great but now they know it causes

psychologicalharm? Or is it current method of ABA? I've heard not all ABA is

createdequal. .so I might could still get good ABA therapy with a gentle

abatherapist? ? I have to check this place out where I have him on the

waitinglist. The problem is, if I don't do their program, I don't know what else

todo. There isn't a RDI training place close by either.. at least, not that

Ihave found. And I have dh in my ear saying aba has proven results. The end is

we wantour son to be able to function

and it's been proven they are more likely towith intensive ABA therapy. His

DXing psychologist didn't mention RDI.Personal bias? He talked about how school

systems like to have their pettherapy and try to get everyone on it, whether it

matches the kid or notNita (crew chief) and the crew: 15, Jon 13,

11, 9, 6, Christian (7/16/03 to 8/22/04), 2 and Isaac,

2/3/08http://momof6. dotphoto. com <http://momof6. dotphoto. com/> for

notnecessarily current pictureshttp: //nitasspot. blogspot. comLearn from the

mistakes of others. Trust me... you can't live long enoughto make them all

yourself.I completely agree with this. I was an ABA therapistfor two years and I

always struggled internally with having to ignore what the children were asking

for.

[Guest guest]

Wow - you have to sell you CAR to pay for treatment? That's just so awful!

When my son was diagnosed the psychologist showed me her copy of RDI

and said I could buy it on amazon give it a try if I wanted to. She

mentioned ABA, but said my son might be better off with RDI because he

really didn't show any sign of bonding or referencing with us. He just

didn't care - sad but true. She thought if he could be encouraged to

care what his parents were doing and thinking he'd be able to regulate

his behavior better.

So I never looked at ABA and can't give any input there. I just bought

the RDI book and worked through it from page 1.

http://www.amazon.com/Relationship-Development-Intervention-Young-Children/dp/18\

43107147/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8 & s=books & qid=1210104182 & sr=8-1

The book is only $24, so the main investment is TIME! I did 10 hours

per day solo for a long time, then brought in a nice and enthusiastic

young woman who I trained so I could take a break for a couple of

hours per day. It wasn't till a long time afterwards that I learned

about RDI training seminars and actual practitioners (both very

expensive). By that time I was an expert myself, so it just wasn't

worth the money.

The first 4 weeks of the home RDI program were before I started biomed

interventions - he had some measurable gains (even with his lack of

interest) but quickly lost them without daily repetition. We were

unable to more forward through the program because of it.

Then I started him on all the usual biomed supps, GFCF diet and

digestive enzymes. His response to the exercises was MUCH improved, he

made great gains and kept them so we were able to move through the

program quite rapidly. He also started OT for his sensory processing

disorder, so the I broke up the day between RDI exercises with OT

physical activity exercises. I also wrapped in SonRise and Pivotal

Response theories into the overall plan. He was engaged by someone and

doing some sort of play program/exercise every waking moment.

The major costs were the weekly OT sessions (which I participated in

and the therapist helped to plan the home sensory " diet " program for

the following week) paying the assistant I'd trained and the equipment

for the home OT program. Perhaps over the course of two years it could

have come close the cost of a used old car.....maybe.

All the biomed supplements, doctor appointments and tests were

considerably more though! I could have bought a couple of luxury cars

for what they have cost me!

If I had to do it again, the only thing I would have changed was

training/paying people to help me sooner. Doing behavioral therapy

myself seemed natural - and I really didn't look into having others do

it. This way just felt right. My money was way better spent on things

I couldn't do myself - like doctors appointments, tests and supplements!

We started when my son was 3. He's now 5 and it totally recovered

behaviorally (still has some residual medical issues though). He

doesn't appear like he's been " trained to look normal " . He has a

comfortable fluid manner in social interactions and speech. He's

affectionate, kind and thoughtful - generally a happy and great kid.

He's about to go into kindergarten with no aid, so support and no

mention of ASD.

In our case it was a three part solution: Biomed, RDI and OT. I

believe if I'd skipped one of the three then his recovery would not be

so complete.

The fact that none of these treatments have been peer reviewed,

studied and proven to help - well, that didn't phase me at all. Before

all of this autism stuff I was a test engineer, so I was quite

comfortable relying on my own observations, taking notes, doing trials

and making decisions based on my findings.

You can do a home based program too. It's the hardest job I've ever

had, but the most rewarding!

- mother to 5 year old son. Recovered from ASD, but with

residual medical issues.

>

> Oh wow. yk the more I'm learning about ABA.. the more I'm not sure I

want it

> either. Course I already have my car for sale and a few people

interested.

> Yes, I do need to get rid of the car payment anyway.. but.. I can't

stand to

> think of sitting at some table being forced to do something he d/n

> want to do.. what if it makes him cry?

>

>

>

> Tell me more. Is this an old style of ABA, sort of like CIO

parenting that

> people used to think was so great but now they know it causes

psychological

> harm? Or is it current method of ABA? I've heard not all ABA is created

> equal..so I might could still get good ABA therapy with a gentle aba

> therapist?? I have to check this place out where I have him on the

waiting

> list. The problem is, if I don't do their program, I don't know what

else to

> do. There isn't a RDI training place close by either.. at least, not

that I

> have found.

>

>

>

> And I have dh in my ear saying aba has proven results. The end is we

want

> our son to be able to function and it's been proven they are more

likely to

> with intensive ABA therapy. His DXing psychologist didn't mention RDI.

> Personal bias? He talked about how school systems like to have their pet

> therapy and try to get everyone on it, whether it matches the kid or not

>

>

>

> Nita (crew chief) and the crew: 15, Jon 13, 11, 9,

> 6, Christian (7/16/03 to 8/22/04), 2 and Isaac, 2/3/08

> http://momof6.dotphoto.com <http://momof6.dotphoto.com/> for not

> necessarily current pictures

>

> http://nitasspot.blogspot.com

> Learn from the mistakes of others. Trust me... you can't live long

enough

> to make them all yourself.

>

>

>

>

>

>

> I completely agree with this. I was an ABA therapist

> for two years and I always struggled internally with

> having to ignore what the children were asking for.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Yes, extinction is one method of handling " negative " behaviors in ABA,

but according to behavioral principles it is appropriate only when the

motivation of the child is basically to interrupt therapy or the child

is lashing out- when applied properly, it a gentle way to keep things

going and keep the child engaged and learning. Motivation is a big

part of ABA, and many ABA programs look at what the child may be

trying to accomplish with the " negative " behaviors and try to teach

another, more appropriate way to accomplish the same thing. For

example, if a child bites people when he is hungry, then the program

would include an emphasis on finding some other way for the child to

communicate hunger, such as implementing PECS. Like in any field, ABA

people will all do things differently, and each person I think is

responsible for how they chose to interpret and use the principles.

Also, I think ultimately it's up to parents to stay involved, ask

questions, and make sure that your child is being treated in a way

that you are okay with. I think this goes for anything- teachers,

aides, therapists, sunday school teachers, camp counselors, can all

treat our kids in ways we wouldn't want, and we can't assume that

other people have our kids best interests in mind.

-Sierra

>

> To my knowledge and correct me if Im wrong, Extinction is the

preferred way in ABA to deal with behaviors. This means ignoring the

child's behaviors. This is the exact opposite of RDI, as with RDI we

want the child to trust the parent or therapist and be able to teach

them how to learn how to obtain anothers perspective.

[Guest guest]

ok thanks... I totally disagree with the precepts of ABA, and while ABA will

differ depending on the therapist, it still has the basic tenents of treating

Autism as it was a behaviorial issue and not a relationship disorder. So we

are just going to have to disagree.

Kathy

Re: RE: RDI and ABA/ OT: In-home ABA

Yes, extinction is one method of handling " negative " behaviors in ABA,

but according to behavioral principles it is appropriate only when the

motivation of the child is basically to interrupt therapy or the child

is lashing out- when applied properly, it a gentle way to keep things

going and keep the child engaged and learning. Motivation is a big

part of ABA, and many ABA programs look at what the child may be

trying to accomplish with the " negative " behaviors and try to teach

another, more appropriate way to accomplish the same thing. For

example, if a child bites people when he is hungry, then the program

would include an emphasis on finding some other way for the child to

communicate hunger, such as implementing PECS. Like in any field, ABA

people will all do things differently, and each person I think is

responsible for how they chose to interpret and use the principles.

Also, I think ultimately it's up to parents to stay involved, ask

questions, and make sure that your child is being treated in a way

that you are okay with. I think this goes for anything- teachers,

aides, therapists, sunday school teachers, camp counselors, can all

treat our kids in ways we wouldn't want, and we can't assume that

other people have our kids best interests in mind.

-Sierra

>

> To my knowledge and correct me if Im wrong, Extinction is the

preferred way in ABA to deal with behaviors. This means ignoring the

child's behaviors. This is the exact opposite of RDI, as with RDI we

want the child to trust the parent or therapist and be able to teach

them how to learn how to obtain anothers perspective.

[Guest guest]

WOW what kind of aba program were you in that was abusive??? Thats a pretty bold

statement. I would have sued! My son does 15 hours a week of aba and started 6

months ago at the age of 18 months. Believe me there is nothing even close to

abuse going on. He LOVES it and the therapist hugs and is affectionate and sweet

as pie.

Re: RDI and ABA/ OT: In-home ABA

I think it is important to find out what kind of ABA the group uses. There are

many types. We were fortunate to have a play based, floor time group. I would

avoid anything to do with LOVAAS type therapy, which is tantamount to child

abuse in my opinion. Our therapists would have happily had me present, but my

daughter refused to participate if I was. We were also fortunate in that the

program we worked with was very parent inclusive in the decision making and they

were happy to work with our speech pathologist as well as our OT.

Not all programs are created equal, but it is up to you as a parent to learn

what a program is about and it is also up to you to be involved.