Over the last five years, I have written as the owner of Instructional ABA Consultants, a mama, and sometimes a BCBA. You can reference my original blogs here Owner’s Blog / Autism Blog. Throughout the summer, my team and I have been collaborating on what could be meaningful for the families and caregivers we serve. Through that collaboration, the idea for this series was born. The series will focus on our corner of the world through the perspective of an ABA business owner, BCBA, and a mama walking in the trenches right next to those we serve.
With my pen, I will do my best to share the origins and work of Instructional ABA Consultants, the gift of applied behavior analysis, and parenting to serve our community. The service I hope to provide is connection, knowledge, and community. I know firsthand how defeating lonely parenthood can be and how connection offers healing. Let us begin as I walk beside you sharing what I hope will serve you.
From College to Company Founding
In the spring of 2010, I was midway through my Master’s Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Social justice and behavior analysis filled my every waking hour. It was only three years earlier that I was teaching preschool, wondering how my autistic students would get access to care. In those days I walked the halls of residential mental health hospitals bearing witness to what happens when children do not get that access and become adults. At twenty-three years old my heart broke as I saw the most vulnerable beings on earth with an immense lack of care. I was working on the Illinois Crisis Prevention Network with the most amazing mentor; Kim Shontz. My position during this time was a Board-Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst tasked with stabilizing the most severe cases in Illinois. I worked with children as young as three to the elderly with one goal: decrease their behaviors and increase community access. Doing this work during my Master’s Degree gave me the advantage of applying the science with the support of faculty.
The results were incredible.
In the two years I worked on the ICPN I had nearly a 100% success rate of meeting the team’s goal. Applied behavior analysis offered the tools necessary to decrease the behaviors and the ICPN’s resources allowed the individuals to then access their community. The issue here was that every individual we served was state-funded without insurance coverage for ABA. It was early in the years that ABA was state-mandated by insurance (2008 for Illinois). The state saw the benefit but did not provide that access to all its residents; the burden being on the consumer. In 2012 I chose to start Instructional ABA Consultants with the mission to provide care across all funding sources. I enrolled as a BCBA for state funding that larger corporations wouldn’t touch; it didn’t pay enough. With a caseload of 20 clients, I began.
What I witnessed all those years ago and deeply desired still rings true today. I witnessed a series of systems that were failing our children and adults with disabilities. The number of kind-hearted, talented people who work within these systems would astound you. Yet they are always working without enough. I would like to believe people who hold positions of power surrounding these systems know of their shortcomings. Yet as time has aged me, I’ve begun to realize that sometimes people only see what they are capable of seeing. Who among us could say they directly supported a system that at its best denied access to care to children and at its worst made billionaires off healthcare profit margins? As humans, it can be incredibly difficult to look at the harm we’ve created because we do not want to believe we have it in us. If each of us was so brave to witness this harm I truly believe it would stop existing. Our hearts would break and from the fracture, an equitable world would be reborn. That day has not come yet and so it is my job to continue to witness the shortcomings of the systems around us and tenderly hold my desire.
Our Greatest Wish
My desire is this: that all children are given the very best chance at life we can give them, that their families are held in support, and should we have failed them as children serve them kindly and well as adults.
I am lucky enough today to be surrounded by a team of BCBAs who desire the same thing in their work at Instructional ABA Consultants. While imperfect, we share the same vision of using the science of Applied Behavior Analysis to transform the lives we touch.
As a mama, with children who have also needed support from others, I now know how precious our work is not just from a professional standpoint, but personally. The sea of parenting a child whose needs are different from the other children can be a dark and swirling world. Yet the waves can calm as resources are offered that will uplift your family to shore. Wade with me darlings, perhaps together we can create a lifeline for all.
Some people with autism are able to enter the working world after they are finished with school. Finding a job, however, can be more challenging for individuals with autism than for neurotypical individuals.
Let’s take a look at what to look for in a job and the resources people with autism can use to find a job.
Selecting a Career for People with ASD
Jobs can be difficult for people with ASD to maintain. More often than not jobs entail many activities that employees don’t find engaging or motivating. Making sure a person with ASD selects a job that keeps them engaged is one of the keys to starting a successful career.
A great way to do this is to find a job with clear duties, responsibilities, goals, or expectations. Knowing exactly what a job entails and what is expected can help a person with ASD know if a job will be right for them.
Talk to Management
People with ASD need to let anyone they work for know their limitations and needs. Talking to management as soon as possible will help smooth out any potential issues regarding routines or communication.
While you should always talk about your autism during interviews, starting a job can be different–the person who interviewed you may be nowhere to be found. Making sure to talk to any managers ASAP is extremely important when starting a new job.
Things to Remember While Preparing for an Interview
Accepting an applicant with autism for a job can be difficult for employers to properly handle. This is because individuals with autism may be more likely to behave differently than neurotypical individuals in work-related situations. Preparing for a job interview for anyone with autism should include preparing a list of accommodations employers may need to know about if certain situations come up at work.
Where are you required to work? Being comfortable with a static environment could help an autistic employee flourish. Constant moving, however, could create friction.
Will you have to deal with customers? Even working a stocking job on the floor during shopping hours may lead to an uncomfortable situation.
Will you only have one job? Many retail or service positions almost require ‘flexibility,’ meaning employees may have to complete tasks that are not in their job description.
How much communication is required? Constant communication can be hard for people with autism to deal with. Taking a position that requires lots of talking to coworkers or shift managers may be hard to deal with.
Resources: Jobs for People with ASD
Many state and federal agencies exist for people with ASD looking for employment. Here is a list of the top agencies to start with:
State Vocational Agencies. A state-by-state list of agencies and links for people with autism seeking employment.
Job Accommodations Network. A network of employers and jobs that are designed for people with special needs or disabilities.
These agencies are great places to start a search for employment for people with ASD. Calling your local city hall or school district can also be a great way to find places that may offer jobs or apprenticeships for people with ASD.
High School programs for children with special needs can last until the child turns 22 years old. Some High Schools have programs with local community colleges or job coaches to help people transition from school to work. Be sure to ask your child’s school about programs like this.
ABA Therapy from IABA Consultants
If you have questions regarding autism treatment, education, or plans to use ABA therapy, we are here for you! Our goal is to make sure no family is turned away due to financial constraints. Our therapy team would love to talk to you. Find the location closest to you and give us a call. We’re here for you.
Some teens with autism will opt to continue their education at college. Going to college is a huge decision (both financially and socially) for any kid, and doubly so for kids with autism.
What do kids with autism need to do to ensure a successful college education? Is it different from that of a neurotypical kid? Let’s take a look.
Social Planning
People with autism can have social difficulties, especially when it comes to making time for social events and picking up on cues given in social situations. Planning ahead for these situations can make them a bit easier.
Scheduling events well ahead of time is a great way for teens with autism to remember that a special event is happening on a given day. Having a peer buddy can also help with social situations–someone to help ease the burden of deciphering neurotypical social actions, expressions, and cues.
Organization
Keeping your schedule, materials, and living space organized are keys to success in general. Making sure a college student with autism is organized can help them thrive in a purely academic situation.
Make sure to have detailed calendars ready before each month starts. Have specific places for all books, materials, and other needs. Schedule a specific time to clean and reorganize anything that needs it. Taking steps like these can help college students with autism stay organized and ready for class.
Planning for the Transition to College
College is a huge change to the lifestyle of every kid who decides to go. Making sure your child knows what the transition entails is crucial to their college experience.
Even teens who attend local or community colleges and live at home will need to know what to expect academically. Most college programs entail long classes/lectures and looser work/homework schedules than K-12. Making sure your child knows that school is about to change is a very important step towards a successful transition to college.
Preparing for Independent Living
Kids with autism heading off to college and not living at home need to be prepared for the rigors of daily living. No mom & day or other caregivers will be around to help during most days. This means that preparations need to be made and expectations need to be set.
Make sure that your child has a full list of what they will need to do in college. This includes things like:
Eating (times and what is being eaten)
Sleeping (scheduling is necessary)
Cleaning & Organizing
Laundry
Knowing what to do in outstanding situations (class cancellations etc)
Having emergency contacts and knowing when to use them
College and University Academic Support
Many colleges and universities offer academic support programs for students with disabilities and special needs. A great way to learn more about this before applying or even enrolling in college is to speak to a high school counselor. Many counselors for upperclassmen will be familiar with available programs and can help gather information about prospective schools.
College admissions counselors are also able to answer questions about the university they represent. Be sure to call and ask questions about academic support, programs, and modifications to learning curriculums for students with special needs.
ABA Therapy from IABA Consultants
If you have questions regarding autism treatment, education, or plans to use ABA therapy, we are here for you! Our goal is to make sure no family is turned away due to financial constraints. Our therapy team would love to talk to you. Find the location closest to you and give us a call. We’re here for you.
If your child is in need of ABA services for autism, you should have no shortage of service providers to look at. Not all ABA service providers are created equal. Asking specific questions in your interview with any potential ABA provider is the best way to determine if they can help with your child’s needs.
Here’s a list of questions you should ask in any interview with a potential ABA service provider.
Interview Questions ask ABA Service Providers
How Many Hours of Therapy Does My Child Need?
This question will have a different answer for every child, as each child has unique needs. A BCBA should be recommending hours for your child–not the company or corporate policy. If you are considering a care provider who has ‘set times’ for programs, your child may not receive the correct amount of time for their needs.
Does Your Program have Behavior Requirements?
Some behaviors and issues will need to change over time, but forcing the issue through strict programs or adherence to certain behaviors is not the way to go. Be sure to routinely check your child’s program and progress if you think any requirements of the program are too strict.
ABA therapy works to help people with ASD adapt to neurotypical social norms. Having strict requirements to not allow normal ASD behaviors may lead to unnecessary behavioral challenges with many people.
Can I Observe the Program or My Child in the Program?
One of the most important aspects of ABA therapy is continuing a program at home. Information should always be available on how your child is progressing. If an ABA service provider refuses to share information or allow observation you may want to take a closer look at the program.
Daily records should be available to parents if they want to know what is going on in treatment. If an ABA service provider is unable to share information, it may be time to take a closer look. Quick note: information and records may take a few days to be logged, each clinic is different.
Do You Develop Plans Separately for Each Child?
In order to get the most out of ABA therapy, each child needs a custom-built program. ABA programs built on general needs will not help each child enough to address specific behaviors and needs
If you are presented with a brochure of programs or therapy ‘packages’ mentioned in a consultation, you need to really look at what is being offered. More often than not your child’s needs will not be met with a universal ABA therapy plan. Package deals for ABA therapy are not actually ABA therapy. Proper ABA therapy programs need to be individually created for each person.
ABA Therapy from IABA Consultants
If you have questions regarding autism treatment, education, or plans to use ABA therapy, we are here for you! Our goal is to make sure no family is turned away due to financial constraints. Our therapy team would love to talk to you. Find the location closest to you and give us a call. We’re here for you.
After-school programs can be a great option for both kids and their parents. Children who show an interest in a given subject or activity will always want to engage in more of it. Parents who need a bit more childcare or want to try to introduce new things to their children will also be interested in finding after-school programs.
Finding a great after-school program for children with autism, however, can be a bit more challenging. Many standard after-school programs are not set up to handle certain needs of children with autism. So, how can you find a great after-school program for children with autism?
Know Your Child’s Needs
When you start looking for an after-school program for a child with autism, you need to know that child’s needs. How are they with new things and changes in routine? Do they have extreme sensory sensitivities?
Answering questions like these can help you determine which programs will work and which won’t before diving into more research. Some children with autism will thrive in after-school programs designed for neurotypical children–it all depends on the needs of that individual child.
Talk to Your Child’s School or Autism Service Provider
Before looking at programs online, talk to your child’s school or ASP. Many autism service providers offer after-school programs and activities. If you’re looking for programs specifically built for children with autism, this is the best place to start.
Having a conversation with your child’s teacher or therapist can also allow you to ask about specific programs. Outside of being able to recommend after-school programs in general, your child’s teacher therapist can recommend programs that your child would do better in. Getting a personal recommendation is always better than reading reviews or information online.
Look Up State-Sponsored Programs
State-sponsored programs, along with county- & city-sponsored programs, can be a great way to start the search for after-school programs and activities specifically designed for children with autism. Statewide (or even nationwide) programs will give you the information you can use to search for programs more relevant to your child: local programs.
When you start the search for local programs, make sure to talk to your child’s school or the school district. Many schools or district websites have lists of programs and activities designed for children with different needs. If you can’t find something on a website, be sure to make a phone call. Talking to a representative is the best way to find out if they offer a program suited to the needs of your child.
ABA Therapy from IABA Consultants
If you have questions regarding autism treatment, education, or plans to use ABA therapy, we are here for you! Our goal is to make sure no family is turned away due to financial constraints. Our therapy team would love to talk to you. Find the location closest to you and give us a call. We’re here for you.
