Transitioning Into Great Things

Posted on June 13, 2013 by Sarah Cox

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**Blog post by BACA Therapist, Colleen Coleman  

I started working at BACA in May 2011 and a few months later I walked into work like any normal day to see on the schedule “Colleen as Megan’s new primary.” At first I had to do a double take because I wasn’t really familiar with Megan since I was a brand new therapist and I hadn’t been able to get to know all the kids yet. I was both nervous and excited. I felt a little nervous just because the only thing I really knew about Megan was that she was a little loud and she carried a pillow all around, but I was so excited to get to know her.

On our first day working together I learned that she is the best “colorer”, so specific to detail, very smart, a fantastic listener, super active, loves folding clothes for fun I may add and she pretty much always has a smile on her face! Since then I have been able to see her grow and excel in so many ways that I feel blessed that I have been able to be her therapist.

When I first started working with Megan she carried around a big large pillow and since then we have faded the pillow out and now she is able to verbally tell us when something is bothering her whether it may be her head or her belly or if it’s too loud, asking for a stress ball or water, or the “blow-up bucket” (in her words), or telling me the lights are bothering her..I would say that’s pretty spectacular. Her language is growing everyday and it truly amazes me how she is able to express in words what she needs to say.

When a new skill is introduced she tries so hard to learn what is being taught. We worked on rounding to the next amount for weeks, she struggled with it but she never gave up. Today she can round to any number, she is a pro! Megan went from being prompted to independently writing notes to her friends and family and typing them up. Her social skills have improved as well, when I first started with her Megan would stay mostly to herself now she is so motivated to hang with friends and will follow all of her rules just to eat a popsicle with her two buds.

Since our first day together we have tackled so much in, what feels like, a short time. We have tackled manding for attention, removal of aversives, manding with wh questions, math, spelling, reading comprehension, phonics, multiplication, groups, describing events, of course learning the Friday song, and the list goes on and on…

Megan has made me a better therapist in so many ways and I am so grateful that I have had the opportunity to work with her and watch her progress these past few years. I know that she will grow in so many more ways and she will do great things on her next journey.

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A Crowning Celebration

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Sarah Cox

**Blog post by BACA Therapist, Susan Foss

KS1Our very own Katie was chosen to crown Mary today for the May Crowning, celebrating Mary as well as all mothers, including the moms of Katie and her friends.

Katie has learned through Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) verbal behavior to smile for pictures and follow directions and motions for head placement during pictures, how to put her arm around someone for pictures, to climb a ladder and place the crown of flowers correctly, hold the hand of a male friend to help her and to do all of this with good manners.

Katie also had the opportunity to attend an etiquette luncheon presentation with friends, and she followed all of the etiquette manners she has learned through ABA as well as the new rules which were presented that day. The instructor made a point to approach Katie and compliment her on her good etiquette after the presentation.

These may seem like small steps; the cumulative of these steps and learning manners has assisted Katie with her peer interactions. During picture time as the students were milling around, Katie was asked to take a picture and stand by a boy. She independently put her arm around his neck and shoulder effortlessly like the other teens do.

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Katie at May Crowning ceremony

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The OT Realm

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Sarah Cox

**Blog post by BACA Occupational Therapist, Angela Seal, MOT, OTR _JA17803

Many people often ask me what an Occupational Therapist does and my general answer is…ANYTHING!  The definition of an Occupational Therapist from the AOTA.org is someone who helps people across the lifespan participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations).  There are more occupations in one’s life than their actual place of employment.  Think about the things you do every day to get through it.  My popular example is getting out of bed…think about it.  Your’re asleep and your alarm goes off…well first of all, you would have had to hear or somehow understand that the alarm is alarming, then you have to physically find the alarm clock (through something called proprioception and kinesthesia, especially if you are in the dark), then you have to have enough strength in your hand and arm to grab the alarm clock and throw it against the wall (or turn it off sensibly).  From there, you muster enough strength to roll over and sit yourself up on the side of the bed (we won’t review the muscles you are using, the balance or the coordination this requires).  So, you are starting to get the idea, there is more to turning off an alarm clock and getting out of bed than just turning off your alarm clock and getting out of bed.

Let’s take a look at the kiddos I work with everyday…what are their occupations?  Well for our younger kiddos, it looks like this…help with dressing, eat, play, snuggle, play, play, eat, play, sleep, play, snuggle, play, eat, snuggle, help with dressing, sleep (may include other things and not necessarily in this order).  For our older kiddos, replace play with various activities, such as academics, leisure activities, sports, self-care, etc.  What happens though when a kiddo doesn’t have the baseline skills to complete these tasks adequately.  That’s where I come in.  At BACA, I mainly focus on strengthening, motor coordination, visual-motor integration and adaptations to the environment, if necessary.  For example, does a kiddo have enough strength in their hand to hold a pencil,  the coordination to play tag with their friend or motor planning to figure out how to get dressed?

Before BACA, I worked at a few other places.  I have to say though, this has been my favorite place of employment.  Why?  Because BACA is a team approach that addresses the whole child.  When recommendations are made, they are not just focused on by me one hour a week during my session.  The team I work with takes the recommendations and focuses on them every day the child is present!  Then, I get to see progress quickly made with a kiddo which is so rewarding.  We get thoroughly excited when a kiddo has learned a step…A STEP….in a new skill….and don’t ask what kind of partying goes on when a kiddo learns a whole new skill.  There is excitement in BACA and a true love for our kiddos.  Welcome to a glimpse of my OT Realm!

 

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Circus Shenanigans

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Sarah Cox
Part of the group that attended the circus outing.

Part of the group that attended the circus outing.

**Blog post by BACA ABA Therapists, Morgan Gardner and Jessica Linneweber

Yes, kids…we saw a tiger’s poop.

Community outings with children are always interesting.  Today, I walked into work knowing it was going to be a good day because we, my friends, were going to the circus. The kiddos in Classroom 1 and Classroom 2 had been anticipating this and working to earn this outing for quite some time now.  Heck, it’s all they could talk about.

“What kind of animals are going to be there?”

“What’s going to happen there?”

And most importantly…”what kind of food will be at the circus?”

The time had arrived, 9:00 am.  I saw arms raising in the air with joy and heard “yay yay yay, we’re going to the circus!”  It was a moment of pure joy.  The excitement in the room was almost tangible and oh so sweet.

Not just from the kids but also from the therapists.  These kids of ours, that we wish nothing but the best for, had worked their little tails off to follow their rules for over a month to earn this outing and we were incredibly proud of them.

One by one, they filed into the van with smiles on their faces wondering what the next couple of hours would hold.

We arrived at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and the smiles on hundreds of kids’ faces were priceless.  We as therapists were somewhat nervous not knowing what the next couple of hours would entail.  Would the noises scare our kids?  Would being in the dark make them upset?  Would one of them elope because they saw a sno-cone and knew they had to have it?  We just didn’t know at the time.  But I can tell you now that our kids ROCKED it.  They shattered their fears and our worries like nobody’s business.

The circus began, the kids continued to smile and the therapists began to relax.  We saw circus ladies dancing and heard whistles from one of our boys (hilarious).  We saw tigers jump through a ring of fire but more importantly, one of the tigers pooped while in the ring (even more hilarious if you ask our kids).  There were people on tightropes and clowns doing silly acts.  There were dogs doing amazing tricks and people climbing on chairs on top of chairs.  It was AMAZING!  Our kids were enthralled, well most of them anyway.  One of them was more interested in people’s popcorn and sno-cones than in the show but that’s what circuses are for right?  Awesome food!

Then the grand finale came.  Celine Dion came on the speakers and that’s when we knew it was going to be a good act.  A woman in a gold and sparkly outfit got lifted up and did all of these amazing acrobatic things that our kids can’t stop talking about.  She was swinging, flipping, and twirling and then a heap of gold dust came fluttering from her like a fairytale.  And one of our boys in awe said “wow…she’s beautiful.”  It was so innocent and so sweet.

We left the circus and all of our kids were asking each other what their favorite parts were.  It was so awesome to see them interact with each other about something that they truly enjoyed.  They had a great time and so did we.  Our children with autism that we love, care for, and worry about enjoyed the circus just as much, if not more, than the next group of kids.

What I learned is that our kids can surprise us.  I reluctantly admit that I expected at least one child to get upset or to exhibit a maladaptive behavior, but they didn’t.  They were AWESOME.  They proved to themselves and to us that they can not only overcome a somewhat overwhelming situation but thrive and share in the joys that every childhood should include.  Lesson for the day, if we want our kiddos to have greater access to their world today and in the future, WE must provide the opportunities and prepare them for success instead of avoiding situations that may seem “too much” and preparing ourselves for barriers.

 

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BACA Clinical Team Heads to ABAI Annual Convention

Posted on April 15, 2013 by admin

Consultants

BACA Clinical Team in this photo, left to right: Dr. Kent Johnson; Dr. Barbara Esch; Dr. John Esch; Dr. Pat McGreevy; Dr. Carl Sundberg; Dr. Mark Sundberg; and Dr. Genae Hall [Dr. Peter Gerhardt and Bob Ryan pictured below]

BACA is attending and participating in the 39th Annual Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) Convention.

Consultants from the BACA clinical team will present on a variety of topics at the annual convention, scheduled for May 24-28 at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minn. 

The ABAI Convention offers a unique opportunity to connect with thousands of highly-qualified attendees who work in the autism field and learn about emerging trends and innovative technologies. The convention covers the spectrum of behavioral topics.

Several consultants from BACA’s nationally-recognized clinical team will speak and present throughout the convention program. They are Dr. Mark Sundberg, BCBA-D; Dr. Pat McGreevy, BCBA-D; Dr. Barbara Esch, BCBA-D; Dr. Peter Gerhardt, Ed.D.; Dr. Genae Hall, BCBA-D; and Dr. Kent Johnson.

Here is a more in-depth synopsis of their presentations and involvement in the convention:

Pat McGreevy

  • Conducting a pre-conference workshop on “Essential for Living: A New Communication, Behavior, and Functional Skills Assessment, Curriculum, and Teaching Manual” (He and Troy Fry, M.A., BCBA, published this book.)

Mark Sundberg

  • Speaking on “A Treasure Hunt through Verbal Behavior: Digging up Gems from Skinner’s Analysis of Motivation.” The presentation will focus on B.F. Skinner’s treatment of motivation in the book “Verbal Behavior.” Invited B.F. Skinner lecturer
  • Discussant on “An Analysis of Private Events According to Skinner’s Verbal Behavior RUTH.” The presentation will evaluate the conceptualization of private events described in “Verbal Behavior.”

Barbara Esch

  • Workshop presenter for “Critical Skills and Sequences for Speech Development”
  • Chair for “The Utility and Ubiquity of Joint Control: Making use of Joint Control in Teaching”
  • Co-author for EXPO Poster: “Speech Pathology and Applied Behavior Analysis Special Interest Group”
  • Co-coordinator of VB Program for 2013 ABAI
  • Discussant on “Performance Management & Explicit Feedback for Pre-implementation Training and Guided Practice in School Autism Programs”

Genae Hall

  • Speaking on “Assessing the Sources of Control in Studies of Tact-Mand Independence: Making Sense of Conflicting Findings.” This paper presentation discusses Skinner’s writings on the functional distinction between verbal operants as presented in his (1957) book “Verbal Behavior,” analyzes the apparent sources of control for verbal responding in certain studies of tact-mand independence, and re-evaluates the conclusions of these studies in light of the analyses.

Peter Gerhardt

  • Speaking on “Community-Based Instruction in Varied Settings: Considerations for both Urban and Non-Urban Environments.” The discussion is targeted around the increasing number of adolescents diagnosed with ASD who are leaving the public educational system and moving into the world of work and living in the community.
  • Speaking on “Testing the Validity of the Functionality Index with Adolescents and Adults with Autism.” This involves talking about the importance in targeting functional skills and activities for engagement in adolescents or adults with autism.
  • Discussant on “Effectiveness of Community-Based Interventions for Adolescents and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders”
  • Speaking on “PDS Event: Developing Clinical Skills for Working with Families.” The speakers of this panel will discuss their experiences in the field of behavior analysis and how they’ve provided training to parents and families.

Kent Johnson

  • Speaking in discussion panel on “Behavioral Approaches to Complexity and Generativity.” The panel will discuss applied, theoretical and conceptual topics related to generativity, adduction, application discovery learning and behavioral cusps as well as methodologies.
  • Chair and discussant for “The Evolution of the Morningside Assessment Model: Development of a Conceptual Framework and Lessons Learned”
  • Mentor for “Precision Teaching and Performance Analysis Improves Writing for Middle School Learners and Professional Behavior Analysts”

Daniel Sundberg (Mark Sundberg’s son)

  • Speaking on “A Preliminary Analysis of the Sandwich Method of Feedback.” Abstract talks about how they evaluated the effects of the sandwich method of feedback.

For more information on the Association for Behavior Analysis International, visit their website. Congratulations to the BACA Clinical Team!

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Dr. Peter Gerhardt, BACA Clinical Team

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Bob Ryan, M.S., BACA Clinical Team

 

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Life in the Fast Lane of a Behavior Therapist

Posted on April 11, 2013 by admin

SaraKey_small**Blog post by BACA ABA Therapist, Sara Key

Working with kids who have autism is obnoxious (you know the “good” obnoxious). Even when we’re not with them, we’re thinking of them, dreaming of them (yes, this happens more than it should), talking about them (within HIPAA regulations of course), or behaving like them (I have a ton of attention-seeking behaviors and four social media accounts).

Working with kids who have autism is fun. Who else can say they played Duck Duck Goose, ran around a playground, danced in a kid-directed dance party (we could learn a thing or two from the kids), and shaped young minds all in a day’s work?

Working with kids with autism will make you smile — especially when they smile. When you see your kiddo initiate appropriate play or social interaction, it will make you smile. When you’ve been working on a skill for days or weeks, and they finally hit it, BOOM! You and your heart smile. Like that 100-watt, can’t stop cheesin’ smile. (Immediately after, proceed to show off the accomplishment to everyone in the center) Be proud.

Working with kids who have autism will form a family you couldn’t have dreamed up. You’ll have the smart one, the outgoing one, the quiet one, the kind one, the motherly one, the goofy one, the dedicated one, the organized one, so on and so forth. The relationships and bonds you make with your coworkers are deep. You can’t create a family quite like it anywhere else. You will depend on each other, pick each other up, encourage each other, laugh together, and respect each other. There’s nothing quite like it.

Working with kids who have autism is a gift. Embrace it. Love it.

KEEP CALM AND ABA ON.

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An Adventure Brings Clarity

Posted on April 2, 2013 by admin

Ray_Poindexter_small**Blog post by BACA ABA Therapist, Raynandole E. Poindexter

I recently had the opportunity to join a BACA client of mine on an adventurous excursion to Moe’s Southwest Grill. This magnificent occasion comes complimentary due to his consistent growth and maturation through superb ABA therapy, which seems to be virtually genetic at BACA.

Though this may seem typical, it is anything but typical, given the client’s recent history. One may find it difficult to believe how daringly risky this escapade would have been just weeks earlier. His frustration with the world’s communicatory reluctance just didn’t allow for such opportunities.

However, it was obvious that he enjoyed the same normality of leisure as anyone else once we heard him out. After all, who wouldn’t want to enjoy a snack of choice after a hard day’s work? Think about it … is it really too much to ask? Don’t we expect to be compensated for our work?

Chips and queso are a small price to pay for the opportunity to improve the quality of someone’s life. The biggest lesson of it all was that we don’t have to be so technical when it comes to ABA. It’s just another way of life. Although the concept of it must be learned, the application of it should be based on one’s individuality (culture, personality, interests, etc).

The client is now able to see the benefit of being better, which enables him to do better. His evolution helps us teach better. Therefore, everything is simply better.

I wish he would have just told us what he wanted. But then again … did we ever ask?

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Spread the Word: Behavior Analysis is for Everyone!

Posted on March 27, 2013 by admin

**Blog post by BACA Administrative Director Devon Sundberg

I began in the field of behavior analysis like most people I know — I enjoyed working with children with autism, and so I applied for a job providing therapy to them.

I had little to no knowledge of behavior analysis or how it was used to teach children with autism. Luckily, throughout my modest career I’ve been exposed to the teachings of many experts in the field. Through those experts, along with my first visit to the Association of Behavior Analysis’s national conference, it became abundantly clear that behavior analysis is so much more than teaching children with autism.

In Indiana, we are blessed to have the Indiana Autism Insurance Mandate that has allowed hundreds of children the opportunity to receive top-rate behavior analytical services. However, now we are faced with defending these clients’ rights to such service.

Big insurance companies are questioning the necessity of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) treatment for all clients, but particularly those over the age of six. They have a variety of excuses to deny reimbursement for ABA therapy, including questioning its usefulness for certain populations, questioning diagnoses, and pushing the responsibility to provide this therapy to the public schools.

All of this is farcical (thank you, thesaurus) if you truly have a grasp on behavior analysis and its utility. ABA is a subset of the field of behavior analysis that applies the findings of the experimental analysis of behavior to improve everyday situations and problems.  Many (if not most) behavior analysts work with children with autism.

However, there is a lesser-known area of behavior analysis called organizational behavior management (OBM). OBM utilizes the principles of behavior analysis to improve work systems and subsequently the productivity of their staff. OBM consultants are able to change behavior for the good of the company by studying the antecedents, behaviors, and consequences of employees, and then manipulating antecedents and consequences — exactly the way Board-Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) working with children with autism analyze and change behavior.

Imagine my dismay after discovering that one of the companies reaping the benefits of ABA through using OBM is big insurance itself. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama is documented as having one of the longest-running Performance Management (based on OBM) systems in place*, and yet they say behavior analysis only works for certain types of people.

Behavior analysis is for everyone.  It needs to be provided as a medically-necessary treatment. It needs to be in the schools as a tool to educate, and it needs to be in our public policy as a tool to foster independence and productivity. Please stay in touch with BACA and help us disseminate this message.

*From “Alabama Blues’ Don’t Sing the Blues Anymore” by Richard Dowis, 1983, Performance Management Magazine, 1-2, pp. 3-5.)

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Different Roads to Learning Publishes Expert Article from Dr. Sundberg

Posted on March 26, 2013 by admin

DiffRoadsDifferent Roads to Learning was created in 1995 to meet the needs of parents and professionals working with children on the autism spectrum.

The company now carries more than 500 products carefully selected to support the autism community, everything from basic flashcards, books and timers to advanced social skills tools to support you at every step of your home or center-based autism program.

Different Roads to Learning also shares experiences, concerns, new and exciting products, and a wealth of expert information on its site.

It recently published an article from Dr. Carl Sundberg, BACA executive director/president, “Looking at Autism: ABA and a Behavior Analysis of Sensory Needs.”

To read the full article on the Different Roads to Learning site, please visit: http://www.difflearn.com/product/carl-sundberg/expert-articles.

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Interview with Dr. Carl Sundberg in Science in Autism Treatment Newsletter

Posted on February 25, 2013 by admin

Carl_ASATDr. Carl Sundberg, BACA executive director/president, was recently featured in “Science in Autism Treatment,” the Newsletter of the Association for Science in Autism Treatment (ASAT).

In the interview, Dr. Sundberg discusses his journey into the field of autism treatment and behavior analysis. He discusses BACA and his vision for BACA in the future as well as BACA’s support for ASAT.

For the complete Winter 2013 Newsletter, click here!

BACA is a partner sponsor with ASAT. ASAT believes individuals with autism have the right to effective treatments which are scientifically demonstrated to make meaningful, positive change in their lives.

ASAT works toward a time when all families will be empowered to identify and choose the most effective, scientifically-validated interventions for their child, and all providers can be guided by science when selecting and implementing their interventions.

Through the “Real Science, Real Hope Sponsorship Initiative,” BACA supports ASAT in its mission. Read more about ASAT and BACA’s Professional Sponsorship with the organization here!

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