Outgrowing ABA Therapy
In the past six months we’ve noticed a big change in Yester’s behavioral program. In July last year, I had voiced concerns about where Yester’s program was NOT going. It wasn’t moving fast enough and it certainly wasn’t moving with the age appropriate behavior Yester was beginning to demonstrate. In turn, Yester is staging a protest with his behavior because he’s bored and unmotivated by the rewards (new or old) that we’ve tried to introduce. That’s when I knew, things with the program weren’t going well.
I called a team meeting and we discussed the changes I’d like to see happen. At the end of the meeting I summarized the urgency by saying, “We need to put some life back into Yester’s ABA Program”.
Two months have gone by and no changes. Now, in all fairness to this agency, I have to mention that we met one more time during those two months to communicate the exact details of the changes that were to be made. However, as of yesterday, we are still looking for a new tutor and re-vamping his behavioral program. Ugghhhhhh!
I wondered… is it possible that Yester has just outgrown his ABA therapy program?
I posed this question on an autism parents forum I visit often. I was surprised to hear from parents that said, “Leaving ABA therapy was the best thing we had ever done!” Some had realized the same as us – their kids had outgrown ABA therapy. They went on to mention in their answer that they felt like their child was engaging in correct responses to social behavior and everday tasks because of pride – not because of rewards. They had gotten to a point where an autistic child was intuitive enough to know that a feeling of pride and love is a reward. This idea I understood.
The Agency
Understanding that communication is key when dealing with any agency – I still couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that Yester was pushing them! In my own way, I was under the impression that agencies that serve the autism community are intrusted with the knowledge to effect change. Placing one program in motion – in hopes we discover a new skill is what most of us are looking for. We should feel a sense of accomplishment with each therapy we choose. Point A is here. Point B is here. By this calender month, we’d like to have your child HERE….at Point J. Clearly, a progressive program strategy.
Our program felt more like. Point A is here. Yester is at Point H. So, we’ll start at Point F.
HUH?
That’s only two points away. I’m screaming in my mind….”LET’S MOVE ALONG PEOPLE!” My son should not be pushing you! You should be challenging him! No wonder he’s bored! What an innaccurate picture of his behavior during sessions knowing how he feels. He must have meant it when he said, “Tutor, you’re boring!”
Tod and I agreed. If after communicating to this agency that Yester needed a program that challenged his ability to acclimate programs quickly – we find that they cannot. Then, I believe we will need to think about the fact that Yester is ready for something different.
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