|
Resource Kit
How Do I Choose an ABA Service Provider?
ABA service providers come in ‘all different shapes and sizes’ and it is the purpose of this article to help parents identify those differences and hopefully, make an informed choice. The ABIQ committee would like to clarify that we do not endorse any particular service provider, clinic structure or methodology. We merely provide the following guidelines to help you choose:
1. What is ABA?
Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) is a scientifically proven method of helping autistic children. It brings about comprehensive and enduring improvements in a wide range of skills for most people with Autism. The primary focus of ABA is on developmental and life skills, such as speech and language skills, attention skills, social play skills; gross and fine motor skills; academic skills; and self-care. ABA also incorporates a behaviour management plan designed ensure inappropriate behaviours are replaced by functional behaviours, therefore increasing the likelihood of effective communication and learning.
ABA will start with the child working one on one with a teaching assistant. As the child acquires the skills, they are generalised into everyday situation and environments. The goal is for the child to acquire sufficient skills to enable him/her to be progressively integrated into mainstream school.
2. What is an ABA service provider?
An ABA service provider is the person who will actually oversee the ABA training program. ABA service providers should not be confused with speech therapists, occupational therapists etc. These professional concentrate on specific issues.
3. How do I choose an ABA service provider?
Ask questions to establish the provider’s credentials:
- What are their qualifications? Do they have a resume/references that outline and confirm their experience?
- How many children have they treated using ABA? What were the children’s outcomes?
- How many years’ experience have they had with ABA, and at what levels (therapist, integration aide, case supervisor, clinical director etc.)?
- Have they been involved in any ABA research studies? If so, where were they, and who were they supervised by?
- Can they provide you with references from other parents?
- Does the clinic have a service provider number that families with private health cover can use to claim some of the fees charged?
- What sort of additional support can be offered e.g. advice in locating resources, guidelines for recruiting therapists and recommendations of other service providers to compliment your ABA program etc?
- Are they prepared to network with other service providers to help maximise gains in your ABA program?
- What kind of guarantees can they provide regarding the continuity of their service provision taking into account some programs can run for two years or more? What do they view their specific role as?
Cost structure - One of the most important things you will want information on when contacting a clinic is its fee structure. These can differ considerably so you should be careful to cover things like start-up costs, workshop costs, travel/accommodation costs, monthly fees, phone consultation costs, costs for discussing your case with other professionals (e.g. speech therapists), administration costs etc.
Location and frequency of clinic meetings - Depending on where you live, you may have a choice of locally based providers or you may need to access someone who lives further away, possibly even interstate. If there is some distance between you and the provider, ask how frequently they need to hold clinic meetings with you and your team of therapists, where these meetings are held (in the child’s home or at the service provider’s premises) and what methods of communication they’d utilise between those visits.
Single operator vs ABA organisations - Some ABA service providers are single-operators and some are part of a much larger organisation overseen by clinical directors. Such organisations may have a hierarchy of service providers and case supervisors. Regardless of whether you choose a single operator or an ABA service organisation, it is important to establish who would be overseeing your case. You will be spending a lot of time with this person and it will be beneficial if you can build rapport with them.
If the provider is from a large clinic, you should ask where the case supervisor and clinical director are based and how much contact you are required to have with them. The frequency of contact may significant affect the overall cost of the program.
Change of service provider - Another thing to consider is if you were to terminate your program with that particular clinic and change toanother ABA service provider. What would happen to copies of reports, data and confidential information that the clinic has on file? What steps are necessary to ensure that the records are passed onto your next service provider?
| Please remember that these are only guidelines. There may be other things that you will want to ask to help you decide on the service provider. After all, it’s a very important decision, and we hope the above hints will help to make the process a little easier.
|
Although it is not mandatory in Australia there is specific certification for an ABA Service provider, for more information please visit the Behaviour Analysis Certification Board website http://www.bacb.com.
|
