| Thousands of parents across the county who | | | | knowing what to do when things go wrong so |
| have children with autism have to make difficult | | | | that a situation does not ruin your whole day. |
| decisions each day about the quality and quantity | | | | DTT is imperative in any state of the art ABA |
| of ABA therapy that their child or children need. | | | | program, but being able to develop those skills |
| With the overwhelming majority of states not | | | | into any environment are critical. Knowing how to |
| pushing for insurance companies to cover ABA | | | | effectively shape your child's behavior and then |
| therapy many families are forced to make difficult | | | | knowing how to fade away your prompts can |
| choices for their children with autism. ABA | | | | really make a difference in the way that a child |
| therapy can cost between $30 and $85 per hour | | | | learns and functions. We can all agree that parents |
| and it is typically recommended that a child | | | | know their children best. You know if your child |
| receive between 10-40 hours a week. This adds | | | | had a bad night, what they ate for breakfast and |
| up to tens of thousands of dollars a year that | | | | if they had a tantrum moments before therapy |
| families have to pay out of pocket. With the | | | | began. Understanding all of this can make a big |
| number of families with multiple children with | | | | difference in the way you go about your session. |
| autism growing, this number can more than | | | | You may change your reinforcers, alter your |
| double. Without many solutions out there, the | | | | lesson or just decide that this session will be |
| question comes up. | | | | conducted in the park. |
| Why not create your own ABA therapy program | | | | All of these are things that therapists do not see |
| to work with your child? As parents we work | | | | or may not ask when they come into your house. |
| with our typically developing children on math, | | | | The reality is that parents need to have a solid |
| science, and history, and in most cases know | | | | understanding of ABA in order to help their |
| very little about the subject we are helping with. | | | | children. Mastering all of the techniques allows |
| We become experts in many fields right before | | | | parents to conduct their own sessions if they |
| our children's eyes just by staying one chapter | | | | can't afford therapy or do not live near a |
| ahead. Developing an in home ABA program is no | | | | therapist, or follow up on skills provided by a |
| different. Learning the skills can seem foreign at | | | | therapist. ABA therapists are wonderful people |
| first, but with practice these skills become second | | | | and do all they can to help our children, but they |
| nature. The key is to take the time and make | | | | can't do it all. It is up to parents and family |
| the commitment to learn and practice the learned | | | | members to constantly reinforce mastered skills |
| skills. These skills may seem overwhelming in the | | | | and reinforce new skills. If you struggle with the |
| beginning, but so did parenthood. Creating your | | | | cost of therapy, do not live near a therapist, or |
| own program is not only about Discrete Trails, but | | | | just want to add hours, take the initiative and |
| also about learning the skills to decrease certain | | | | develop the skills necessary to provide your |
| behavior and develop other behavior. It is about | | | | children with the best possible outcome. |