Home and School consultancy
Sure Steps ABA provides a consultancy service for home and school-based ABA programmes for children ranging from toddler age up to adulthood. This can form part of a package that includes recruitment, training and assessments alongside regular supervision of the programme, or can be any one of these services on a one-off or short-term basis. I also produce reports for annual review meetings and tribunals.
In addition to national curriculum subjects, ABA theory and practice can be used to teach a wide range of adaptive behaviours, some of these are listed below:
Improved communication skills
Improved social skills and peer relations
Play skills
Improved sleep habits
A healthy approach to food and dietary management
Independent toileting
Self-help skills including dressing and eating
Self management
Positive behaviour strategies*
*An approach that is used to change a behaviour when the frequency or intensity has become problematic in some way. These strategies are not restricted to children with a diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorder.
Starting a programme
Initial chat on the phone or a visit to your home
To begin with, I will meet with you and your child to talk about the type of programme that would be suitable for your child’s needs and for your schedule as a family. I will then carry out an informal assessment to get to know your child (through play) and, together with you, decide which areas the programme should include - this might depend on your child’s age; whether they are in school; whether they are new to ABA or have an existing programme in place, and the number of hours of ABA you’d like. Every child is different and therefore programmes are individual – building a programme is a collaborative process and will take into account the needs of the child and their family to ensure that the objectives that are set are realistic and achievable.
Putting together a programme
The next step will be to write the programme objectives and any positive behaviour support plans. I will then hold a workshop to talk through the strategies and techniques to be used to achieve these objectives and to begin any training that is needed.
Recruiting tutors
In many cases, tutors are employed to implement the programme, but parents do sometimes opt to implement the programme, or will do this alongside a tutor – time permitting! I can help with the recruitment process and will be on hand to help with any part of the programme set up, particularly in the beginning when it is all very new.
Ongoing supervision
From then on, I will provide regular supervision either remotely or during face to face meetings and workshops; I can visit you as much as you’d like and as needed to ensure that the programme is running as it should - making changes and additions when it’s the right time to do so. I will also provide ongoing training and carry out any assessments that you may need.
Resources
The resources that you are likely to need vary depending on the nature of each programme; I prefer to use a variety and ideally items that are most relevant and meaningful to your child. Many of these can be found in and around the home, but some additional items and resources like pictures and books may be required and can be ordered easily, again I can help with sourcing these.