Getting Started
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Maybe you've read a bit about ABA and are wondering what it's all about. Maybe you've spoken with other parents, observed some sessions, and are convinced that ABA is the way forward for your child. You're probably wondering 'what next?', or 'how will ABA fit into my life?'. ABA early intervention can involve some considerable adjustment for some families; this article will give you some idea of what to expect if you are considering moving forward with ABA.
(Note- ABA programmes by their nature are individualised, and they will look different for every child receiving services; the following contains some generalised advice for pre-school or early school-age children receiving at least part of their ABA therapy at home).
1) First, you will need to find a consultant. Talk to a number of consultants, and meet with them if possible. This is the person who might be responsible for your child's education for years to come, so it is important to choose someone whose personality, goals, and values are compatible with yours.
2) Next, you will need to recruit tutors or decide if you can deliver the intervention yourself. This can be the biggest challenge for many families, since the demand for ABA tutors far outweighs the supply. Our advice is to contact the psychology departments of local universities, utilise online forums and social media, and be tenacious! Also remember that the best tutor for your child might be someone who has not yet had any formal experience of ABA, and that recruiting volunteer tutors can be an option, as many psychology students are looking to gain voluntary experience while they study.
3) The initial assessment and workshop is the next step. Your initial workshop will take place across 2-3 days, depending on the needs of your child. Some ABA consultancies handle intakes differently; at Roots, we will interview you (parents) initially, then assess your child's current skills. Next, you (and any tutors new to ABA) will be trained in the theory of ABA and, after a bespoke programme has been designed around your child's strengths and challenges, how to carry out each of your child's programmes.
4) Once your programme is in place, tutors or family will begin working with your child in your home. Although you do not need a dedicated 'therapy room', there will need to be a room in your home where tutors can work with your child relatively undisturbed. Ideally there will need to be space in this room to store programme materials and paperwork (see shopping list below). You will need to be around while the therapy is taking place, in case of emergencies etc. The hours of therapy will depend on your child and your situation; some children will begin on low hours (3hrs per day) initially, until they can cope with more hours. If you are limited financially, you might decide to have a tutor come in only once/twice per week, and carry out the rest of the therapy yourself. Whatever your situation, we recommend a minimum of 15hrs per week, and ideally around 30.
5) Every 4-6 weeks, the consultant/supervisor will visit for a workshop. Workshops take roughly 3hrs; during workshops, the consultant or supervisor will observe you/your tutors working with your child, review your child's progress, and change/add programmes if necessary. Workshops are also an opportunity for the consultant to provide ongoing support and training.
Now that you know the structure of an ABA programme, you might be wondering 'what do I need?'. Again, ABA stands out from many approaches since tutors do not provide their own materials. This is because the same resources need to be used by many different therapists; it is therefore up to the family to provide them. We strongly recommend checking with your consultant before spending a lot on resources; however, some common items needed at the start of an ABA programme are:
- a large lever arch file, to keep all the programme and data sheets
- dividers, to organise the file
- plastic wallets, to organise the file
- a laminater/laminating pouches, particularly if your child will be using PECS
- a table and chair, for your child and therapist to work at
- storage boxes, to house folders, programme materials, and toys
- a selection of toys/food that your child enjoys
- sets of 2 identical objects (e.g. toy cars, spoons, balls)
- sets of 2 identical cards (e.g. snap cards)
- a medium-sized ball (e.g. foam football)
- some play activities (see below)
You should fully consider the practicalities of running an ABA programme before beginning therapy for your child. Marianne and Sarah are more than happy to chat with you and to answer any further questions you might have about implementing ABA therapy for your child. You should make your decision based not only on what you feel will work best for your child, but also what will work best within your family.
(Note- ABA programmes by their nature are individualised, and they will look different for every child receiving services; the following contains some generalised advice for pre-school or early school-age children receiving at least part of their ABA therapy at home).
1) First, you will need to find a consultant. Talk to a number of consultants, and meet with them if possible. This is the person who might be responsible for your child's education for years to come, so it is important to choose someone whose personality, goals, and values are compatible with yours.
2) Next, you will need to recruit tutors or decide if you can deliver the intervention yourself. This can be the biggest challenge for many families, since the demand for ABA tutors far outweighs the supply. Our advice is to contact the psychology departments of local universities, utilise online forums and social media, and be tenacious! Also remember that the best tutor for your child might be someone who has not yet had any formal experience of ABA, and that recruiting volunteer tutors can be an option, as many psychology students are looking to gain voluntary experience while they study.
3) The initial assessment and workshop is the next step. Your initial workshop will take place across 2-3 days, depending on the needs of your child. Some ABA consultancies handle intakes differently; at Roots, we will interview you (parents) initially, then assess your child's current skills. Next, you (and any tutors new to ABA) will be trained in the theory of ABA and, after a bespoke programme has been designed around your child's strengths and challenges, how to carry out each of your child's programmes.
4) Once your programme is in place, tutors or family will begin working with your child in your home. Although you do not need a dedicated 'therapy room', there will need to be a room in your home where tutors can work with your child relatively undisturbed. Ideally there will need to be space in this room to store programme materials and paperwork (see shopping list below). You will need to be around while the therapy is taking place, in case of emergencies etc. The hours of therapy will depend on your child and your situation; some children will begin on low hours (3hrs per day) initially, until they can cope with more hours. If you are limited financially, you might decide to have a tutor come in only once/twice per week, and carry out the rest of the therapy yourself. Whatever your situation, we recommend a minimum of 15hrs per week, and ideally around 30.
5) Every 4-6 weeks, the consultant/supervisor will visit for a workshop. Workshops take roughly 3hrs; during workshops, the consultant or supervisor will observe you/your tutors working with your child, review your child's progress, and change/add programmes if necessary. Workshops are also an opportunity for the consultant to provide ongoing support and training.
Now that you know the structure of an ABA programme, you might be wondering 'what do I need?'. Again, ABA stands out from many approaches since tutors do not provide their own materials. This is because the same resources need to be used by many different therapists; it is therefore up to the family to provide them. We strongly recommend checking with your consultant before spending a lot on resources; however, some common items needed at the start of an ABA programme are:
- a large lever arch file, to keep all the programme and data sheets
- dividers, to organise the file
- plastic wallets, to organise the file
- a laminater/laminating pouches, particularly if your child will be using PECS
- a table and chair, for your child and therapist to work at
- storage boxes, to house folders, programme materials, and toys
- a selection of toys/food that your child enjoys
- sets of 2 identical objects (e.g. toy cars, spoons, balls)
- sets of 2 identical cards (e.g. snap cards)
- a medium-sized ball (e.g. foam football)
- some play activities (see below)
You should fully consider the practicalities of running an ABA programme before beginning therapy for your child. Marianne and Sarah are more than happy to chat with you and to answer any further questions you might have about implementing ABA therapy for your child. You should make your decision based not only on what you feel will work best for your child, but also what will work best within your family.
