{"id":5066,"date":"2020-11-04T15:16:11","date_gmt":"2020-11-04T15:16:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hiddentalentsaba.com\/?p=5066"},"modified":"2024-04-25T09:25:05","modified_gmt":"2024-04-25T09:25:05","slug":"aba-therapy-horror-stories","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hiddentalentsaba.com\/aba-therapy-horror-stories\/","title":{"rendered":"Avoiding ABA therapy horror stories by choosing the right provider"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is ABA therapy?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Therapy<\/a> is considered the gold standard treatment for children struggling with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and many other cognitive issues. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Based on learning theory, ABA therapy is the systematic application of the scientific understanding of learning and behavior. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Used by trained professionals, ABA therapy<\/a> can support improved behavior, learning, communication, and social engagement. Unfortunately, implemented by poorly trained individuals, this highly effective intervention can prove not only unhelpful but problematic.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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ABA therapy was formed in the 1980s for use with children on the autism spectrum by Dr. O. Ivaar Lovaas and is based on the work of behaviorists like B.F. Skinner<\/a>.  <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The intention of this form of therapy is to identify behaviors that create a problem and provide retraining to help your child develop behaviors that are more beneficial to them. Training takes place with the use of rewards or reinforcers. ABA therapy should not be punitive in nature.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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ABA therapy isn\u2019t a rapid therapeutic intervention. It isn\u2019t unusual for ABA therapy to take several hours a week. <\/span>The ABA therapist<\/span><\/a>, or an ABA team, will work one on one with a child to break down behaviors into small steps. Each of these steps is taught to the child and reinforced with a reward.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Intensive learning of a specific behavior is called a drill. Your child will practice drills many times to support learning. Repetition of the individual skills they are learning will not only help your child learn a skill, it will also strengthen your childs\u2019 long-term memory, making them more likely to remember the learned skill after not using it for some length of time. Each repetition of the skill your child is being trained to use will be reinforced.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who Conducts ABA Therapy?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

ABA Therapy is practiced by an assortment of professionals and paraprofessionals with varying levels of education. Though there is no licensing body within the United States, many states require certification of their ABA practitioners. Generally, you will find a variety of certifications in the individuals that work with your child. Most ABA providers work in a team with individuals with higher levels of certification supervising other team members.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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ABA providers who engage in ABA therapy use a team approach to support your child in developing improved behavior, social skills, communication, and learning. Providers often prefer the team approaches because ABA therapy is an intense process and it isn\u2019t always necessary to have a highly trained individual working one on one with your child to train small incremental behavior changes.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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However, it is important that the professional designing the interventions that will be used with your child, have a full understanding of ABA therapy and the principles it is based upon. ABA therapy is performed one-on-one and can be done in your home or at a provider\u2019s place of business. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

BCBA (<\/span>Board Certified Behavior Analyst)<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A<\/span> Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)<\/span><\/a> is a professional with a minimum of a masters level degree and training in Applied Behavior Analysis. Individuals seeking a BCBA must have their masters degree in an appropriate field. These individuals may hold master\u2019s degrees in areas like counseling, psychology, or social work. They will take any additional training needed before scheduling to take their certification exam.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Professionals with this level of certification have the training necessary to work independently as ABA professionals. They are also required to pass a certification exam and to maintain their skills by acquiring Continuing Education Units (CEU). BCBA therapist will recertify every two years. To do this they must take 32 CEUs (4 CEUS must be in ethics) and apply through the certifying board.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

BCaBA (Board Certified Assistant Behavioral Analyst)<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A<\/span> Board Certified Assistant Behavioral Analyst<\/span><\/a> (BCaBA) is a professionally trained ABA therapist with a bachelor\u2019s degree level of education. To acquire certification, these individuals must take training coursework in ABA Therapy and pass an examination. They are also required to maintain their learning through CEU\u2019s to keep their certification active. BCaBA therapists must work under the direction of BCBA level professionals.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A BCaBA therapist is required to complete 20 CEUs every two years to maintain their certification. A minimum of 4 CEUs must be in the area of ethics. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CAS (Certified Autism Specialist)<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A Certified Autism Specialist (CAS)<\/span><\/a> is an individual who has obtained a master\u2019s degree level of education and worked in a field with individuals with autism spectrum disorder for a minimum of two years. You may find teachers, counselors, doctors, and other professionals with this certification. Just like the other certified specialists we had discussed, individuals with this certification must meet CEU standards to maintain their certification.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

AC (Autism Certificate)<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

An<\/span> Autism Certificate (AC)<\/span><\/a> requires a minimum of 14 hours of continuing education related to autism. This certification requires that the individual also take and pass an exam. Individuals with this level of certification are required to maintain CEU\u2019s and reapply for certification every two years. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

RBT (Registered Behavior Technician)<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A<\/span> Registered Behavior Technician (RBT)<\/span><\/a> certification provides identification that the individual has:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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