Finding a service provider can sometimes feel similar to finding a romantic partner. It's an overwhelming process because the options seems endless, the stakes are high, and you may need to go through many avenues to find the best and most compatible option for you. Parents have to make it through the initial wooing and courting phase to hopefully find a long-lasting partnership that works for them and for the service provider.
I wrote this article in the hopes of making it just a tiny bit easier for parents to make an informed decision about their ABA and IBI services. Never be afraid of judgement and never be intimidated to ask the tough questions before signing on. As a BCBA and service provider myself, I expect and appreciate the opportunity to have a transparent and honest discussion about why I am qualified to work with your child.
1. Credentials matter: If I could stress any piece of advice, it is this. ABA is currently an unregulated field in Ontario, so unfortunately not everyone is as qualified as they present themselves. When looking for your ABA service provider, you want to look for the acronym BCBA (which stands for Board Certified Behaviour Analyst). A BCBA should always be overseeing your ABA or IBI services, as they have gone through a rigorous qualification procedure to attain and maintain that credential. They have a Master's level education, extensive supervised practice hours, passed a comprehensive exam, and have to abide by strict practice requirements to maintain their license. In your search, you may encounter other professionals practicing without a BCBA, who have other degrees or diplomas that they claim are sufficient. However, be very wary if you choose to go forward and do your research, as many techniques absolutely do need the educational background and expertise of a BCBA to be performed correctly. If performed incorrectly, there is actually the potential that harm can be done or skill regression could occur. I cannot stress this enough to make sure a BCBA is involved in your child's care!
2. Ask about the size and nature of the supervisor's caseload: Often times, a supervisor may be overseeing a large number of cases and covering a large geographical region. This may end up making it difficult to see them or contact them outside of your scheduled supervision sessions if questions or concerns arise. By asking a potential service provider about their caseload, you can gauge if they will be accessible and responsive enough to your family should you need them.
3. Ask the service provider about how much supervision your child will receive: While there is a necessary minimum amount of supervision that needs to occur for families receiving funding, the answer to this question is that supervision should occur "as much as is in the child's best interest". When starting fresh with a new family or when training a new therapist, a supervisor should be present much more frequently. If programming challenges are occurring or if there are behaviours of concern, supervision should also increase. The supervision amount should rarely be static. This being said, if extra supervision does need to occur, the service provider also needs to also work with the family to ensure it is feasible financially and logistically. This is also why it's important to ensure the supervisor does not have too large of a caseload to accommodate extra supervision if it is needed.
4. Assess the provider's ability to speak in plain language: Any BCBA has demonstrated their clinical knowledge in order to get their credential. However, outside of the therapy sessions, there should always be an extra goal to empower the family to continue to use the strategies with their child. This is usually done though parent training. Parent training is a big part of ABA and should be adapted to be suitable for people without a behavioural background. The ability to explain concepts without using jargon is an essential, but often over-looked, skill that a Clinical Supervisor should possess. From your first interaction with the service provider, listen to make sure they are explaining things in a non-technical and easy to understand manner.
5. Look for chemistry with you: In ABA, we tend to avoid talking about feelings and focus more on observable behaviours. However, just like when meeting a romantic partner, your initial reaction and impression of a service provider is usually accurate. When meeting face to face, evaluate the service provider's sincerity, honesty, respectfulness of you and your family, and your general rapport. Since you will be interacting with that person frequently, it's important for both sides that you mesh well.
6. Look for chemistry with your child: The service provider should definitely want to meet your child before going ahead with service. This is a great opportunity to see how he/she interacts with your child. Does he/she greet your child, attempt to engage them, get down to their level, ask questions about them? Once service starts, there will be also be a more involved "pairing' process, which involves building a trusting instructional relationship with your child prior to beginning any programs.
7. Inquire About how programming goals will be developed: All ABA providers should develop program goals through an evidence-based assessment like the VB-MAPP, AFLS, or ABLLS-R. However, programming also needs to address what goals are meaningful for the family. These goals may not be captured on the standard assessments. The provider should be willing to work with the family and include goals that are individualized and contextual to their needs. Examples could be teaching a child to sit in church, perhaps eat with chopsticks, or perform a specific cultural ritual. The service provider should demonstrate that they are flexible and adaptable to customizing the plan for the individual child.
I hope this post is helpful for parents that are searching for an ABA or an IBI provider. There are many more questions to be asked, in addition to these, but hopefully this will be a good start. In the end, the ultimate goal for parents and for the service provider, is for your child to receive the services that they need to be successful and fulfilled in life. Please feel free to comment if you have any feedback or additional suggestions.
For further information about Kids First Behaviour Services, please visit: https://kidsfirstbehaviour.ca/
No comments:
Post a Comment