For all the joys and precious moments parents collect, the experience of raising children comes with its fair share of challenges. Parenting a child diagnosed with autism can add a whole other level of stress. Understanding the nuances of autism and how and when to intervene keeps parents up at night. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by worry, especially before you have definitive answers and a plan.
ABA, or Applied Behavior Analysis, is the most common intervention for children and adults diagnosed autism, because it is evidenced based. Behavior experts known as BCBAs, or Board Certified Behavior Analysts, are healthcare professionals who evaluate behavior challenges and develop individualized strategies to promote functional, age-appropriate independence.
One way to keep a positive outlook and feel proactive is by working with your child’s Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) at their ABA therapy center. Developing a plan that is unique to your child and helping them achieve their goals can help you feel engaged in their growth and encourage your child. Parental involvement with ABA therapy isn’t just a recommendation, it is essential for your child’s success. Here, we’ll unlock # tips to help you understand your role in your child’s ABA therapy journey.
1. Finding the Right ABA Therapy Center
The first step to your child’s success will be selecting the ABA therapy center that is best for them and for you. Touring different facilities and learning about program offerings can help you determine if a program or center will be beneficial to your child, or if you can find a better fit.
2. Get to Know Your Child’s Therapists
Your child’s BCBAs will work with them on a daily basis. Through group activities, playtime, and one on one therapy sessions, these team members will help your child meet milestones, learn new communication techniques, and help you learn skills to use at home. Getting to know the staff member who will be working with your child is important, because it builds trust and rapport with the team that will be helping your child.
3. Make a Plan
Many parents don’t realize that they are encouraged to be involved with goal-setting for their child. It’s essential that parents play a role in determining when and how goals will be achieved so that milestones are achieved and expectations are met. It’s also a great idea for parents to regularly meet with their child’s BCBA to revisit plans and goals and make sure they are still working for their child. Sometimes expectations will need to be adjusted to ensure that a child is able to thrive on their own developmental timeline.
4. Bring ABA Therapy Home
Picking your child up from therapy doesn’t mean that the ABA therapy tools and routines are done for the day. As parents, it is vital to use ABA skills and techniques at home. Using ABA therapy techniques and tools at home helps your child by giving them more consistency. Encouraging your child to use the same skills at home that they are encouraged to use during their sessions can help your child thrive.
5. Stay Engaged
At the beginning of an ABA therapy journey many parents will feel hopeful and excited. ABA therapy isn’t a month long program, but rather a method of helping your child thrive for their entire life. Staying engaged even after your child has been in an ABA therapy program for a while is crucial to ensuring your child also stays engaged. Attend regular progress meetings, check in with your child’s therapists, and adopt a collaborative mindset.
6. Double Down on At-Home Positive Reinforcement
A key foundation to ABA therapy is the use of positive reinforcement. The reinforcements that work best for your child will differ from those that others may use. Work with your child’s BCBAs to find out which reinforcements work best and make sure you are using those reinforcements at home. This helps your child make more connections between positive behaviors and positive reinforcements, helping them solidify new skills.
7. Be Flexible
Your child’s ABA therapy journey will be as unique as they are. As your child grows and develops, their needs will be different. Remaining pliable will help your child’s ABA therapy center develop new programs for them and will reduce the amount of stress in your life and in your child’s life. Remember, sometimes you will try a new method or approach to find out it needs to be adjusted. Being open to an adjustment will help your child thrive.
Partnership for Life
Your child’s ABA therapy center will be a foundation for their future. It’s important to partner with them for your child’s success. Ask your child’s ABA therapy center how you can become more involved and help your child become even more successful.
Brad Zelinger is the founder and CEO of Stride Autism Centers.
Sources:
What Is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy? – Forbes Health
