Blog - Momentum Learning Services Early Intervention Services for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders located in Sydney, Australia

The Importance of Parent Training

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -1100

In the course of providing treatment services to families I am often asked if it is of value for parents to undergo training in ABA for the purposes of providing 'therapy sessions' themselves. A growing number of parents are opting for this approach as hiring experienced therapists can be problematic in terms of their cost and scarcity. So should parents teach their own children and activiely participate in their child's early intervention program?

The answer is simply YES. Parental involvement is pivotal to the success of any home-based early intervention program. This involvement may included structured teaching sessions with the child but in many cases it is the interaction between parent and child outdside of these sessions which contributes most productively to their child's development. The main reasons for parents to undergo ABA training include:

To make every interaction a learning opportunity for their child.
To be able to understand and therefore consistently implement reccomendations made by your behavioural consultant.
To be able to make objective observations of your child's behaviour to ensure that any interventions put in place are based on accurate information.
To ensure that generalisation is occuring as teaching is taking place.

We provide parent training workshops regularly to provide practical tools to parents to help them implement behaviour based strategies with their children. To find out more information about our 'Rocket Science for Parents' Workshop click here.

Tips for creating Picture Communication Symbols (PCS) and flashcards that last.

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -1100

While their are many families who are happy to take advantage of pre-made flashcards/PCS icons in their ABA programs, some prefer to make their own. For those who prefer the DIY approach, here are some tips to keep in mind to ensure that the materials that you make will last for the long haul:

1. Print on cardstock instead of paper if this is possible. They will be far more sturdy and less likely to be crushed.

2. Print 2 copies of each page. Keep a spare set of the PCS stored away in case an original is lost and needs replacing.

3. Cut out the individual icons before laminating rather than laminating the whole page at once. Although this is time consuming, the PCS can be sealed with a laminated edge all the way around when cut individually. They are less likely to split at the edges this way.

4. When placing them on the laminate, use a glue stick to glue the underside of the PCS to the laminate to hold them in place. This will stop them from moving out of place during lamination and make them easier to cut once laminated.

5. If using Velcro on the PCS then always attach the ‘hook’ (rough part) to the icons (once laminated). This allows you to use the ‘loop’ (soft part) in communication books/PECS folders OR attach the same PCS to felt boards as well.

6. Always start using your PCS with the hook Velcro attached (even if they are being used loose, i.e., not on a communication board or in a folder). This can help children with fine motor difficulties pick them up easily from a flat surface as it raises the edges enough to do so.