ABA therapy ideas for sessions?

Question

I work with a 7 year old girl diagnosed with high functioning autism to help pay my way through grad school. Lately when I come over ot her house for sessions, I ring the doorbell and hear her start to scream inside. She'll attempt to either hide her face in the couch cushions or hide under a blanket if it's available. Originally I think she was starting to put up the fuss because my arrival ment that she had to stop watching her favorite TV show (As we start the session on the hour, the show typically ended before I got set up and brought her into the therapy room, but she would still become very anxious after her mom told her it was time to turn the TV off and start the session). Usually it takes about 1/2 an hour to calm her down, and then she works great for the rest of the 2 hour session. Anyone have some basic ideas for extinguishing these behaviors? I adore her and her family and I can see how much this is distressing them in spite of my attempts to keep working and ignore the behavior. Any other hints? Thank you.

Answer 1

and the parents role in preparing her for her time with you is what?

The people you need to have the conversation with are her parents or whatever caregiver is there when you come.  Tell them - we are loosing some good work time - what ideas do you have to ease the transition - anything that you think you can do or that I should do?

That way they are a part of the process - and partners in their child's learning which will be critical forever.

Answer 2

Vb tutorials-http://learnvb.info/

Answer 3

I wonder what kind of rapport building or "pairing" you did with yourself and the little girl before you ever started working. I really recommend (and if you haven't done it, it is not too late now) is to spend several sessions not doing any formal work or table time, but just spending time playing and pairing yourself with all of her favorite toys and reinforcers. Also getting a few inexpensive toys that she might like that only you have so that she only has access to them when you come to work with her. I always made a basket of fun cheap toys usually sensory in nature, squishy balls, light up toys, putty, favorite cartoon character figures etc. that came in and out of therapy with me. Once the kiddo begins associating you with cool toys and fun times they will look forward to you showing up at the door and will grab your hand and drag you to the play room. While you are working on "pairing" you don't have to give up all work, but just embed vocabulary, requesting and other related skills into the fun activities that you are doing together.. so she will be working and not even realizing that she is doing it. Once the rapport is built and she wants to be with you then bring back the table and work time but don't forget to play and have a good time. We ask kids to do a lot of work in therapy, but we have to remember they are still young and need to have fun too.

Answer 4

Kids with autism often have rituals that help them to organize this chaotic and unpredictable world.  It sounds as if this show might be part of a routine that gives her comfort.  So is there any way you could slightly alter your schedule and not arrive until the show is over?  You already said that you need the first half hour to calm her down, so why not try just starting a bit later and maybe not needing to take up your therapy time by calming her.

Transitions are often difficult for children with autism.  Does she have a picture schedule?  Her schedule could have an icon of her show, and next a photo of you.  She watches her show, puts the show icon into the "finished" pocket, and then it's time for you.  Parents and teachers have often found the picture schedule to be a valuable tool.  PECS makes one, but you can easily make your own.

Another helpful transition item is a visual timer.  When it is 30 minutes before therapy, Mom sets the timer and says, "When the time is gone, it will be time to work with (whatever your name is.)"  It's usually good for Mom to verbally talk about the elapsing time periodically - "15 minutes until _______."  "5 minutes until _______."  etc.  (BTW, Amazon.com has both PECS picture schedules and visual timers.)

Some kids also like an auditory transition ritual, like playing a chime, or singing a particular song.  Or you could use something that she especially likes to indicate the transition into therapy time, like shining a flashlight beam on her, or blowing bubbles into the air, or tapping a balloon to her.... whatever she would find interesting.  (If you find one of these that she really likes, you may need to help her transition from it, too, like, "One more minute to blow bubbles..... 30 more seconds to blow bubbles.... 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 - time to put the bubbles away!"  Very often, children will join in with this countdown and then be ready to move on.

I have successfully used all of these strategies as a teacher of children with autism and other special needs.  Remember that the best approach to extinguishing a behavior is to teach the child a replacement behavior.  You really can't just get her to stop putting up a fuss;  you need to teach her a different response.  I strongly suspect that giving her a way to deal with the transition will be helpful.  It probably won't be an immediate success, but give it a try and don't give it up - it takes time to learn anything, and learning a new behavior is no different.  

Answer 5

if possible-try no tv prior to your arrival--the TV shoudl already be off and teh child engaged in another activity before you ring teh bell-

it may be difficult if she is high functioning and can tell time and knows whats on TV..

Have an activity schedule prepared for your next visit

come home from school

watch Tv

(alternate activity)

and than you-

how about using a video for reinforcement-when the session is complete-she gets to watch it-

have a schedule of activities for this---showing she gets what she wants when she is done--

if she does tell time--just list the time

Answer 6

You could ask the mom to not allow the TV before you get there. Have her record the show and allow to her daughter to watch it once she has finished her session. Its understandable that she is upset transitioning from her favorite activity to one that requires tremendous patience and effort on her part.

Hope this helps you out