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Can I start a programme before I find tutors?

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I tend to recommend finding tutors before we do the initial assessment, as this ensures the assessment will not be out of date when the tutors start. However, if you the parents are keen to get started with doing some ABA therapy yourself, then of course I can come and start working with you.

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What is a BCBA?

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BCBA stands for Board Certified Behaviour Analyst. The BCBA credential is internationally recognised. In order to gain a certification, an individual must have a Masters degree, complete 125 hours of coursework and 1,500 hours of supervised experience (by a BCBA or BCBA-D) before becoming eligible to sit a 150-question examination.

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How many hours of ABA is needed to be effective?

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The research states that the intensity of the ABA intervention is correlated with gains in IQ and adaptive behaviour scores. An intense ABA intervention is considered 25 to 40 hours per week, though in many studies they require at least 35 hours per week. This enables a comprehensive Autism intervention that can target a wide range of targets to cover all the skills needed for daily life, including communication, motor skills and daily living skills. A programme that has less hours will be a more focused intervention, and can still be highly effective at showing gains in specific areas. In a less intense programme I would always ensure the programmes are working on pivotal skills that open doors and lead to the greatest overall gains. Parental involvement is of course paramount, particularly with these less intense programmes.

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How can I find tutors?

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There are a number of good facebook sites that you can post when looking to hire a tutor, such as ‘ABA tutor finder’. There is also a site called vbcommunity.org and a couple of recruitment agencies. There are also some whatsapp groups. Get in touch with me for a full list of places where you can post adverts.

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How long is an ABA session?

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One ABA session tends to be between two and three hours long. A younger child of two years or less is likely to start off with a two hour session, and then build up over time. This may seem like a long time for a young child to remain focused, but sessions incorporate breaks, and are highly reinforcing, involving all the child’s favourite things and activities.

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Can I do ABA if my child is at school/ nursery?

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Absolutely. ABA programmes can be split between home and nursery or school, depending on whether the school is open to this. Different children have different set ups at school, varying from full time ABA in school, to collaboration and ABA training given to teachers and LSAs.

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Do Local Authorities fund ABA?

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Yes there are many families in London that have ABA programmes funded by the Local Authority. However, most often families need to start off self-funding then go to the Local Authority with evidence that ABA is effective and that alternative provision is not adequate. Contact me for further information surrounding this.

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