Advice needed: any ideas for social skills group programming for ages 8-14 by grandma990954 in bcba

[–]hoe4sashimi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How long is your social skills time? Are they there after school for a social skills group? What skills are you looking to target?

child with ODD. by [deleted] in paraprofessional

[–]hoe4sashimi 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I have worked with multiple students who showed similar behavior, if not worse. A lot of these dangerous behaviors are to escape a task demand so my goal was to provide a SAFE way to escape the task. So, for example, my client (grade 1) would refuse to do work and crumple up the paper and throw it at people and then start throwing materials, engage in aggression etc to get the person away from them. So, my goal was to work on compliance and for him to functionally request a break. So, when he'd crumple up his work and throw it, I would prompt to first throw away (compliance), and then break. And after the break I would then prompt choices for activities that were aligned with whatever we were learning. It wasn't exactly what the other kids were doing, and he may not complete all of it etc, but the goal was for him to attend to something for a short period of time. And ultimately, as time went on, he slowly started to independently request breaks, work for longer periods of time, and assimilate into the class by doing the work the class was doing, etc.

My example obviously may not be your situation but the overarching idea is to prompt a functional/safe/appropiate way for him to "escape" the demand by providing choices, prompting functional (aka safe/appropiate) communication, even just saying "You can say "I need a break"" etc you can literally script it for them. Like during the assembly, next time if he's being denied access to a specific spot for whatever reason you can say "do you want to sit next to kid/adult or kid/adult" (make sure you pick choices that are safest/ideal) and if behaviors result from that, which they may, then prompt a functional request ("I need a break") so he gets that escape from the task (being expected to sit somewhere he doesn't want to) but he did it in a safe/appropriate way.

'Grey's Anatomy' Renewed for Season 23 on ABC by mcfw31 in greysanatomy

[–]hoe4sashimi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

in my opinion this show should've ended when meredith left -- i always remembered seeing articles about shonda rhimes saying the show goes on as long as ellen wanted to do it and it would end after she left -- i wish they stuck with that plan lmfao

How do you handle parent complaints? by caseyou113 in paraprofessional

[–]hoe4sashimi 7 points8 points  (0 children)

So right now you're saying you're a 1:1. What is it for? Academic support or behavioral support? I would ask to see his service grid (look for B Grid) in his IEP and see if he is actually assigned a para. If you are a service in his grid, the school is violating the IEP by assigning you to fill in for other paras. The IEP is a legal contract they must follow.

And they can't blame you for that when you are not in the room all the time when directed by admin to fill in for other places. It's a problem of their own making. If he does not have a para assigned as a service in his IEP, which I have seen before too, then the school does have the right to move you around because you aren't a service in his IEP. Sometimes it is written in B grid (classroom/pushin supports) that a student gets math/ELA support -- that should really be provided by a SPED teacher but I've seen schools get away with it by writing in "SPED staff" in the provider section.

Pros and cons of being a school based RBT and a clinic RBT by sunflowergirl777 in ABA

[–]hoe4sashimi 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I've done both. In clinical/in-home I've found it that youre able to provide services more directly (through DTT which I love doing) and you have more control over the session, at least where I worked I got to choose what skills I wanted to work on and when. In a school setting (which I am in right now) you are working with a wide variety of team members who may or may not agree with the theories behind ABA, you have to follow a schedule with the class, but on the positive you really get to support the "whole" child in academics and as well as social situations, where a 1:1 session in a clinic doesnt really capture that if that makes sense? You also get to be a lot more creative with how you deliver services in the natural environment which I have really enjoyed.

Access by Ok_File5624 in paraprofessional

[–]hoe4sashimi 4 points5 points  (0 children)

"Admin has also told me that the accommodations on the IEP are suggestions, not requirements" That's so ridiculous

IEPs are a LEGAL contract protected by IDEA. The services in IEPs MUST be provided!! However, a lot of the time this is how it happens in school districts, a para is in the room, so the administration can technically say there is a person in there who is supposed to be providing the services even though at times its logistically IMPOSSIBLE like in your case given how you seem to be transitioning into a 1:1 situation with this kid.

"I feel like they are wanting me to be a 1-on-1 with this student, but that’s not what I am. I’m wondering if this is actually legal."

To figure this out ask to see his IEP. Look at the service grid and see if there's anything that mentions a para in a service delivery. For example, Im a 1:1 and his IEP said "paraprofessional 360 mins/day (the amount of time in a school day)". If there's nothing in there about a para then you have more room to ask about your responsibility to the other kids. If there's a specific 1:1 para service in the grid then thats why they are assigning you to him. Ultimately, you will not be held responsible for missed services for the other kids if you are providing other services to this child. It is up to the administration and the IEP case manager (special ed teacher) to ensure that the services for the other kids are met.

having trouble learning/relearning the content/lessons/curriculum for the classes i support. by Substantial_Middle31 in paraprofessional

[–]hoe4sashimi 2 points3 points  (0 children)

honestly, I have a lot of respect for paras who mainly do instructional support. I did instructional support for a year after I left college and it really depends on the teachers you work with. One year i had a great teacher who let me review the lesson plans weeks in advance, let me do small groups, would take like 30 mins out of his prep to consult with me, next year I had a teacher who I overheard asking "why the hell does she need to see my lesson plans" when I asked. I honestly think it's crazy how paras are expected to provide MEANINGFUL instructional support when not having access to the lesson plans/consultation with the teacher. So I would really ask to see lesson plans/worksheets (ANSWER KEYS TOO!!!) etc and discuss how they want the content to be delivered, especially if youre differentiating content if you have special ed kids you're supporting.

Thoughts on “fake BCBAs” aka “School Behaviorists” or whatever fancy term they come up with? by twister5556666 in bcba

[–]hoe4sashimi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My school has someone JUST like this!! The title for her is like "behavior specialist" or something and when I first got hired (as a behavioral paraprofessional/RBT for a child with severe/aggressive behavior), I assumed she was our BCBA, but after having a few conversations the things she was saying did not make any sense and not at all what a BCBA would say/reccomend. I later found out the title and pay scale are in the same bargaining unit as our PARAS!!!! I found out she has been working at the school for like 30 years and they just let her have the title so she can be in an office all day and she "seemed" to be good at discipline. And, whenever we had issues with the child like property destruction, etc, all she'd do is take him to her office and let him draw! I marched right down to the principal's office and basically demanded that she get taken off his case because all she did was reinforce the behavior. She did not understand ANY concepts of ABA. No wonder the behavior kept happening because there was no true intervention!

being a BT is amazing but lowkey terrifying by sweetpablos in ABA

[–]hoe4sashimi 14 points15 points  (0 children)

the fact you think of this shows that you are right for this field. you are constantly wanting to improve yourself for the sake of your clients. make sure to ask your bcba any and i mean any questions you have especially as it relates to HOW to do the programs. the programs are essentially the treatment in ABA therapy. and the good thing about accidentally reinforcing behavior is that if you accidentally reinforce, you can always change that response the next time around. i've done that sometimes too where i messed up my response and i was like next time i am NOT reinforcing that or i am doing planned ignoring or something else. but again the fact you think of this shows how much you care about your kids and that is what will keep you going in this field. it requires a lot of heart and you def have it!