If you've received ABA therapy services before, then you have probably heard of a behavior plan. Or if you are new to ABA, then your child will soon have their very own. Why do behavior plans matter anyway? Read on to find out exactly what you should know and what to do once you have one.
The official name of this document is a Behavior Intervention Plan, also referred to as a BIP or treatment plan. After the assessment and observation portion (called the Functional Behavior Assessment), a Behavior Analyst will write a custom BIP to help children replace challenging or socially inappropriate behaviors with adaptive ones. This treatment plan will be unique and individual to your child.
Writing a behavior plan is a lengthy and involved process, typically ranging from 25 - 40 pages long. The lead behavior therapist will take the data from the assessment and use it to create goals specifically for your child. This is where their experience and education pay off, as the information written in the plan will be implemented with your child. It is key to choose a company and behavior therapist that will take the time to do things properly and keep your needs in mind.
The standard components of a behavior plan include your child's demographics, medical history, and basic information. The therapist will recommend a number of hours for aba therapy dependent on your child's needs, typically 20 - 30, and state their reasoning for their recommendation. Further down there will be a write up of the challenging behaviors, including their function or cause and the data taken from the assessment. Also written here will be skills your child will work on developing.
Next will include the strategies to decrease the socially inappropriate behaviors and steps for the skills being worked on. This is the goal portion of the treatment plan, and the things written here will be implemented with your child during services.is also the collected data in sheets or graphs to monitor success. If applicable to your child, a safety plan may also be included.
Once the behavior plan is completed, it will be submitted to your insurance company for approval. This can take anywhere from 2-3 weeks, as adjustments may need to be made to meet their particular requirements. Once they give the green light, the ABA therapy is approved to begin.
Before starting services, your therapist should take time to thoroughly go over the treatment plan with you and answer any questions or concerns you may have. This meeting is critical to ensure providers and family are both on the same page.
Behavior intervention plans don't stop here, they are continually evolving. As the therapist and assistants administer services to your child, they will take data on your child's skills and behaviors. This data is used to keep track of progress and update the plan, making adjustments as needed. Collecting and analyzing data is critical to ensure the treatment effectively addresses target skills and behaviors. When changes are made to the treatment plan, this is called protocol modification. Please note that the ONLY person authorized to make changes and edit the plan, is the lead therapist working with your child.will learn about these updates and how to implement them at home during parent training meetings. Parent training meetings are also a place to ask any questions, bring up concerns, make recommendations, and talk about how your child is doing overall.
Every 6 months, an updated behavior plan will be resubmitted to your insurance company for reauthorization, which is a request for services to continue.
Because your child's behavior plan is considered a medical document, we follow HIPPA compliance and privacy laws. That means the only people with access to your plan are those who directly work with your child, and your insurance provider. You have full access to the behavior plan and can request an updated copy for any reason, at any time. The other people who will view your child's treatment plan is the lead behavior therapist on the case, and the registered assistants working with your child. Sometimes, other people will want access to the behavior plan such as a teacher, principal, relative etc. As a company, we will not grant access without explicit written consent. You, however, may give your copy of the plan to whomever you see fit!
To simplify, the behavior treatment plan is just a document that contains relevant information about your child and how they are progressing with aba therapy services. The lead analyst reviews and updates it as necessary, while the assistants follow the changes made during sessions with your kiddo.
If you have any questions about behavior intervention plans, or aba therapy in general please reach out! We are here to support your family in any way we can.
For more information about the basics of ABA, check out other blog posts.
October is the month where I feel like things really start to change. The weather gets a bit cooler, school sports have started playing games, bands are having concerts and competitions. The end of the year also brings exciting holidays and family gatherings with relatives we don't get to see often. With the season changing, family changes, and time flying by the way it does, we also have exciting business changes to announce.
As of last week we officially opened the Orlando clinic where you can come with your kiddos for services!
Working on a room with a dinosaur theme.
While we are still working hard to get everything organized and put together, some clients and families have been able to enjoy sessions in the clinic. To learn a bit more about the benefits of therapy in a clinic setting, check out our previous post announcing the Orlando location :)
If you are looking for clinic based ABA therapy, now is the time to start! While we still have open availability, spots are going pretty quickly.
Message us and we would be more than happy to help you!
Did you see part 1 of this post last week?? If not definitely go check it out! We discussed strategies for staying 'Cool During Crisis' and ways to help your tantruming child.
So, the hard part is over… now what? After something frustrating happens with raw emotions, our natural tendency as parents is to remind our children what upset us. Aka, 'The Lecture.'
Do you remember 'The Lecture' when you were a child? I do. It didn't happen very often, but I remember sitting down on the couch and talking through what I had done wrong, why it was a problem, and what my consequences were now. When my own stubbornness got in the way, I would refuse to make eye contact or try to argue. Causing 'The Lecture' to last longer.
Typically following a lecture, a parent will teach their child not to do it again by implementing a punishment. Although this may seem like the best course let's take a step back and think through some things.
First, how mature is your child? For me, a lecture was effective. I was mature enough to handle it and understand my wrong actions and corresponding consequences.
If you have a special needs child, remember their maturity level is often behind that of their same age peers. In addition, all children are immature (I was too, even though I often thought otherwise).
It can be helpful to ask yourself questions such as:
What is the goal?
Are we planning on teaching or punishing?
As parents we should focus mainly on teaching. This is where true progress is made. So before jumping into that lecture or punishment, consider the following tips.
Tip #1 Love First
Have an attitude of love. Remembering how much you love your child and want the best for them will help as you decide the right way to phrase your thoughts. Your kiddo will be able to pick up on it too. When I was having a lecture, even if I knew my parents were dissapointed, I never questioned that they still loved me and my mistake could be fixed.
Tip #2 Discussion
When your child has calmed enough to talk (if verbal), try discussing what happened and remind them they are safe. Working through the logic of what happened can help with emotional regulation and personal understanding.
Tip #3 Give Attention
Show an increase of attention. Kids get a lot of attention when they are having a tantrum but when it is all over, we want to walk away. This sends the message to the child that attention is given most when I am upset. We want to increase our positive attention given when our kids are calm and happy. Help them understand by our behavior that we give increased attention when they are more calm and rational.
If a mess was made during the tantrum, now is a good time to let them know you need them to help with clean up. Clean up is not the punishment and should not be seen that way. Clean up time is a natural consequence of the child’s actions. As a parent we should willingly help our kiddos clean up. Doing this sets a good example and sends the message to our children that we will always be there for them, building a foundation of trust. Don't be hesitant to make it fun! Playing music, singing songs, and making it silly can turn a negative into a more positive experience. Overall, the goal is getting the child to help clean up the mess made.
Set realistic goals for the future. Expect another outburst, but also be prepared. Likewise, it is important to prepare your child. This is the time to practice with your child how to respond during a tantrum. What calming strategies can be used? If your child doesn’t like to breath or count when upset, think outside of the box. How about breathing disguised as blowing bubbles? Who doesn’t love bubbles! How about a favorite “calm down” song that you play or sing when things get heated? Having effective calming strategies helps distract from an escalating tantrum and teaches your child how to calmly work through difficult emotions.
Lastly, if a consequence is needed be sure it is a teaching consequence. Think and plan ahead with this question.. what will this teach my child so they can do better next time? As families, we should all be striving together to help each other navigate the daily nuances of life.
For more tips and strategies in working through behavior, please reach out! We support clients and their families, supporting you no matter what.
It's been long day.
You picked up your kiddo from school and stopped at the grocery store to grab a few things for dinner. As you are checking out, you notice the king size chocolate bar in their hands. Now, a moment of internal conflict. Do you take the candy knowing full well an explosive tantrum will ensue? Or do you let them have it in an effort to keep the peace?
We all have those moments when we realize our child is about to explode. A full on, screaming, arms flailing tantrum! Not only can it be frustrating and embarrassing, but you may even question your parenting abilities.
After the hurricane passes and peace has been restored, we are left wondering... what just happened? Was there more I could have done?
For Training Tip Tuesday, we decided to share 10 tips to help your child during crisis! Sometimes we can recognize signs that our kiddo is going to go into a tantrum. While each child is unique, the signs and behavior patterns are often consistent.
Ideally, we want to try to stop a tantrum before it begins. You can do this by noticing the behavior signs that signal a tantrum is coming, and then intervene. Redirecting to a different preferred topic, asking simple questions or changing the environment can break the tension before it escalates out of hand.
If this pre-intervention is not working or you don’t catch the tantrum in time, then the following tips will help you deescalate an already tense situation.
#1 Stay Calm
Easier said than done for sure! But this is not the time for you to lose it too. Stay calm and in control, taking deep breaths or even counting to yourself if necessary.
#2 Even Tone
Along with keeping your body language calm, be mindful of your tone of voice. Use a calm even tone. Avoid yelling or sounding overly stressed and anxious.
#3 Time and Place
There is a time and place for everything. Do not try to teach, lecture or negotiate with a screaming child. This is not the time for that, and it will only make you both more frustrated. When someone is screaming, no one is learning. Save the teaching for when you are both in the right frame of mind.
#4 Change Your Environment
If it's possible, move to a quiet, calm environment with less noise and distractions.
#5 We All Need Space
Sometimes we just need space to breathe and process our emotions alone, without the added stress of another person's input or emotions. Prioritizing your child's safety, allow them to have their space. Do not over crowd or hover.
#6 Be Clear and Concise
When speaking use clear, calm language. Ask questions such as, "Are you ready to talk to me?" or "Do you want a drink?" This will distract from the tantrum but will not give in to the demands that may have caused it in the first place. If the child says no or screams say "Alright, we will try again in a few minutes." Interject every few minutes as needed.
#7 Coping Strategies
If your child previously learned a coping strategy such as breathing, blowing pretend bubbles, or stretching then this is the time to redirect to this strategy. A caregiver can set the example and model the behavior we want to see the child use.
#8 Praise
Calmly praise their attempts to self-calm or self-regulate. Say statements such as "I see you are taking deep breaths, thank you." and "I see you are sitting nicely; I like that."
#9 Use a Visual
Sometimes just refocusing the child on a visual timer, favorite stuffed animal or sensory object may help your child redirect to a calm state.
#10 Refresh and Restart
Once the tantrum has passed and calm is returning, both the caregiver and child should take a drink of water and begin to relax. Taking a drink allows you to reset and move forward with a better focus.
For more information on how to handle post-tantrum, keep your eyes open for part 2 next week. You won't want to miss it!
As always, we are here for you and your family's individual needs. If you have any questions or concerns, definitely reach out! We are ready to help you.
Many young kids have sensory challenges that they deal with. It’s a normal part of adjusting to the environment in which they live. I remember growing up, I didn't like rooms with large groups of people. This was partly because I had hearing loss and couldn't pinpoint where sounds were coming from. In noisy rooms, it sounded like a big, jumbled mess! As I got older, I learned to better adjust.
Sights, sounds, tastes, and movement are all part of our daily living environment. However, in our kiddos diagnosed with Autism, sensory challenges can be more extreme. That's why we decided to focus this week's Training Tip Tuesday on sensory struggles!
Although these sensory challenges are difficult, when we learn and begin to understand them, we will have the right tools to effectively handle when challenges come up. After all, knowledge is power!
For starters, what do sensory challenges even look like?
According to Autism Speaks (linked below) "Many people with autism show certain behaviors when they are experiencing a sensory issue."
These can include the following:
- Increased movement, such as jumping, spinning or crashing into things
- Increased stimming, such as hand flapping, making repetitive noises or rocking back and forth
- Talking faster and louder, or not talking at all
- Covering ears or eyes
- Difficulty recognizing internal sensations like hunger, pain or the need to use the bathroom
- Refusing or insisting on certain foods or clothing items
- Frequent chewing on non-food items
- Frequent touching of others or playing rough
- Difficulty communicating or responding as the brain shifts resources to deal with sensory input aka shutting down
- Escalating, overwhelming emotions or need to escape a situation aka meltdown
So, what can you as the parent do to help?
Starting by shifting your perspective from negative statements to positive statements is the best way to address the challenges you are facing. For example, ask 'how can I help?' instead of 'what is wrong with my child?' Sensory struggles are primarily environmentally based. To support our child, it is necessary that we look at the environment and state.
Sensory challenges are often grouped into 2 main categories. The first is hypersensitivity, which is over responsive behavior to environmental stimuli. Often your child gets overwhelmed and reactive, meaning you'll want to help them stay calm and relaxed. The other type is hyposensitivity, which is under responsive behavior to the stimuli in their environment. Your kiddo doesn't get enough sensory support from their regular environment, so they look for ways to get more. To help a hyposensitive child, you'll want to provide more healthy stimulation. Often special needs children will experience both sensory struggles.
If your child's sensory struggles mainly fall into the category of hypersensitivity, here are some ideas of how you can help support them.
- Using light covers, sunglasses or a hat under bright fluorescent lights
- Wearing ear plugs or headphones in noisy environments
- Setting up workspaces in rooms with a closed door or high walls
- Avoiding products with an overly strong scent
- Choosing foods that avoid aversions to textures, temperatures or spices
- Providing soft and comfortable clothing to wear
- Adjusting your schedule to avoid places during rush hour or with crowds
If your child's sensory struggles mainly fall into the category of hyposensitivity, here are some ideas of how you can help support them.
- Provide visual aids if they have trouble processing spoken information
- Using fidget toys, chewies and other sensory tools
- Arranging the furniture to provide safe, open spaces
- Take frequent movement breaks throughout the day to break up monotony
- Provide foods to eat with strong flavors or mixed textures
- Using a weighted blanket, lap pad or wearing clothing that provides deep pressure
That wraps up our training tip for this week! If you have more questions about supporting your child with sensory struggles, don't hesitate to reach out anytime.
Works Cited
Autism Speaks. “Sensory Issues.” Autism Speaks, 2023, www.autismspeaks.org/sensory-issues. Accessed 12 Sept. 2023
You know when you see something so cute and fluffy that you just HAVE to touch it? And physically restrain yourself from squeezing too hard? That was me when we picked up Bella as an 8-week-old puppy almost 3 years ago.
In my humble opinion, Bella was the softest and most adorable puppy in the whole universe! And to prove that she lived up to this title, here are some pictures on her 'gotcha' day.
See what I mean? Isn't this just the cutest face you've ever seen? Bella the ball of fluff grew QUICK, and it wasn't long before she was stealing the hearts of everyone in the neighborhood.
Now just shy of 3 years old, Bella is full grown and still the fluffiest pup around. Hilarious and always keeping us on our toes, we want to share the happiness she brings us with others as well.
Bella tends to be sensitive. Which makes her great as connecting with others! It also means she is overly dramatic... all the time.
After she snuck downstairs and got caught chewing something, we told her 'no.' Then she decided to pout in the corner.
We were on vacation, breakfast wasn't ready 'on time' according to her standards so she was getting in the way in the kitchen. We told her to go lay down and she got very offended. Even when her breakfast was ready, to prove her point she wouldn't come eat for a while.
Case closed.
Sometimes all you can do is laugh and roll your eyes at her haha. We decided to use this extra sensitivity for good by making her a certified therapy dog. Bella is great with kids, very patient, and just loves to loaf around. Primarily, Bella will focus on improving your kiddo's reading skills. We've noticed that many special needs kids struggle to practice reading. It takes a lot of effort, patience, and they often don't enjoy doing something they aren't immediately good at. Well, who wouldn't want to snuggle up and read books with Bella? In the clinic, we have plans to set up a reading corner where Bella can be integrated into your child's session.
We know your family will love Bella just as much as we do!
Last year Aaron was starting to get sick, but nothing too bad. We assumed he was catching a regular 24hr bug and would be back to normal after a good night's rest. That night Bella laid on him in the picture above. The following day, he was sitting, laying on the couch, or on the ground, she kept sticking her nose right in his ear. Later his ear began hurting and after it didn't get better, we took him to the Dr. where he was diagnosed with an ear infection.
Coincidence? I'll let you decide.
Bella is sweet, emotional, in-tune, and just overflowing with love! We cannot wait for you to meet her. If you are interested in ABA therapy services or even to meet and read to Bella, reach out. We would be happy to welcome you to the Sunshine family!
You can keep up with Bella on instagram and tiktok @readbookswithbella !
It's fall y'all!
Fall is one of my favorite seasons, and I believe we can officially start celebrating everything fall has to offer right after Labor Day. With all the flavors of pumpkin spice and cinnamon, activities and festivals, colors and clothes, what's not to love?
After the heat and humidity of August following a long and sweaty summer, it's hard not to pine after the cool, crisp weather that fall has to offer. At least for me, I find myself counting down the days until I can walk outside without melting! But, with anything in life, good things come to those who wait. Learning patience is a fundamental skill we need to develop as we interact with the people around us.
One occurring behavior I see that a lot of families with young children face is a lack of patience. Many kids struggle to wait. I want it and I want it now is their rule of life! Parents do their best to lovingly teach their kiddos the importance of waiting, however it doesn’t seem to get better over time for our kids with Autism.
That's why for Training Tip Tuesday this week, I decided to talk about teaching patience. Inspiration for this blog post came from Autism Speak's article 'Autism and Teaching Patience' which is linked below.
It talks about how a lot of kids with autism are visual learners, meaning they absorb information best through sight. This applies to teaching patience as well. Usually, we tell our kiddos 'wait, 20 minutes, later', etc. However, these are auditory signals which are harder for our special needs children to understand. By changing the approach we use to teach patience from listening to seeing, we are teaching to our child's needs making it easier for them to grasp the concept.
The article mentions several ways to teach patience visually. Wait cards, calendars, visual timers, and choice boards just a few of the methods that can be adapted to your families' individual needs. If your child lacks patience, or the ability to wait, then this article is for you!
If you have any questions or would like some advice about helping your kiddo learn more patience, please reach out to us! We would love to connect you with a Behavior Analyst. Or, if you have something you would like us to address in a blog post we are here to help!
Another Tuesday another Training Tip! Raise your hand if you've ever told your child they had to finish their vegetables to get a cookie? Or they would lose their toy for throwing a tantrum? But when the rest of the family is having dessert, or your kiddo is finally playing independently its hard to stand strong.
For this week, we wanted to focus on the importance of following through. Many times, we are guilty of making empty threats with the hopes of getting our kiddos to listen. Children, being ever so clever, learn very quickly if you say what you mean and mean what you say. When there is lack of follow through, kids will learn they can continue to test our limits. Sound familiar? These simple but important tips are for you!
#1 No Means No.
When you say no, stick with it! Kids need to learn that our words can be trusted. Sometimes we get into a rut of saying no immediately, regret it and we don't enforce the "no." If this is the case, follow through with the "no " statement for now. Then wait around 20 minutes until you see your kiddo being good and reward them with what they originally asked for. It's a win win!
#2 Wisely Pick Your Battles
Kids are always learning. The way they view the world, and their priorities are different than ours. Children think differently and have important things to them that we don't even think about. It's part of growing up. When your kiddo wants to make choices, let them! Maybe they want to mismatch their clothes or wear boots instead of sneakers. Whatever they are choosing, allow them to make their own choices. It's not worth the battle to force what we want every time, so save those battles for when it is actually important. Our children will learn that we intervene when it's necessary. If we choose a verbal battle, then we need to win it. Not by yelling louder, rather, by showing our kids we are calm and in control. Stick to our words making sure those words are honest.
#3 Mix it Up
Have a fun break, day or night. Just as kids need structure, some days they need a break. Give it to them! Pick a fun day, maybe each week or twice a month, where some of our rules can go on the back burner. Cereal for dinner? Sure! Movie night in mom's room? Yes please! Sleep in the couch cushion fort? Now we are on a roll. You can even call it a fun name like "backwards day" or something silly. Rules are a necessary part of structure and routine, however, give your kiddos a break from their rules every once in a while. Your kids will love it and so will you!
#4 Consequences
When we are upset, we want our kids to know it. We tell them if they don't straighten up, privileges are lost. Often this is occurring during an emotional crisis aka 'tantrum,' and although we are serious, this is never the time for punishment. Kids can't immediately control their emotions once they have escalated. No matter how much we threaten to take things away, they still escalate. It's an unfair advantage on our part. When your child is on this emotional roller coaster and you're losing patience as well, don't try to teach or preach. Don't threaten. Instead, work on calming yourself and your kiddo. Once you're calm, then the necessary consequences can be discussed. Remember, we are the adults. It is our responsibility to teach our children how they should act when they are mature enough to handle it!
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out. We are more than happy to help you with anything your family needs!
It's time! The moment we've all been waiting for...
*cue Jaws theme music*
The clinic is open!!!
Earlier this week, Sunshine ABA Therapy made history when we opened our first clinic in Hinesville Georgia. While there is still a lot to do, we've been hard at work creating a space your family will enjoy. Here are a few photos of the process.
These are just a few pictures, but they definitely don't do it justice. It's just the beginning and we have exciting plans for the clinic and Sunshine ABA Therapy as a whole in the near future. Come see the clinic for yourself! Reach out and we would be more than happy to assist you.
