I really have to address this issue.

Some will say at times:
But I just paid $125 for an hour to the OT or I just paid $300 for an hour with a DAN Doctor and $500 for nutritional supplements or I just paid $100 for an hour session with a Speech Therapist etc etc

Others have said:
I just paid the plumber $325 for a part and 30 minutes labor or I just paid $225 to the mechanic for a tune up on my car etc etc

In order to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, it takes ALOT of WORK and ALOT of money. Hours upon hours of schooling, hours upon hours of studying, hours upon hours of work experience and supervision. Then lots of money to pay for our graduate level schooling and further education. Money is needed to obtain then maintain our certification.

Next, it takes hours upon hours to advertise to get clients, hours upon hours to develop and get contracts, hours upon hours to network, hours upon hours to coordinate services, hours upon hours reading new books and current research, hours upon hours in just planning through a behavior assessment, a program and/or behavior intervention/plan etc etc.

Psychologists, Psychiatrists. Speech Therapists, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists etc, including the Plumber and Auto Mechanic, they all charge their fees, they all have to make a living. Thus Behavior Analysts have to make a living too.

For all of the ABA students that I supervise as they work towards their BCBA and the BCaBAs, I make it mandatory that they purchase a subscription to JABA. In fact, I strongly believe that all Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA) and Assistant Behavior Analysts (BCaBA) should have JABA in their personal libraries.

Though is JABA for everyone ???

One may think that the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis is only just about Autism research studies. Actually if you really think that then you are wrong.

Recently, I was at a lecture being presented by a psychologist on behavior interventions and I brought some reading materials with me. In between the breaks, I was actually reading up on the latest published issue by JABA for Fall 2009. A person sitting next to me noticed that I was perusing this journal and asked what it was. So I just said to them- take it and read it for yourself.

The subjects focused on in this particular issue varied broadly

 - Gambling           – typical developing children interventions

- customer service           - flight training

- preventing back injuries training      -  basketball success shots

- job skills              – teaching foreign language vocabulary

- placement of consumer products         - etc  etc ……

I smiled as I observed the intrigued person scanning my current copy of JABA. They commented to me that they thought ABA was just about Autism and that this type of journal would be boring. I said NOPE, ABA is applicable to Autism and numerous other things, even including assessing the group behavior of this audience for this lecture.

They were quite interested in the Journal and discussed our field of Appled Behavior Analysis further with me – so I made the sales pitch and gave them info on how to order JABA.

So here I am making a sales pitch to all readers of this blog.

Main Info page
http://seab.envmed.rochester.edu/jaba/index.html

Subscription info page
http://seab.envmed.rochester.edu/jaba/subscriptions.html

Personally, I really think that the JABA editors and contributors made a very smart decision a few years back to include a wider variety of ABA related studies. Overall, that decision has made this journal more interesting and useful which could  and probably already has expanded its audience of readers.

Lately I have been intertwining with people who presented themselves as good people. I always wait and see since I know that people are not always who they present themselves to be.

Recently I had something happen where an acquaintance of mine turned out to be a very dishonest person. Did I see warning signs? Yes, from time to time- thus I did not give any of my trust to them. It still saddens me since this person does not realize how in the long run it shall impact their life.

People of today just disappoint me at how it is the ” ME’ world. It gets disheartening at times.

Though perhaps there was one ray of hope- somebody actually sent me a card to cheer me up with the most recent events that I have encountered. I say THANK YOU to that person for being so thoughtful and genuine.

Last June Phoebe did a good deed, she raised $3,736 that expanded to over $33,000 to feed poor families in San Francisco.

After seeing a man begging for food while her parents’ car drove her to preschool, this 5 year old girl was inspired to help feed the needy. She decided to do a community service project and mandated it for all the students in her school.

She originally came up with a $1,000 goal. Her teacher Kathleen Albert thought that was great but cautioned it was too ambitious. Phoebe remained determined anyway to help those in need.

Her project spurred on other agencies to do matching donations for her good cause.

End result from one good deed initiated by Phoebe?

$33,624 worth of food — or 17,971 meals — for the city’s hungry.

Her teacher, Kathleen Albert said, “I think it is very important to teach children to give back to the community. I see so many adults who walk around and have no idea of that. It doesn’t matter your wealth, you can still give back. It teaches kids that small donations can add up to big donations.”

Source: http://www.gnn.com/article/preschooler-feeds-nearly-18000-with-cans/592963?icid=main|htmlws-main|dl5|link4|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gnn.com%2Farticle%2Fpreschooler-feeds-nearly-18000-with-cans%2F592963

I say, IMPRESSIVE and may God Bless this child for her good deeds. Phoebe is a very good kid.

Good deeds help others, it also helps the one who does the good deed. By doing good deeds, it positively shapes one’s character. Good deeds shape future behaviors.

So think about it parents-

What good deeds has your child done lately????

Note: Food banks are in greater need of food and cash donations. Those needing food have risen due to the poor economy. Please do a good deed today and donate to your local food bank or food pantry.

You can also check out www.feedingamerica.org

New Jersey Becomes the 14th State to Pass Autism Insurance Reform

NEW YORK, NY (June 25, 2009) – Autism Speaks today joined New Jersey families and other autism advocacy organizations in applauding the state’s legislature for passing the autism insurance reform bill, S. 1651/A. 2238, which requires insurance companies to provide coverage of evidence-based, medically necessary autism therapies ( and other developmental disabilities) . The bill now heads to Governor Jon Corzine’s desk for signature into law.

The New Jersey bill requires insurers to cover up to $36,000 annually for a child with autism that is 21 years of age or younger. Coverage includes Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, which is recognized as an effective, evidence-based treatment for children with autism.

In many states, insurers explicitly exclude coverage of these therapies from policies, which places a significant financial burden on families seeking to provide their children with necessary services. Thirteen other states – Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Montana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Texas – have passed similar autism insurance reform bills. Nearly thirty states had bills introduced in their legislatures this year.

“With the passage of this legislation, New Jersey joins the ranks of states that have recognized the unfair and unreasonable burden being imposed on families of children with autism,” said Elizabeth Emken, Autism Speaks vice president of government relations. “Autism insurance reform has gained significant national momentum.”

Source: www.autismvotes.org

A2238 – Requires health benefits coverage for certain therapies for the treatment of autism and other developmental disabilities. *
Passed both Houses
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bills/BillView.asp?BillNumber=A2238

My thoughts on this ?
I think it is GREAT news for children and their families with disabilities.

It shall be an interesting process to see how all of this shall be implemented and monitored.

I did my part and contacted my NJ legislative representatives as a BCBA to pass this bill. Though I am concerned about those who are adults with disabilities, they also need behavior analysis supports too.

It is exciting that the families will have many therapeutic avenues that can accessed. Especially since many parents with children who have disabilities need training and coaching. Yes, parents can implement ABA programs and behavior interventions at home  and in the community as long as they have an experienced  Board Certified Behavior Analyst ( BCBA) that is a very good one working with them.

Susan Boyle, the internet and Britain’s Got Talent 2009 sensation. I was sad to see that she did not win 1st place. In my opinion, she deserved to win. Instead, she placed second.

It was interesting to watch all the fascination with Susan’s talent and her as a person. Though towards the finale of the show, I think that the media did a disservice to her by reporting negative things. After all, she is only human you know.

Even more so, there was a major media frenzy over her exhaustion and temporary breakdown as a result of the loss at talent show and over exposure. All I kept thinking to myself was this, my gosh how hard it must had been on Susan to perform under all that pressure and scrutiny. She did well despite what tried to work against her negatively.

So what has been going on with Susan Boyle now? Where are the major stories about her on the media gossip channels? Perhaps her story is not as juicy anymore? The media attention has suddenly decreased.

Well, I am happy to report that Susan Boyle is doing just fine. Actually she is doing very well. I was quite impressed and happy for Susan when I came across her latest performance on the Britain’s Got Talent Tour.

Here’s Susan!!!

Why have I kept following her story? I can assure you that it is not because of wanting the next  juicy gossip tidbits or what the shallow media was going to attack her on next.  I personally kept following Susan Boyle’s story because of her great talent and the good person she is. Despite all the critics, Susan herself has chosen to be herself and has triumphed!

As mentioned in a previous blog entry, beauty is only skin deep. Susan Boyle is a real role model to admire. Her strength, tenacity and willingness to continue on to share her singing gift with us is truly special and uplifting. Susan Boyle is a deeper beauty.

As a Behavior Analyst, I observe and work in various settings. Recently I came acrossed comments on another Autism related blog that proclaimed Applied Behavior Analysis just makes kids into robots due to its overly high structured protocols and interventions!

Whenever I read these types of comments, I think to myself- ABA is not just about highly structured interventions with massive discrete trials that rewards with M&Ms.

Yes, I have to be honest, I do come across some ABA programs that are too highly structured that lack fading procedures and Natural Environment Teaching. Yes, I do come across behavioral psychologists who joke about the ABA usage of primary reinforcers like M&Ms.

However, my response is usually this- A truly experienced Behavior Analyst will know what is necessary for each individual, group, situation or setting and will apply ABA principles accordingly.

I recently did a school observation of a child with Autism who is mainstreamed with typical developing children. It has been very nice to witness how this child has grown over the past few years being in regular school with some added therapeutic supports.

Does Natural Environment Teaching occur in the regular school system? Absolutely! This child has benefited from it. Though being the Behavior Analyst consultant, I did have to add some more structure and intervention. I advised on how to balance the teaching environment.

Thus, I have seen both sides, settings that were mainly Natural Environment Teaching that needed more sstructure and discrete trial additions to overly structured programs that needed to become more flexible and natural.

Is there an easy answer to all of this? NO.

It all DEPENDS upon many factors that have to be assessed and evaluated.

Here she is again, Susan Boyle, singing ‘Memory’ from the Broadway Show CATS

I love this info about Susan- ” Boyle, who lives alone with her cat Pebbles in one of Scotland’s poorest regions, said before Sunday’s performance that she wouldn’t transform her appearance. “I just want people to see me for who I am, and do my best at singing the song, that’s what I am focusing on,” she said.”

This says alot, she has great character.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090524/ap_en_tv/eu_britain_singing_sensation

I hope Susan Boyle WINS Britain’s Got Talent!

It’s Official- May 10 ,2009

Joan Rivers is the 2009 Celebrity Apprentice

Wise choice Mr Trump.

Do the right thing, make donations to the charities that the Celebrities Played For:

Joan River’s Charity -  www.godslovewedeliver.org

Annie Duke’s Charity – www.refugeesinternational.org

Yes, yes, I am still watching the Celebrity Apprentice. The group this season has been interesting.

I had figured that the strongest players would be Clint, Joan and Annie. I am not major fans of any of them, though Joan Rivers impressed me. I was not impressed by her daughter Melissa who went explosive at the end when she was fired. FYI – The Celebrity Apprentice is just a game, so get with the program.

I am glad that I’ve been able to see another side of Joan Rivers. She is a lot more than just a comedian. For her to keep up her energy and smarts with all of the tasks, survive the boardroom, put up with Annie Duke, do battle with the other star contestants, pass the Piers Morgan test , all at the age of 75 years old has been impressive.

Annie Duke has been a very good player. She has succeeded because she is very calculating. Brandy just had NO clue that Annie was playing her.  I am a blonde also and I knew that! Annie is a poker player and a damn good one too. Her skills have been strong throughout this game. Annie does deserve to be in the final two.

However, I want Joan Rivers to win. Joan’s playing ability has been more solid.

The match up for the final episode will be wisdom versus gamer. I’m routing for the wisdom = )