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What to do for Autism!
My name is Thomas Funiciello, and as well as the president of
Educational Models, I am the director of the
Newmeadow Saratoga School
in Malta, New York. We have one hundred forty five children ages 2-5.
Fifty five have autism spectrum disorder.
Not long ago at a library in Glens Falls, New York about 30 minutes
north of our school, three teachers and I made a presentation on our
program for children with autism. We had publicized it and the response
was excellent. Clearly we have not done this often enough. As an ABA
school we were somewhat surprised at the misunderstanding about applied
behavior analysis among new parents.
Choices are confusing while the numbers in autism proliferate. About
programming there is no doubt in our thinking. Our perspective is based
on a decade of our own experience and several decades of development of
ABA for these children across the country.
With every new approach comes a challenge: ABA is too harsh. ABA makes
children robotic. But ABA is well researched, and the children are
handled with care and love. Universities are training behaviorists
nationwide. State ABA chapters and national conferences study the
studies, and ABA is gaining stature. Our teachers wonder where those
robot-like children are. Though having worked with hundreds, they have
never seen one. Results have been positive for every one and incredible
for many.
So, for the family with a question of what to do, you must learn about
applied behavior analysis. Visit an ABA school if you can. Read about
behavior theory.
ABA requires training and consistency. It is teacher directed and a
different way to learn. It certainly challenges the autism. Most
children respond immediately. For others, in days or short weeks,
learning comes to life. From that point on, by program design, ABA moves
to eliminate the difference between itself and mainstream education.
Learn more. You owe it to your child and yourself.
Sincerely,
Thomas Funiciello, Ed.D. |
