Applied Behavior/Applied Verbal Analysis

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-16-2006
Applied Behavior/Applied Verbal Analysis
2
Tue, 03-28-2006 - 1:10pm

Hi-

DD, age 3, (PDD/NOS) is being considered for an intensive AVB program (5 days a week, 1:1 teaching, incl 8 weeks in summer) and I am trying to get feedback on other children's experiences. She has been in pre-k this school year in a mixed multiple intensive needs classroom and while she is doing very well, she isn't making the verbal progress we think she is capable of. She is the bossiest, MOST opinionated, non-speaking little girl on the planet! - lol! Her current class is ABA based, but our country phased out the ABA structure a few years ago so everyone, including the teachers are very excited about this new program. Because of the intensity, it will only be open to 20 students initially, but DD's teachers seem to think she will definitely be selected. The cynical side of me thinks that her being selected may be a good thing because chances are they are going to select kids with the greatest needs, but also they greatest chance of success, because as we all know, if the program isn't "successful", it won't receive funding etc....

I've read some stuff on-line and it sounds like a great program, but I'd like some real people (isn't that funny!), okay real on-line people feedback.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 03-28-2006 - 10:36pm

Can't speak to AVB specifically but free 8 weeks of intensive intervention? I would go for it. What can you lose? The National Academy of Science wrote that early intensive intervention 25 hours per week was the most beneficial and they really didn't see a significant difference between the different types of interventions.

I think what makes the biggest difference is 1) how a child learns and 2) the quality of the staff implementing it. If you know the staff and are comfortable totally go for it. If you don't know them, give it a try. Keep an eye on it and if it seems to be going badly then pull her out.

Honest it sounds like a fabulous opportunity to gain some skills over the summer. She may lose the majority of her summer and you would have to plan any family vacations around it or nix them for this summer but if she makes progress that may be worth it.

Renee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-16-2006
Wed, 03-29-2006 - 7:21am

thanks for your feedback. Actually its an all year program and its all free through Early inervention, which is why i am so excited... i am not sure what her school schedule will be yet, besides the 5 days a week. she currently goes to school M/T/th 7 F - 9:20-1:25, and on wednesdays9"20-11:20. this summer she will be at school for 4 weeks.

i swear, when we bought our house a few days before she was born 3 years ago, I never imagined that me falling in love with this particular house would be of so much benefit to my kids.........