Aurora Behavior Services Wants to Hear from You
A Message to Local Families and Displaced Clinical Staff
In this blog, we want to talk directly to local parents of children with autism and those clinical staff who had been with one of the several recently shuttered autism service agencies in Chatham County leaving children without services and staff without jobs. We are very pleased and proud that word of mouth has resulted in a number of parents/caregivers of children with autism along with those clinical staff showing interest in services from or employment with Aurora Behavior Services.
Why We’re Sharing This Blog Now
The fact that we’ve been getting some similar questions from different folks via phone, our webpage, and email (info@auroraaba.com), we thought it useful to provide feedback via our biweekly blog to provide answers to some of the more commonly asked questions. We also encourage folks to check out our blog page on the Aurora website since this can help you get to know what we do and how we do it a little bit better. It also may let you identify any additional questions to ask – which we always encourage.
Supporting Children with All Levels of Need, Including Profound Autism
We welcome all children on the autism spectrum from preschool to adolescent to include those identified with ‘profound,’ or more complex, autism. We understand the stressors and challenges present for families/caregivers of children who are identified with ’profound’ autism and promise to provide individualized non-judgmental family and child-centered support to help make a real difference for your child and your family.
Our Commitment to Compassionate, Individualized Care
Aurora Behavior Services accepts children who are more independent and those who will require specific support towards increased independence as related to the presence of more challenging (Interfering) behaviors along with self-care/hygiene, safety considerations and functional communication to learning and behavioral readiness.
Behavior Support That Never Relies on Electronics or Edibles
Our approach is framed by an always least intrusive, child-centered and compassionate model which responds to behavior which interferes with child Success! by prioritizing positive instructional goals with environmental change. And we always work and partner with families/caregivers since authentic change cannot happen without you. Once accepted for services, children will – never – be sent home or have services terminated due to behavioral need.
For those who have asked, it is absolutely a fact that we do not – not ever – use electronics or edibles either as ‘reinforcers’ or to help manage the occurrence of more challenging (Interfering) behaviors. Agencies who too often claim that they have no other choices since one or the other are the ‘only reinforcers the child accepts’ often need more training and/or experience.
We also know that children can become overly attached to not only edibles but, especially, to the use of electronics. This is often connected to ABA agencies who depend on a Discrete Trial Training (DTT) based model. Families/caregivers can also find themselves locked in this same cycle for lack of alternatives. But with careful assessment and getting to know each child and family, alternatives do absolutely exist.
Why We Reject Discrete Trial Training (DTT) and What We Do Instead
With this, we have extensive experience with and will be able to help manage and greatly reduce the excessive control these devices (edibles, too) can hold over so many children and their families which can also sometimes lead to significant behavior events.
As we’ve identified in previous blog entries, Aurora Behavior Services does not use the more often intrusive and overly punitive DTT model. Instead, we focus on natural environment instruction while blending best practices in behavior analysis and instruction. We prioritize an Activity-based model which keeps children moving, interactive and engaged with a focus on those learning and behavioral readiness skills that will increase independence and autonomy towards Success! in homes, the community and school. And we always individualize/differentiate behavioral and instructional planning for each child. Parents will never find the name of other children in their child’s reports which can come from cutting and pasting from one child to another. We write each request for authorization and services one at a time.
Built on Real Educational Experience—and a Real Partnership with Parents
Both the Founder/Clinical Director of Aurora, Amber Furby, BCBA, and Aurora’s Senior Clinical Advisor, Dr Lou Sandler, BCBA – D, have extensive training in education and years of classroom experience which we directly apply to the services we provide. This also means we value and enjoy working with schools and are always ready to assist families/caregivers with school-based contacts.
No One-Size-Fits-All Service Hours—Ever
Aurora Behavior Services will never presumptively demand parents/caregivers agree to 40 hours of services per week. Instead, we recommend service hours based on accepted devices along with our unique, ecological assessment process which includes direct observation and interaction with parent/caregiver interviews and discussion. Service recommendations and hours are justified for each child and always made with specific consideration to identified parent/caregiver variables and resources.
We See the Child, Not the Diagnosis
We know that autism is not a diagnosis – but people – and we are devoted to maximizing the Success! of every child and every family every time. At Aurora, children are active participants rather than respondents through every session and table time is closely monitored. Aurora provides Center and home-based services and our Registered Behavior Technicians/Behavior Technicians receive regular, ongoing support, supervision and training whether in Center or home from members of our Senior Clinical Management Team.
You May Meet Our Senior Clinical Advisor Remotely—Here’s Why That Works
As a quick aside, our Senior Clinical Advisor, Lou Sandler, PhD, BCBA – D makes contact remotely since he does not currently live in Georgia. This may also include 1:1 contact with parents/caregivers. Unlike many online clinicians, however, Dr. Sandler is on staff of Aurora Behavior Services, knows every child we serve and makes regular weekly contacts for both Center and home-based services. With this, he also remains available to our staff and all parents/caregivers whose children we support just as do our on-site Clinical Management team members.
Why Structured Daily Routines Matter—and How We Reinforce Them
Part of prioritizing and helping to generalize learning and behavioral readiness skills is to teach and shape regularly occurring daily routines. To this end, and as one primary example, lunch and snacks are scheduled and children do not have random access to their food during sessions as is true in school and community settings. We also eat as a group whenever possible since mealtimes are both functional and social events.
We Welcome Children with Feeding Challenges
Our focus on such regular and naturally occurring routines also looks to teach and help generalize consistency and Success! across home, school, and community settings. In that we have specific expertise and experience supporting children with specific feeding related issues, we welcome such referrals, parent/caregiver and provider contacts.
Interested in Working with Aurora? Let’s Talk
We are also pleased to have heard from both RBTs and BCBAs now looking for work. As noted, we provide RBTs/BTs regular training, contact, supervision and support to include weekly agency staff meetings to review, hear questions and suggestions, and provide structured training through the Clinical Management Team.
RBTs: Training, Supervision, and Support Are Built Into the Job
For RBTs currently in or planning to attend graduate school towards becoming eligible to sit for the BCBA exam, Aurora has the capacity to provide BCBA supervision as part of your employment along with BCBA exam test preparation. If this is of interest, please let us know and we’ll talk.
BCBAs: Grow with a Supportive, Skilled Clinical Team
BCBAs interested in Aurora Behavior Services are also very much encouraged to make contact. With Aurora, you will find an enriched connected clinical environment which provides training, innovative senior clinical support and capacity building that will help advance your professional development and success.
Let’s Connect—We’re Ready to Hear from You
We look forward to hearing from both parents/caregivers of children with autism who are seeking services as well as clinical staff; BCBAs and RBTs back in the market for local employment.