One of my goals is to give parents the tools they need to become true partners with the professionals in their child’s therapy. Ria, a parent, and Kristen, a BCBA, discuss how to achieve a good working parent and professional collaboration to help a child reach their fullest potential. When Ria’s son was diagnosed with autism, Ria had a background in nursing, so she could bring her medical background in to help her family adapt to her son’s needs. But parents don’t need a medical background to help their child. They only need a BCBA that’s willing to work with them to teach them what they can do to support their child’s progress.
Kristen Colyer is a BCBA and the Director of Children’s Services, and she’s worked with Ria’s son over the last year to help him learn enough words so that he can begin communicating with family members and teachers. The most important question that Kristen asks the parents of her patients is, “What’s the one thing I can help you change?”. She believes that no matter what her goals for a child might be, the family’s culture should inform part of the therapy so that the family can find a way to thrive.
An essential part of any therapy plan is a baseline assessment to help you see where your child really is at. Ria’s son could only say four words when she sat down and carefully counted everything he said. By keeping track of his words, she was able to know which words to work on and be able to see his improvements. Since she has taken my online courses she has the knowledge to continue to build his language at home based on his baseline assessments.
My newest book Turn Autism Around: An Action Guide for Parents of Young Children with Early Signs of Autism was specifically written to help parents like Ria so that they can see how they can help their child while they wait for a diagnosis or services, or so that they can work hand-in-hand with professionals to enhance the therapy services their child already receives.
Today’s Guests
Ria is a registered nurse and the mother of 3 children, the youngest of which has autism.
Kristen Colyer, MC, BCBA, LBA is the Director of Children’s Services for Mid-Atlantic Human Service Corporation. Currently she oversees the development and operations of a clinic-based center that provides intensive ABA interventions to early learners with a primary diagnosis of autism. In addition, she consults in a public school system in which she oversaw the development of an ABA/VB program that is run in the schools for children with autism from kindergarten through graduation from high school. She provides continuing consultation and professional development specific to Applied Behavior Analytic strategies and principles. Kristen obtained her Master’s Degree in Special Education and Human Service Management from Western Maryland College in 1993, her BCBA coursework from the University of North Texas in 2011, and is currently working toward her Ph.D. in Applied Behavior Analysis from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Washington D.C. Kristen has worked in the field of human services for over 30 years providing support for individuals with disabilities in many different capacities. She has worked with adults and children in school, residential, and vocational settings. Most recently her focus has been with children with autism from birth to 21.
You’ll Learn
Resources
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