What skills are taught?
Beginning with basic imitation and matching skills, the child systematically moves through a curriculum to learn to understand and use language and social skills.
I've heard that children should not be rewarded for everything. Is too much reinforcement bad?
It is true that typically developing children are not highly rewarded for every little thing. However, reinforcement is critical when teaching new skills to a child with autism. The IBI program is designed to "thin" the schedule of reinforcement until the child is using the skill in the natural environment with no reinforcement system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Isn't it difficult for a child with autism to work for 3 hours straight?
The Senior Therapist will work with the family to have preferred items or activities available to use as reinforcers to make learning fun for the child during his BDI shift. No one learns when upset and we strive for "no tears" shifts.
We will take small baby steps to teach a child how to sit at a table and pay attention to their staff and the teaching materials. As the child learns that their every effort is rewarded, sessions become more predictable and fun. The child will be given breaks as needed to keep learning at an optimal level throughout the shift, but our goal is to get as much teaching done in three hours as we possibly can.
What if my child does not learn?
Senior Therapists and Clinical Supervisors are trained to analyze data and troubleshoot learning difficulties that are child specific. Additional clinical support will be scheduled in order to ensure that the child makes steady progress.
Do you have enough staff to fill all of the hours my child needs?
If there is enough trained staff in your area, and they are available during the times you desire, you will have a full schedule for your child. Every effort is made to fill open shifts with all children and the hiring process is an on-going process. Although BDI staff turnover is low, there are still situations when a child will have open shifts. Ideally, the easiest shifts to fill are those during a typical work day (between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.); however, early evening and weekend shifts can be successfully filled if staff are available.
To inquire about services for your child, download the interest form and fax or e-mail it to us.
