#aba training online

[datamakesthedifference]

How Can a VB-MAPP App Simplify Data Collection and Analysis?

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) professionals and educators working with individuals on the autism spectrum understand the critical importance of data collection and analysis. One of the most widely used assessment tools in ABA therapy is the Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program (VB-MAPP), which helps assess and track language and social skills development in individuals with autism. While the VB-MAPP is highly effective, manual data collection and analysis can be time-consuming and prone to errors. Fortunately, technology has stepped in to streamline this process with the development of VB-MAPP apps. In this comprehensive guide, we explore how a VB-MAPP app can simplify data collection and analysis, making the lives of ABA professionals and educators easier and more effective.

1. Real-time Data Entry:

VB-MAPP apps allow professionals to input data in real-time. Gone are the days of carrying around paper assessments and jotting down observations manually. With the convenience of a mobile app, therapists and educators can instantly record data during sessions, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.

2. Effortless Organization:

One of the standout features of VB-MAPP apps is their ability to organize data seamlessly. Data points are categorized, labeled, and stored electronically, eliminating the need for bulky binders filled with assessment sheets. This organized approach not only saves physical space but also simplifies data retrieval and review.

3. Instant Progress Tracking:

VB-MAPP apps provide immediate access to progress tracking. Professionals can view data trends, identify areas of improvement or concern, and adjust intervention strategies in real-time. This agility is crucial in tailoring ABA therapy to meet the unique needs of each individual.

4. Automated Analysis:

One of the most significant advantages of VB-MAPP apps is their ability to automate data analysis. These apps employ algorithms that process the collected data, generating graphs, charts, and reports. This automated analysis reduces the risk of human error and allows professionals to focus on interpreting the data rather than crunching numbers.

5. Customizable Reporting:

Every ABA therapy program is unique, and VB-MAPP apps recognize this diversity. Users can customize reports to match specific goals, objectives, and benchmarks. This level of personalization ensures that data analysis aligns with the individual's progress and targets areas requiring further attention.

6. Secure Data Storage:

VB-MAPP apps prioritize data security and confidentiality. Most apps offer secure cloud storage options, safeguarding sensitive information while allowing authorized team members to access the data when needed. This feature enhances collaboration among therapists, educators, and caregivers.

7. Integration Capabilities:

Many VB-MAPP apps offer integration with other software and platforms commonly used in ABA therapy and education. This interoperability streamlines the data collection and analysis process by allowing professionals to work within a familiar digital ecosystem.

8. User-friendly Interface:

VB-MAPP apps are designed with user-friendliness in mind. The interfaces are intuitive, making them accessible to professionals with varying levels of technological expertise. This accessibility ensures that even those less tech-savvy can benefit from these apps.

9. Cost and Time Efficiency:

By automating data collection and analysis, VB-MAPP apps save professionals considerable time and effort. This efficiency translates into cost savings for organizations and allows professionals to allocate more time to direct therapy and interaction with individuals with autism.

10. Continuous Support and Updates:

Developers of VB-MAPP apps are committed to improving their products. This means that users can expect continuous support and updates to enhance functionality, address issues, and adapt to changing needs in the field of ABA therapy and autism education.

In conclusion, VB-MAPP apps have revolutionized the way ABA professionals and educators collect and analyze data. These apps offer real-time data entry, effortless organization, automated analysis, and customizable reporting, all while ensuring data security and user-friendliness. By simplifying data collection and analysis, VB-MAPP apps empower professionals to provide more effective, personalized, and efficient support to individuals on the autism spectrum. As technology continues to advance, the role of VB-MAPP apps in ABA therapy and autism education is set to grow, improving the lives of both professionals and those they serve.

[autball]

Part 5 of a 5 part series about the ways harmful practices are being made to sound more appealing and how to spot the differences between helpful and harmful approaches.

Communication support is a desperately needed thing for so many autistic people and their families. So unlike some of the other things I’ve posted about this week, this is 100% a worthy goal. Unfortunately, many places that claim they can offer it are not delivering. 

In some cases, they simply don’t have the education to properly support communication needs (I’m looking at you, ABA). Other times they do have the proper education (ie Speech Language Pathologists) but they will gatekeep certain methods of communication, either because they believe harmful myths about them or they haven’t been trained in that particular method. Also, not every SLP knows about Gestalt Language Processing, so even an otherwise great therapist could be missing some information.

So here are some questions to ask when trying to figure out if someone is truly capable of offering well-rounded, neuro-affirming communication support:

Are they more concerned with making the client easier to deal with for others, or are they focused on the client’s rights, needs, and wishes? (We’re looking for the second one.)

Do they address the client directly, or do they speak as if the client isn’t even in the room? (We’re looking for the first one.)

Do they see speech and language as a behavioral thing? (Verbal Behavior and PECS are dead giveaways - and we want a NO.) 

Do they understand that an inability to produce speech has no bearing on a person’s ability to think and feel? (YES✅)

Do they only push for speech, see speech as the end goal, or value speech above all other methods of communication? (NO✅)

Do they honor things like echolalia, pointing to objects, and bringing an adult over to something they want as valid communication? (YES✅)

Do they honor things like refusal to participate, crying, and meltdowns as valid communication? (YES✅)

Do they believe that things like pacifiers, AAC, or responding to “non-functional communication” discourages speech/“functional” communication? (NO✅)

Do they know about Gestalt Language Processing and believe it is a thing? (YES✅)

Do they require “pre-requisites” before they will try alternative communication methods? (NO✅)

Do they require the client to earn time on their AAC device or remove the device when they deem it a distraction, essentially taking away their voice? (NO✅)

Do they know who to send you to if they aren’t personally trained in an approach they think would be more helpful? (YES✅)

Obviously, trying to find someone local to you with all the green flags and no red ones is kind of like trying to find a unicorn for most people. But if you have a choice between two or more therapists, you can at least go with the one who has more right answers and be ready to advocate/educate when needed. 

If you literally have only one option available to you and it’s not a good one, you can either be ready to advocate at every turn or just choose not to use their services. Yeah, that’s allowed! Not every autistic person needs speech therapy, and not all communication support has to be directly administered by a professional. You as the parent or caregiver will play a huge role in supporting your person with their communication needs, and luckily there are online resources and virtual trainings that can help you do that.

P.S. What’s the difference between PECS and picture cards, you ask? PECS is a whole ABA-based program that uses a limited set of picture cards and should be avoided for several reasons. Meanwhile, plain old picture cards are something that can be made and used by anyone without any specific program.

P.P.S. Zero debates about the legitimacy of Spelling to Communicate (S2C) or Rapid Prompting Method (RPM) will be entertained (translation - it will be deleted so don’t waste your time).

[hiiragi7]

I can't relate to the way people talk about autism online nowadays, and it feels incredibly isolating.

For example, I am glad that people nowadays can be open and celebrate their special interests, but I never had that and feel disconnected due to it. My special interests meant I was socially isolated growing up and trained through ABA not to speak about them unless asked, and to limit myself even then.

Same with stimming, growing up I always had very large stims and it was punished out of me, and now I have a skin picking disorder and don't know how to reconnect with stimming at all. I'm glad for people who can stim without worrying, but at the same time I don't share the experience and feel a bit odd about it.

The way people talk about autism in general nowadays also just doesn't line up with how I have experienced it, which is okay, I just don't relate to the community because of it. Autism for me meant developmental delays, needing help with basic self-care a lot longer than my peers, various speech disorders, facing discrimination from a very young age for being visibly autistic, growing up in SPED and ABA, not having my IEP followed and having no power to do anything about it, my parents fearing I'd regress in my skills and talking about sending me to a special needs home, learning disability and being unable to keep up with my peers in school, processing issues and being constantly overwhelmed by stimuli, needing to have noise cancelling headphones to manage being in public, having to switch schools because they couldn't support an autistic child, elopement, specialized schedules, autism therapies, and... a lot of shit that just doesn't get talked about in the online autism community, basically.

Which, I feel a lot of that is because most people in the online community are diagnosed late and "level 1"/"high-functioning"/"low supports needs"/whichever term you prefer, which is fine, but I also wish I knew of spaces for autistics which don't have that experience - I'm sure they exist, but I don't know of any and don't know where to look.

There's no point to this post, really, I'm just like... rambling, and maybe even hopeful that someone who reads this can point me in the right direction with where to find experiences like mine, and community. Others like me I can talk to. More space for people with medium and high supports needs. Stuff like that.

[drdemonprince]

hi! so a couple months ago, my workplace (a public library) had an outside organization come in to give staff a training on neurodiversity. at the end of the training, the presenter mentioned that her organization does ABA. looking into this place online, it seems like they have a lot of unhappy clients, including some who say their kids have been abused there. i want to make a stink about this, but i’m worried about being shot down or facing retaliation, especially because i’m fairly new to this job. do you have any advice on how to handle this conversation in a work environment? thank you!!

UGh that is so horrible, I'm sorry you had to deal with that anon. I think you can make a stink about it, but be clear first about what your ask even is. Do you want your department to send out information correcting the misinformation about ABA? Recommending an alternative resource for employees to opt into checking out? Do you want your organization to hire a completely new speaker to do damage control (email me if you want)? Do you just want them to know that this organization is bunk and get them put on some kind of list so that they will never be hired again?

Next, who else can you include in advocating for your desired outcome? Is there a neurodivergent employee group? A union? A general purpose company DEI group? Do you have neurodivergent coworkers or ones you know to have similar political alignments to yours? Talk with them and strategize and see if you can get more people on board and willing to sign a letter or attend a meeting about this.

The last bit of prep work you'll want to do is gather resources that explain why the Autistic community does not support ABA. ASAN is a good place to start, as is Stop the Shock, and you can also mine the citations in my book on the subject for a few sources to link to. You want to be able to present these to leadership while you make your requests, knowing they probably will not read it -- but if they see there's a large volume of information backing you up, and a whole social movement behind it, and multiple angry employees, they are more likely to do something.

Finally, watch your back and have a realistic gauge of the place where you work. Is dissent punished? Will you be mocked or treated like you're the problem for raising this? Do you have a fluffy feel good liberal org that could successfully be guilted into a symbolic gesture in the direction of the right thing? What is this worth to you, and what leverage do you have without having to worry about losing your job? Sometimes neurodivergent people do get fired for speaking up. Hell, sometimes they get fired despite being the heads of their company's diversity ERG. So please, please be careful. You cannot ever trust your boss to do the right thing or care about you, and you cant trust HR either. This is why having the support of multiple employees is crucial. If you work in a library I'd say the odds are better than usual of being heard out, and your resources actually being read by some employees...but tread carefully regardless!

[sailing-ever-west]

ABA companies stop sending me job ads challenge impossible

I get grossed out every time. For those of you who haven't seen these ads here's what I mean:

They basically always only require a high school degree/GED, with the idea that you'll be trained on the job. I can't even be a graphic designer or a content writer without a bachelor's degree but working with highly impressionable kids? Lol you don't need to be educated you just need to listen to ussss the company making money off of themmmm hahaaa

The role of providing treatment is called Behavior Technician. I know this is drawn from other medical positions but the implications are not great because while a different medical technician may be doing things like manipulating equipment and the functions of the human body, what are you doing if your job is to manipulate behavior? How is that something to be treated like a form of engineering?

Reviews online are always sparse, mostly from employees, then parents, and last of all if you look really hard you might find one from an actual autistic person.

"Autism experience through family/friends is a plus!" hey what about autism experience through BEING AUTISTIC

On the last one I looked up, there were reddit reviews from employees and parents saying "RUN," so take that as you will

I think you get the gist. Frick ABA.

[partyoffourplusfur]

I’ve slept so much the past few days it’s unreal. Covid hit me like a train. I’ve had it a few times but never like this. Granted my chronic illness/pain/autoimmune shit is way worse now than it was the first times. (Round 1 I lost hearing though so 🙃) but gosh. Husband being the tea mvp and not being a dick about me sleeping. (He was a turd about my day 3 being awful after day two wasn’t so bad. Chronic illness whatmorecanisay) Forced me to get some much needed rest after working tirelessly since getting two jobs. Upset I lost so many days of work. But this week I get 8 hours of overtime so hopefully that makes up for it in some way.

I work the next 7 days so that won’t be great for me to get full recovery. But I don’t have to work at the clinic this week. So that’s good. Then again maybe I should pick up a day or two. After all it’s just 2 hours a day. Meh.

Got most of Christmas shopping done. What I can afford at least. Hoping to still snag a Lego table if Walmart online stops giving me a hard time. Fingers crossed.

I got nothing for my husband. I really only had two ideas in mind. But bleh. Money. Maybe I’ll just get him a bigger bday present this year.

Dental school reached out to me today to ask if I still wanted to enroll. Which means I need to ask parents if they can still help me like they said they would.

I really didn’t think this term would feel right for me. Timeline wise. Everything just felt so stressful. I’d already be graduated by now if I did the last course term. But now I’m at the cafe and I don’t plan on renewing my Rbt cert at the end of jan. So I’d be done with that and can just do cafe and school on saturdays. 🤷‍♀️ I’d be done before the end of March (which is when my lease is up) maybe I’d put us in a better situation to renew our lease or find something better. Internship would be easy peasy to find being that I’m done with cafe at 2 on weekdays. Hmm now that I’ve written all that out, maybe this is a great time for it. I would miss the cafe though. I’m having a lot of fun there and my stress levels have plummeted.

Trying to read more. Maybe that can be my ~resolution~ easy enough

I have a lot of big feelings about leaving aba. I miss my texas client dearly. I was so proud of the work I did with them. I made a difference. Ya know? I feel like I’ve done nothing the past year here. It’s definitely the bcbas. And the therapists. And the clinic in general. I miss inhome therapy. I’m not sure I’ll go back to aba. It’s just not the same. I just miss my baby bird.

If you made it this far..damn I should buy you a snack or something. Thanks this has been Brianna’s midnight word vomit.

Coming back an hour later to state that I can’t fucking sleep and I’m very annoyed by it. Just laying here with my eyes closed and nothin is happening.

Maybe I’ll go get a snack. Put on some YouTube sleep video in the living room. Of course my husbands slept on the couch the whole time we were sick and now that he’s actually in bed with me I can’t sleep and wanna go to the couch 🙃

[mariacallous]

In 2020, Nazia was working at a data entry office in Hyderabad, but dreamed of being a beautician. Then, on YouTube, she saw a video about Urban Company, a platform similar to the US site TaskRabbit, which promises to connect workers—plumbers, electricians, painters, beauticians, and others—with clients who need their services. Workers who join the platform as beauticians often pay upward of $500 to register and receive a salon equipment kit. For Nazia, it felt like an investment worth taking.

When it launched in 2014, Urban Company was revolutionary for India’s disjointed home services market, providing customers with vetted and trained workers through an easy-to-use interface. Nazia was one of tens of thousands of workers who joined the platform, which grew and grew thanks to consecutive rounds of fundraising from investors including Tiger Global and Prosus Ventures, becoming the largest home services provider in India, valued at almost $3 billion. Then it expanded into the United Arab Emirates and Singapore. In 2023, it launched in the US.

For workers it promised an opportunity to work flexibly, and earn well. In 2020, Fair Work, a research group that studies gig work companies, rated the company the best for workers in India, giving it a score of eight out of 10 on parameters that include fair pay and working conditions. (Uber scored one out of 10).

Nazia got stellar ratings and reviews from customers on the platform—so much so that she was invited to pay $300 to upgrade her account to Prime, which gave her access to better-paying jobs.

“Everything was going great,” she says. “With the money I made, I was able to help my family, buy a two-wheeler, and save money for my wedding.”

Urban Company fostered an identity for itself that was different from other gig work platforms, particularly for women. But since the start of the year, things have gone downhill, fast. Thousands of workers have found themselves arbitrarily dumped from the platform for not meeting new targets that they say have been set unattainably high. Nazia is among them. The platform, it seems, is subject to the same cycle of “enshittification” as its peers, sacrificing the incentives it had offered to get workers onto the platform in order to turn a profit—and abandoning its promises of flexibility in the process.

Urban Company declined to comment.

The first sign of trouble at Urban Company started in 2021, as the pandemic hit the home services business. The company slipped in Fairwork’s rankings, scoring five out of 10. Workers twice held protests demanding lower commissions and safer working conditions. After a media storm, Urban Company published a Medium blog introducing a “12 point program” to “improve partner earnings and livelihood”—which included lowering commissions and introducing an SOS helpline for women’s safety. In an attempt to be more transparent, the company started publishing a partner earnings index, but it also filed lawsuits against four protesters for “illegal and unlawful” actions.

But things got really difficult for Urban Company’s workers in 2023. The platform introduced a new rule stipulating that workers had to maintain an acceptance rate of at least 70 percent, a customer rating of at least 4.7 out of 5, and cancel fewer than four jobs per month. Failure meant being blocked from the app. Nazia managed to keep her ratings above 4.8 until May 2023, when they slipped to 4.69. She was temporarily blocked and put into “retraining”—an online video course followed by 10 bookings that she had to take free of charge in an attempt to boost her rating. Unfortunately, for Nazia, her rating did not budge from 4.69. Since then, she’s been out of work.

“It all happened so quickly,” Nazia says. Now she’s stuck with $2,500 in loans.

I spoke to more than a dozen women like Nazia, all of whom asked for anonymity to protect themselves from retribution and say they were blocked by the platform after failing to meet what they believe were unrealistic expectations.

In Bengaluru, Shabnam—who used a friend’s credit card to pay the $500 joining fee—found that Urban Company started assigning her jobs farther and farther away from home. With rising costs and high commissions, taking these distant trips was “as good as earning nothing,” she says. She turned down the jobs that weren’t economically viable, and soon her response rate—the number of jobs she accepted—dropped to 20 percent. In June, she was dropped from the platform.

Seema, who had worked for Urban Company for five years, had a miscarriage earlier this year. As she was being rushed to the hospital, she didn’t have time to mark in the Urban Company app that she wasn’t able to work that day. Her acceptance rate of bookings fell to 30 percent. She couldn’t get her rate back up to the mandated 80 percent, and she was permanently suspended from the platform. “I went to the office with the doctor’s prescription and everything. They still did not agree to reinstate my account,” Seema says.

In Hyderabad, Sunanda says her account was deactivated earlier this year after a death in the family meant she had to cancel some jobs. She pleaded with a company representative on its helpline and in person—she even submitted the death certificate, but she’s still blocked. “They said they cannot reinstate my account because my rating is not 4.7 or above. I told them my rating is 4.69 and if they give me a chance I will bring it back up, but they refused,” Sunanda, 42, said. “They have given the customers this one weapon: ratings.”

As well as the stick of targets and quotas, Urban Company also offered a carrot for workers: shares in the business.

In 2022, the company announced its Partner Stock Options Program (PSOP), granting shares worth $18 million over the next five to seven years. The following November, they awarded stocks worth approximately $635,000 to 500 partners. But while the PSOPs seemed to be almost guaranteed for workers, the process of accessing them is heavily gamified.

Pratima, an Urban Company beautician, was very excited at the end of 2022 when she realized she’d made it to the top 10 list of workers in her category in Bengaluru. If she continued to stay in the top 10 until April, she was told she’d be granted the company’s stock options that following November. “They call us partners, but don’t treat us like it,” said Pratima, requesting to be referred to under a pseudonym. “I was hoping that if I get a share in the company, maybe then I will be treated like a partner.”

By February, Pratima had completed more than 200 jobs, and she was still in the top 10. Then, a series of low ratings by disgruntled customers pulled down her overall rating, blocking her temporarily and dropping her off the leaderboard. She kept at it, worked back-to-back jobs, and got herself unblocked and back into the rankings. April came around, and she was in the top 10. But then the company seemed to have extended the contest—the leaderboard has kept on counting, but the workers don’t know what’s going on. “It’s like they are making us run a marathon in the name of shares,” she says.

For women who were sold Urban Company’s promises of flexibility and empowerment, the shock of losing their livelihood or being forced to work longer and longer hours has been exacerbated by a sense of betrayal.

“For women especially, a lot of times they have care responsibilities at home, and so there’s hope to find work that’s flexible, that allows them to pick up their kids from school or take junior to the doctor,” says Alexandrea Ravenelle, an author of two books on gig work and a sociology assistant professor at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. “A lot of these platforms are playing off of that need for flexibility because, for many of the workers who are coming to these platforms, an alternative isn’t a white-collar job in a tech office where they can bring the play pen and set the kid up.”

The mismatch between the promise of these platforms and their reality becomes clear when the businesses move from their early growth phase, in which they are able to burn investors’ cash, to one where they have to start to turn a profit.

When two-sided marketplaces that match workers with clients grow, they try to make things as comfortable as possible for workers to create a deep pool of available services. “The shortcut way to do this is to offer incentives to them—be it sellers, drivers, or other gig workers—showing them that this is a lucrative business,” says Rutvik Doshi, a general partner at VC firm Athera Venture Partners.

Companies spend big on marketing as they try to grow as fast as possible (during the 2021–2022 financial year, Urban Company spent close to $30 million on marketing and clocked a loss of over $60 million), working on the assumption that one day the demand for their services will become organic, the suppliers will start making enough money without incentives, and the platform will be able to raise the commissions it takes off its workers.

But when this doesn’t happen, companies desperately rework their models. When they need to curb spending, or when they struggle to raise new funding, marketing is the first thing they cut. Demand drops, creating an oversupply of workers on the platform. “And the excessive supply on the platforms feels the pinch. That’s the typical cycle with a two-sided marketplace,” Doshi says.

On July 10, Urban Company CEO Abhiraj Bahl released a video to the company’s workers explaining the new strict policies. He said that each year, 45 percent of customers use the platform just once and don’t make a second booking, while 15 to 20 percent of workers leave. “And as a result of all of this, Urban Company is still a loss-making company,” he said in the video, part of which has been viewed by WIRED. “So we are losing customers and we are also losing money.”

He blamed the decline in customers on “poor quality service” and “off-platform jobs”—that is, workers making private arrangements with clients and taking their work off Urban Company, something that’s a serious risk to the company’s model. “It’s kind of an existential question: They need the workers and the customers to stay on their platform in order to remain an intermediary,” says Ambika Tandon, a tech and labor researcher at the Center for Internet and Society think tank.

All of this has led the company to push its workers into a mold that essentially has all the downsides of regular employment but few of the benefits. For workers who joined the platform for its flexibility and autonomy, this reality of platform work becomes difficult to reconcile with.

“Urban Company is trying to imagine an ideal worker for this particular model to be someone who is always available, gives their 100 percent, [doesn’t] cancel at all, has no family responsibilities,” Tandon says. “But a lot of these workers are single parents, who have family responsibility and children to take care of. These are not folks who will fit into this model of having a 80 percent, 90 percent acceptance rate.”

In June, WhatsApp groups used by Urban Company workers were flooded with messages about one of their peers, who had reportedly died by suicide after the company deactivated her account—leaving her with no source of income. Several workers I spoke with said that while the news was shocking, none of them knew the victim. “We were vexed,” Seema from Bengaluru says, “But the problem is that all of us are so isolated from each other. The platform doesn’t have any get-togethers, nothing. We all don’t have any relationships, which is a plus point for Urban Company.”

But, like their peers across the platform economy, Urban Company workers are now getting organized. In June and July, hundreds of Urban Company workers took to the streets in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Kolkata. Shabnam was present at one of the protests last month in Bengaluru, demanding that the company reinstate her account. With this, they have joined thousands of Indian gig workers from Uber, Ola, Swiggy, Blinkit and more.

There have been at least half a dozen such protests across different cities in India since the beginning of the year—all of them essentially fighting for the same reasons: better pay and working conditions, a ban on unfair practices, and laws governing gig work that workers can lean on for safety and protection. “It’s not just Urban Company that has been blocking accounts,” said Shaik Salauddin, founder of Telangana Gig and Platform Worker Union. “Ola, Uber, Swiggy, Zomato, Amazon, Flipkart—all aggregator companies are doing this.”

Rikta Krishnaswamy, a coordinator with the All India Gig Workers Union, said that the union has had conversations with the labor departments across different cities, including Delhi and Pune. Another meeting is coming up in Mumbai. “We have raised complaints against these illegal dismissals, and the labor departments in Delhi, Noida, and Gurugram have sent notices to the company for a meeting,” she said. “Let’s see if they actually show up.”

Some of the workers whose accounts were blocked have been able to get it reinstated, provided their rating was not lower than 4.7 and they weren’t blocked for trust and safety issues. But, if the video shared by Bahl is any indication, things are only going to get worse by the end of the year. The company has launched a salon quality improvement program called Project Shakti, under which, by December, the performance metrics are going to get even stricter for beauticians: an acceptance rate greater than 80 percent, no more than three monthly cancellations, and “100 percent orders delivered on UC app only.” The rating threshold will continue to be at a minimum of 4.7.

The new policy is being hammered home. Workers whose accounts have been reinstated and those already active on the platform are being called for a meeting to the Urban Company office in small groups of around 10. Some have to watch Bahl’s video. Then they are presented with new terms and conditions to sign, which include consent for them to be permanently blocked from the platform if they miss their targets.

[asd-social-media-assignment]

"For Whose Benefit?: Evidence, Ethics, and Effectiveness of Autism Interventions" by ASAN

There are a plethora of therapies for autism. However, autistic people are rarely consulted on creating and shaping these therapies. The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) discusses this topic in their paper, "For Whose Benefit?: Evidence, Ethics, and Effectiveness of Autism Interventions." This paper is free to read online, and will be linked below. But first, this post will highlight some of the key points directly from the paper (all language below belongs to ASAN and is not my wording).

Some of ASAN's “Never Acceptables and Red Flag Practices to Avoid":

Deeming a trait or behavior “desirable” or “undesirable” based on whether it is typical of people of a certain age.

Conflating impairments in areas like speech or motor skills with the absence of internal processes and feelings.

Teaching autistic children to assume that their viewpoint or way of being in social situations is wrong.

Social skills training that encourages autistic people to merely “act neurotypical” rather than presenting neutral information for navigating social interactions.

A goal of indistinguishability, or making the autistic person appear “normal” or exactly like their non-autistic peers.

Using basic needs (for example, food, drink, toys, favored objects, breaks, change of activity, attention, special interests) as rewards or withholding as punishments.

Using “exposure therapy,” or teaching autistic people to “tolerate discomfort” in and of itself, as opposed to giving us tools to self-regulate, helping us reduce and control exposure to painful stimuli, or changing our environment to reduce exposure to triggers.

Some of ASAN's "Principles for Research into Autism Therapies and Services":

Therapies and services must be developed and researched with autistic people as part of the core research and development team.

Intervention research should address the autistic person’s experience of the intervention, including their internal experiences and well-being alongside external/visible behaviors and reactions.

Practitioners of an intervention should take criticism of that intervention seriously, especially when that criticism comes from autistic people who have gone through the intervention.

Research into autism services should prioritize developing best practices for working with autistic people who are currently the most poorly served by existing services: non-speaking autistic people and autistic people with intellectual disabilities, especially people in those groups who have co-occurring mental health disabilities or who may struggle with self-injury or aggression.

The creators, practitioners, and professional associations of developmental therapies and other alternatives to ABA should prioritize rigorous, high-quality research of their services.

Autistic Self Advocacy Network. (n.d.). For whose benefit?: Evidence, ethics, and effectiveness of autism interventions. https://autisticadvocacy.org/policy/briefs/intervention-ethics

[preshregimen]

Hello friends ,

It’s a beautiful Day 🤗

It’s my utmost pleasure to myself known to my awesome friends/ followers in this pace.

I’m chibuzor chinemerem precious from Abia state, isuikwato precisely. I reside currently in Aba and a student of university of port harcourt.

Well, I’m a Digital Marketer.I recommend and sell skincare Regimen called FACE SERUM KITS .

My journey on Digital Marketing started last few months when actually introduced by a friend/ online coach #RuthEzebuiro . She at her disposal, she trained and put me through on the online space

This phase at a point in my life was quite challenging but having a passion and of course focus made it easier for me.

By the grace of God, with consistency and interest,Digital Marketing is been paying me off.

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[brightballoons]

The Magic Within: Enchanting Autism Therapies for Progress

Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that presents unique challenges for individuals on the spectrum. While there is no known cure for autism, various therapies and interventions have proven to be transformative in improving the lives of those affected. In this blog, we will embark on an enchanting journey into the world of autism therapies, exploring their profound impact and providing guidance on finding local autism therapy options.

Understanding Autism Therapies

Autism therapies encompass a diverse range of interventions tailored to address the specific needs of individuals on the autism spectrum. These therapies aim to enhance communication skills, foster social interactions, manage sensory sensitivities, and promote overall well-being.

It's important to recognize that each person with autism is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. Therefore, a personalized combination of therapies is often recommended to maximize progress.

Enchanting Autism Therapies for Progress

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy:

ABA therapy is a widely recognized and evidence-based approach that focuses on analyzing and modifying behavior through positive reinforcement. This therapy helps individuals with autism develop essential skills, such as communication, social interaction, and daily living skills. ABA therapy is often provided in a one-on-one setting and can be highly effective in promoting progress.

Speech and Language Therapy:

Speech and language therapy aims to improve communication skills, including spoken language, nonverbal communication, and social communication. Therapists employ various techniques, such as visual supports, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems, and social stories, to support language development.

Occupational Therapy:

Occupational therapy focuses on developing skills necessary for daily living, sensory integration, and enhancing overall independence. Occupational therapists work with individuals on the autism spectrum to address sensory sensitivities, motor skills, self-care routines, and adaptive behaviors. This therapy can help individuals with autism navigate their daily activities more effectively.

Social Skills Training:

Social skills training aims to enhance social interaction and communication abilities in individuals with autism. This therapy focuses on teaching crucial social skills, such as turn-taking, perspective-taking, making eye contact, and understanding social cues. Group sessions, role-playing, and video modeling are often utilized to facilitate social skill development.

Sensory Integration Therapy:

Individuals with autism often experience difficulties with sensory processing, which can lead to sensory sensitivities or sensory-seeking behaviors. Sensory integration therapy helps individuals regulate and process sensory information effectively. Therapists use various techniques, such as sensory activities, therapeutic swings, and brushing techniques, to address sensory challenges and promote self-regulation.

Finding Autism Therapies Near Me

When seeking autism therapies near me, consider the following steps:

Consult with Healthcare Professionals:

Begin by consulting with your child's pediatrician or a developmental pediatrician. They can provide referrals and recommend appropriate therapies based on your child's needs.

Research Local Therapy Centers:

Conduct online research or reach out to your community to identify therapy centers specializing in autism. Look for centers that offer a comprehensive range of therapies and employ experienced professionals trained in working with individuals on the autism spectrum.

Seek Recommendations:

Connect with local support groups, autism organizations, or other parents of children with autism to gather recommendations and insights about available therapies in your area.

Schedule Consultations:

Arrange consultations with potential therapy centers or professionals. During these meetings, discuss your child's needs, goals, and the services offered. Inquire about their experience, treatment approaches, and success stories to ensure compatibility.

Autism therapies possess a transformative magic that can unlock potential and empower individuals on the autism spectrum. Through interventions such as ABA therapy, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, social skills training, and sensory integration therapy, individuals with autism can make significant progress in their communication, social interaction, and overall well-being.

When searching for autism therapies near me, consult with healthcare professionals, research local therapy centers, seek recommendations from support groups or autism organizations, and schedule consultations to find the most suitable options for your child's specific needs. Remember, the right therapy can awaken the magic within and pave the way for a brighter future for individuals with autism. Thanks For Reading!

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Understanding Behavior In Children

Every parent has faced it—the tantrum in the grocery store or the meltdown at bedtime. These challenging behaviours can be frustrating and leave you feeling helpless. But before resorting to punishment, take a step back. The truth is a child's behaviour is a form of communication. Understanding the reasons behind their outbursts can unlock a more effective approach to managing them, such as implementing Behavioural Treatments for Kids.

Moving Beyond The Tantrum: What Your Child Is Trying To Say

When a child throws a tantrum or has a meltdown, it's easy to see it as defiance or manipulation. However, more often than not, these behaviours stem from a place of frustration or unmet needs.

Seeking Attention: Sometimes, a child may resort to negative behaviour simply because it gets a reaction. If positive interactions are scarce, even negative attention can feel better than no attention.

Frustration With Communication: Young children may not have the communication skills to express their needs effectively. Frustration with being misunderstood can lead to tantrums or meltdowns.

Difficulty With Transitions: Changes in routine or adjusting to new situations can overwhelm children. They may express this discomfort through challenging behaviour.

Sensory Overload: Bright lights, loud noises, or crowded spaces can overwhelm some children, leading to meltdowns.

Exploring Behavioral Treatment Options

Understanding the reasons behind your child's behaviour is the first step. The next step is exploring effective strategies to manage these challenges. Here are two common behavioural treatment approaches that can be helpful:

Positive Parenting: This approach reinforces desired behaviours and provides clear expectations. Techniques like positive reinforcement (praise, rewards) and setting consistent routines can create a more predictable and supportive environment for children.

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy: This evidence-based therapy breaks down desired behaviours into smaller, more manageable steps. Through positive reinforcement, children learn desired behaviours and receive rewards for mastering each step. ABA therapy is most effective when implemented by a trained professional.

Empowering Yourself As A Parent

While behavioural therapy can be valuable, consistent and positive parenting strategies are crucial for long-term success. Here are some tips to empower yourself in managing your child's behaviour:

Stay Calm: Children often mirror their parent's emotions. Maintaining a calm and patient demeanour during outbursts can help de-escalate the situation.

Focus On Positive Reinforcement: Catch your child "being good" and offer praise or rewards. Positive reinforcement encourages them to repeat desired behaviours.

Set Clear Expectations And Routines: Establish clear and consistent expectations for behavior at home and in public. Routines help children feel secure and predictable.

Final Thoughts

Understanding your child's behaviour is a journey, not a destination. There will be setbacks along the way, but by focusing on effective communication, positive reinforcement, and seeking support, you can empower your child to develop healthy coping mechanisms and navigate challenging situations more effectively, all under effective behavioural treatments for kids. Explore resources like parenting books, online communities, and support groups for parents facing similar challenges. With a positive approach and a toolbox of strategies, you can help your child build the skills they need to thrive.

[datamakesthedifference]

How to Login In to Your Existing VB-MAPP App Account

To VB MAPP login in to your existing account, you will need the login credentials that you used during the registration process. Here's a general guideline on how to sign in:

Launch the VB-MAPP app: Open the VB MAPP app on your device. Make sure you have it installed and updated to the latest version.

Locate the Sign-In Screen: Once the app is launched, you should see a sign-in screen where you can enter your login information.

Enter your Username/Email: In the appropriate field, enter the username or email address associated with your VB-MAPP app account. Make sure to enter it accurately.

Enter your Password: In the corresponding field, enter your password. Passwords are case-sensitive, so ensure that you enter it correctly.

Tap "Sign In" or Similar: Once you have entered your username/email and password, tap the "Sign In" button or a similar option to proceed.

Wait for Verification: The app will validate your login credentials by connecting to the server. This process may take a few seconds.

Access Your Account: If the login information is correct, you will be redirected to your existing VB-MAPP app account, where you can access your assessments, data, and other features.

Note: If you have forgotten your password, most apps provide a "Forgot Password" or "Reset Password" option that allows you to reset your password by following specific instructions. Look for such an option on the sign-in screen if needed.

Please keep in mind that the steps provided above are general guidelines, and the actual sign-in process may vary slightly depending on the specific VB MAPP app version and platform (iOS, Android, etc.) you are using. If you encounter any issues or require further assistance, it is recommended to consult the app's official documentation or contact their support team for detailed instructions.

[seolawchef]

Choosing the right lawyer for your property dispute is crucial to ensuring your legal rights are effectively represented and protected. Here’s a guide to help you find the right lawyer for your property dispute:

1. Identify the Nature of Your Property Dispute

Property disputes can arise in various contexts, such as:

Boundary disputes: Issues regarding property lines between neighbors.

Title disputes: Conflicts over the rightful ownership of property.

Landlord-tenant disputes: Conflicts between landlords and tenants over lease terms, maintenance, and other rental issues.

Easement disputes: Disagreements over the right to use someone else’s land for a specific purpose.

Real estate transactions: Issues arising from the purchase, sale, or financing of property.

Understanding the specific nature of your dispute will help you find a lawyer with the relevant expertise.

2. Look for a Specialist

Property law is a specialized field, and it’s important to find a lawyer who focuses on property or real estate law. Here are a few steps to find a specialist:

Referrals: Ask for referrals from friends, family, or colleagues who have had similar issues.

Professional associations: Check with local or state bar associations for lists of lawyers who specialize in property law.

Online directories: Use online legal directories like Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, or FindLaw to search for property lawyers in your area.

3. Evaluate Experience and Track Record

Experience in handling property disputes similar to yours is crucial. Look for a lawyer with:

Relevant case experience: Ask about their experience with cases like yours.

Success rate: Inquire about the outcomes of similar cases they have handled.

Years of practice: More years in practice can indicate a deeper understanding of property law.

4. Check Qualifications and Credentials

Ensure the lawyer is qualified and has the proper credentials:

Education: Check their educational background and any specialized training in property law.

Licensing: Verify that they are licensed to practice in your state.

Professional memberships: Membership in professional organizations such as the American Bar Association (ABA) or state-specific property law associations can be a good indicator of their commitment to staying updated in their field.

5. Assess Communication Skills

Effective communication is essential for a good lawyer-client relationship. Consider the following:

Initial consultation: Many lawyers offer a free initial consultation. Use this opportunity to assess their communication style and willingness to listen.

Clarity and transparency: Ensure they can explain complex legal concepts in a way you understand.

Responsiveness: Evaluate their responsiveness to your inquiries and concerns.

6. Review Client Testimonials and Reviews

Client feedback can provide valuable insights into a lawyer’s performance:

Testimonials: Look for testimonials on the lawyer’s website or ask for references.

Online reviews: Check online review sites and legal directories for reviews from previous clients.

7. Discuss Fees and Costs

Understanding the cost structure upfront is essential to avoid surprises:

Fee structure: Ask about their fee structure (hourly rates, flat fees, contingency fees).

Additional costs: Inquire about any additional costs, such as filing fees, expert witness fees, or administrative expenses.

Payment plans: See if they offer payment plans or flexible payment options.

8. Trust Your Instincts

Lastly, trust your instincts when choosing a lawyer. You should feel comfortable and confident in their ability to represent you. A good lawyer-client relationship is built on trust and mutual respect.

Conclusion

Choosing the right lawyer for your property dispute involves identifying the nature of your dispute, finding a specialist, evaluating their experience and qualifications, assessing their communication skills, reviewing client feedback, understanding their fee structure, and trusting your instincts. Taking the time to research and select the right lawyer can significantly impact the outcome of your property dispute.

How to Choose the Right Lawyer for Your Property Dispute

[sal-rivera]

Cybersecurity for Law Firms - What You Should Know

Cybersecurity involves safeguarding computers, servers, mobile devices, electronic systems, networks, and data from harmful attacks. It is also called information technology security or electronic information security.

Attorneys handle a lot of sensitive information each day. For instance, they have access to intellectual property and trade secrets, as well as other sensitive client information. This makes law firms attractive targets for cybercriminals. Clients need the assurance that whatever they share with their lawyers is safe.

To this end, the American Bar Association (ABA), the body overseeing attorneys’ ethical and professional conduct rules, requires every lawyer to take reasonable measures to avoid the unintentional or unauthorized disclosure of, or unauthorized access to, information concerning a client’s representation.

There are various ways a law firm’s sensitive information may fall into the wrong hands. The most common is online attacks by hackers. Another way is human error. For example, a lawyer may lose a smartphone, laptop, or other device containing sensitive information. Additionally, some employees may breach information security policies and share sensitive data with unauthorized people.

Generally speaking, larger firms tend to face higher risks than smaller ones. This is because larger firms handle more data. According to a 2021 ABA study, only 17 percent of law firms with 9 or fewer employees experienced a data breach, while that number rose to 35 percent for firms with 10 to 49 employees and 46 percent for those with 50 to 99 employees.

It is essential for law firms to have effective cybersecurity measures. This is not only a best practice principle, but also an industry requirement. In 2014, the ABA passed a resolution regarding cybersecurity, urging both private and public sector law firms to establish, implement, and uphold suitable cybersecurity programs.

There are several practices and techniques law firms can adopt to address cybersecurity concerns. To begin with, it is vital to have documented technology policies. Every firm is different, but common policies may cover aspects like remote access, Internet usage, social media, and email use. Collectively, these policies serve as fundamental elements for a law firm's comprehensive security program, which should encompass people, processes, and policies.

Regular risk assessments are crucial to uncover vulnerabilities. Discovering weaknesses before a breach occurs allows for proactive prevention. An organization can hire a third-party audit firm to help with security gap identification, creating incident response plans, developing security measures, and training employees on up-to-date cybersecurity measures.

Firms should also use updated cybersecurity tools. These tools’ complexities vary, starting from basic ones like spam filters to sophisticated options such as software-based and hardware-based firewalls. However, selecting the appropriate tools is only the first step. Firms must also enforce strong data encryption and protection measures, such as requiring strong passwords, implementing multi-factor authentication, and encrypting data stored within their systems.

Establishing a system to monitor anomalies in data touchpoints is crucial for detecting compromised accounts or rogue employees. A user and entity behavioral analysis (UEBA) tool employing advanced machine learning can identify unusual activity. For instance, it can alert cybersecurity officials if it detects an increase in data download compared to other times.

Law firms should also regularly check and update employee permissions. Ideally, an organization should consider enforcing the minimum access level possible for every employee. This is equal to granting keys to a person only for those doors they need. Firms should also automate access re-certification and revocation processes. This is especially crucial during employee promotions or resignations. It's advisable to establish a recurring event that re-evaluates all permissions across the company.

Finally, cybersecurity insurance adds a layer of protection for firms facing data breaches, as it compensates for financial impacts like data restoration fees, downtime losses, crisis management, and investigations. Third-party liability insurance is also an option. It covers firms from liability claims arising from data breaches.

[brightestcare]

Disability Support Services

A variety of disability support services are available to help people with disabilities live a full and productive life. These include supported accommodation, respite care, day programs, and employment assistance.

Disability support services are a crucial part of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. These services offer more choice and control for participants.

Personalized care plans

One of the main challenges in providing disability support services is that most disabilities exist on a spectrum. For example, an individual may experience challenges in one area of learning but might have heightened aptitudes in others. A one-size-fits-all approach fails to recognize these differences.

This is why NDIS offers personalised disability support plans that are designed to fulfill participants’ specific needs and goals. Whether they need assistance with daily living or social activities, NDIS can help them access the disability support services that they need.

Additionally, NDIS can also provide specialised disability employment services to help people with disabilities find and maintain jobs. These services can include job search assistance, customised training, and coaching. They can also provide financial support, such as the Disability Living Allowance, which provides income support for people who live with a disability. Similarly, the NDIS can also provide behavioural support services, such as positive behaviour support or Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) therapy.

Access to specialized healthcare

People with disabilities often experience a variety of health challenges that necessitate specialized healthcare. Disability support services facilitate access to these professionals, ensuring individuals with disabilities receive the care they need. These services offer comprehensive aid, from personal grooming to healthcare assistance.

The NDIS offers a range of disability services including specialist disability supports and equipment, home modification, respite care and day programs, and employment assistance. These services are available to Australians with a permanent and significant disability.

Whether you need help with mobility or daily living, you can find the disability services you need from a Melbourne-based provider. These providers are well-known for their dedication to tailoring disability support plans to the needs of each individual. They also have experienced staff who can provide guidance and support. Many of them also provide support groups for families and individuals with disabilities. You can find these groups online or in person. There are many benefits to joining a disability group, including the ability to socialize and develop relationships with other members of the community.

Support for caregivers

Caring for someone with disability can be challenging, especially if you have other responsibilities in your life. Fortunately, disability support services can help you manage your caregiving duties so you can focus on other things. These services can provide assistance with daily activities, such as cooking and cleaning. They can also assist you with managing medical and therapy appointments.

They can also provide advice and information on your rights, entitlements, and supports. They can also refer you to disability-specific community organisations. In addition, they can offer you financial assistance to cover the cost of disability-related expenses. These include the Disability Support Pension (DSP) and the Carer Payment.

The NDIS allows participants to choose how they want their plan to work and who will provide their supports. It also funds advocacy services for people with disability to promote their rights and independence. These agencies are governed by the National Disability Advocacy Program (NDAP). Some examples of these agencies include VALID (Victorian League for Individuals with Disabilities) and Vision Australia.

Enhances quality of life

Disability support services Melbourne enhance the quality of life for clients by helping them pursue their passions and interests. By providing specialised therapies such as music and art therapy, they help individuals enjoy their hobbies while receiving powerful social, psychological, and creative benefits.

These services also help people with disabilities get out of isolation, which can lead to depression and other mental health issues. It is important for these individuals to feel included in society and to be able to interact with their friends and family. Disability support services can help by planning activities that get them out and about in their community.

To access disability support services, you must meet the eligibility requirements set by the NDIA. This includes submitting an access request form and attending a planning meeting to discuss your needs. After that, you can start using the services that are outlined in your plan. These services can include essential home care services & support Melbourne, behavioural supports and specialised therapy.

[blueseraphim]

Hey! This may be weird but I wanted to ask a personal question but I saw you around the ABA tag and wanted to ask about your experience. If this is too personal or Much to answer publicly don’t feel any pressure to answer, my dms are open, or answering this privately is more than enough. Im ND with an undiagnosed learning disability and have suspected for a long time i’m autistic. Last summer I started working as an RBT in small small town midwest america. Last night I wanted to look up more online resources on reddit and was surprised by the amount of hate and loathing I saw about ABA. I’m not here to discredit those experiences that being said it was very surprising since as a queer ND i have never experienced a more accepting and genuinely caring community around me then when I started working with my coworkers. I didn’t think a space like this could exist in my town. As well as the information I was fed during training that many others have papers that contradict.

I’ve seen a lot of claims from peoples personal experiences, and I think ABA has changed a lot in the last few decades. and it is highly dependent on the center and technicians/BCBA’s you get. But because of what I’ve seen from the autistic community online I want to see a wide variety of experiences. Especially as this is an ethical dilemma I take very seriously. Would you be willing to detail what your personal experience with ABA Therapy was?

If you need specific questions prompting or an idea of what I am searching for; how old were you when you started? What did you work on? what was your experience with your technicians? Did you meet others who were in ABA and what was that like if so? Were there things that harmed you? What were the things you feel like helped you? Do you feel manipulated in any way from your experience?

Thank you for taking the time to read this whether or not you respond, I have never been ride or die for this field as a job sinceit can be taxing to work with younger children as my current position does. and that has always made me wary of keeping my job; that being said recently I have been considering working with a focus on older autistic kids as I feel like I could really connect and make a good difference in their lives as someone who can at least partially relate. That being said if there is a different or better job to do that through i’d rather start researching now rather than later and would like to improve my current work as much as I can before/if I decide to jump boat without it threatening my future.

I think I was about 2 and a half when I started. I don't remember a lot from my ABA therapy because I was very little back then. I don't know if I got trauma or not,but I turned out ok in the end! I have bad short term memory so writing stuff down and using a timer helps me remember some stuff. Also yes do more research about ABA and stuff if you want to get a job in this department.

Thanks for asking!