Thoughts from an Independence Facilitator
Thursday 15th February 2018
By Roni Dunning, B.A., M.Sc., BCBA of Blossom ABA
When my student is ready...
I will guide my student, kindly reassuring him from a distance, but he's always taking the lead.
I will give prompts when and only if needed but these are faded as soon as he's ready.
I will generalize his skills into every day life so there's no chance he will ever lose them.
I will teach him in a variety of situations so that he doesn't learn skills in just one setting.
I will teach him functional living skills.
I will teach him to find his materials when he is about to start work and tidy up after.
I will at times let my student make mistakes so he learns how to fix situations and problem solve.
I will observe what the other children are doing independently and teach him these skills as naturally as possible.
I will teach my student to play independently and tidy up his toys.
I will guide him through daily routines until he is capable of following them himself.
I will promote spontaneous behaviour and I'm patient. I wait to hear my student's voice rather than prompt too quickly.
I will model, I wait, I describe things around him so he learns from his experiences. I talk less, I listen to him instead.
I will think about how much I'm helping him and whether that help is needed constantly.
I will think about all the possible ways in which I may be prompting him and fade these prompts. This can be getting a pen for him when it's time to do his work, or putting the chair by the table ready for him to sit there, or giving him his snack ready instead of assisting him in preparing it. This can also be putting the light on as he gets into a room.
I am happy when he can do things himself and when he does not need me.
I am always there for him when he needs me, positively guiding, reinforcing and reassuring him.
I feel really proud of him when he looks at me with a proud look in his eyes after he's achieved something by himself for the first time!
I reinforce him for every step he gives towards achieving independence!!!
EVERY ABA THERAPIST CAN BE AN INDEPENDENCE FACILITATOR!
Learn more about Roni
