Put in a FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) request for all correspondence having to do with the BCBA, including emails. You can also ask for ANY and ALL records kept on your child thru the FERPA. For more info on this, go to www.wrightslaw.com and search FERPA and FOIA.
please see my new post about qualifications of the new aba instructor
thanks
Tzoya,
I wanted to thank you. Last week I wrote our case worker an email formally requesting that the behavior analyst be invited to attend Gabriel's annual IEP meeting in June. I added the part about preventing parental participation if she did not attend the meeting and kept refusing to meet with us.
I didnt get a response email but in the mail today I got a letter confirming that she will be at the meeting.
DH and I are so happy that the district is finally listening to us. Thanks for the advice
I have spken to the director of student support services and he says that it is their district policy for her not to meet with parents. She is also not considered a member of the child study team and will not come to his annual IEP. We did request that she attend but were denied
I have also asked for their written policy but have yet to be given it.
We are not even sure at this time that she actually exists.
We have two psychs who work with our program that have refused to get BCBA on principles.....feel that they are psychologist and shouldn't need to. You don't need to have a BCBA, but it is moving in that direction here in NY>I did know about their not being certifications for advocates. We had a thread about that a few months ago.
It would be nice to be able to speak with the behavior analyst however the district has denied our request to speak with her saying that she only needs to speak with the teacher and not the parents to supervise the program.
That being said, she is the one who helped write the goals and objectives the teacher is working on with Gabriel even though she has never met him or myself and never asked what is important for us to work on.
The district has ignored our previous written requests for the qualifications of the teacher working with Gabriel now so I doubt they will reply if we request for the behaviorist's credentials.
thanks for the advice
Is this true? She supervises all of the districts teachers that provide after school ABA
I thought the district would have to hire a BCBA/BCABA to supervise my son's after school ABA.
Where can i find out what the requirments and qulaifications of a behavior analyst are?
Ugg I am so upset right now
Alison you can go to wrights law and look it up.. i do not have advice since i do not know about this stuff.. Good Luck
I tried and i could not find any information. I called our attorney from NJ protection and advocacy and she is on vacation this week. I put a call into the dept of ed and am waiting for a call back. I also called my advocate at SPAN and am waiting for a call back.
I hate sitting back and waitingYes it is so frustrating to sit back and wait.. Hopefully they will call you back.. Let us know what happens They don't have to hire a BCBA. BCBA's are something new. Not that their expertise hasn't been around for a long time, but the official certification hasn't. Bet you didn't know that spec. ed. advocates have NO CERTIFICATION either. To have a license or certification in a profession, there has to be a body that is willing to keep track of all the requirements and actively certify people. That happened only recently with behavior analysts and it hasn't happen yet for advocates. That said, not being "certified" doesn't mean the person is not "qualified." You can ask to get the behavior analysts credentials in writing. You can be more low key and engage the person in conversation about her background/experience. Knowing how to do a good FBA and create BIP that works is really what counts. ANd you'll only know that after the person starts working with your child.
http://www.bacb.com/cues/frame_about.html
This website is the link for NJ BCBA AND BC, ABA'S. WWW.BACB.COM IS A NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION WHERE EVERYONE WHO IS BOARD CERTIFIED IS REGISTERED, BY STATE.
More great news!!!
Today I got this email:
Alison,
I left you a voice message today as well. Ms. B has resigned as home services provider for Gabriel effective immediately. The director has secured a new provider. Miss H.is a school district employee who has provided discrete trial in the home through Bancroft and another local school district. Ms. H is scheduled to begin services tomorrow Tues. 5/22. The district behavior analyst will continue to provide consultation to Ms. H.
Additionally, the behavior analyst is Miss M and you may contact her directly at, (xxx-xxx-xxxx.
HOOORRRAYYY the district finally got the message about the lack of consistency from constant cancellations and no supervision. Although I will miss his teacher because she was caught in the middle of all this I know Gabriel will benefit from the change.
Thanks everyone for all of the advice
Danielle,
How did the IEP go on Friday? Were you at the COSAC convention in AC? We went friday and saturday. So informitive.
It went ok Alison,, We didn't get the full day we still are 2 1/2 hours each day.. he will be put in a intergarted class in spet. 16 kids 8 with special needs 8 regualr kids.. He will get the summer program 2 hours and that is until august 10 he will get the speech and ot and pt pullout so at least i am happy for that.. No we did not go to ac i could not get away this weekend had 4 birthday parties crazy crazy weekend glad to hear you had a nice time.. Talk soon