Let the record state that BAD ABA therapy for a child with autism IS WORSE than no ABA therapy.

When I tell people we're in the public school system, we sometimes get these "Looks"...like how could you choose public school for a kid with autism who needs so much?

Well, I guess it's time to share about our experience in a PRIVATE school for autism. Let's see, where do I start? Do I start with the fact that the school he entered did not even do their own evaluation of his abilities? (No ABBLS, no formal test, nothing-what arrogance!, what cheapness! What sloth!) Do I tell you that they charged $75 an hour, claiming a 1-2 adult-child ratio that never happened? Do I tell you that they used an old-fashioned style of Lovaas ABA that made my kid 1. temporarily lose his personality 2. lose the spontaneous language he had (data chart to show this, want a copy?) 3. Have severe diahrrea for 40 days out of 9 months because they told us the lunches (of the 7 kids in the class) were refrigerated daily in the morning when they were not? (Monday nurse reports at 1:00 to show you...is that enough time to catch it from a classmate?)

Or how about walking up behind a therapist who did not know you were there and who said sternly your your child 3 times "Look at me"....then you see your child whimper, and this assistant jerk looks at another therapist and says, "Well, at least I got some eye contact out of him...."

When I look at their "data sheets", I want to cry...he learned nothing....during the time he was there, he learned to answer the questions, "What is your name?" and "How old are you?"...guess who taught him these? ME, the mom! They promised they would potty-train him, and didn't even start to try. His pretend play skills basically disappeared, and he developed scab marks around his knees from biting himself to escape the TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE GOALS OF numbers, letters, and colors that they chose for a 3 YEAR OLD. Hello, how about teaching him to WANT to communicate...oh NOW you tell me that you don't like DIR-Floortime...then why is it in your add? Wow, you don't have any kids? Hmmm, neither do any of your therapists...

The director favored certain parents...they were the ones with money...the corporate lawyers, the business owners...the rest of us, and our kids....she basically ignored. And she did not want to learn anything new like (HELLO, YOUR METHOD OF ABA SUCKS AND IS ARCHAIC, or HEY, WE DON'T THINK IT'S OK THAT YOUR THERAPISTS SLAM KIDS DOWN IN THEIR CHAIRS TO TEACH THEM TO SIT...AND YOU WONDER HOW THEY END UP UPSTAIRS IN SECLUSION?) The rest of us were left to hope we got a nice therapist, but as we all know, shit rolls downhill, so if the boss is a jerk, she will likely hire in kind, etc.

So those of you out there who think private schools for autism are a better bet for your kid, think again, do more research, find out what type of ABA they espouse, find out if they are open to DIR-Floortime, talk to the director and find out if that person is a jerk. The county schools might not quite have it together, but at least in my county, they are finding people with hearts and minds to move forward using the type of ABA that not only teaches skills, but teaches children with autism that communication is FUN....so where we live, we'll take the county over the private crap any day.

OR you might end up hooking up your pop-up camper, taking your funny, communication-challenged child into your vehicle, and doing the best thing you could possibly do for him: give him all-day communication and experiences that are not repetitive. Give him explanations for the emotions he and you are feeling...pause and wait for the eye contact that will change his life if he can make it a habit...teach him as many words as you can.

and get the heck away from the buttheads!!!!