Hi

Judt wondering if someone can tell me what the role of an ABA shadow is please? Thanks. Our son has some ABA (at home) and we are introducing a shadow at preschool (and school - 2013)

Thanks

Hi Flower:

We used our ABA therapists extensively when our daughter was in preschool and are now using two of them as school shadows at "big kid school."

At preschool, we used our ABA shadows to help our daughter generalize the things she learned in one-on-one ABA. The shadows would also prompt her on things like appropriate behavior, entering a social situation (like joining in with kids in a game that was already underway) and self care. If she happened to be struggling with something, then the ABA shadow might do some concentrated work in that area (more like a traditional ABA drill).

In the FYOS, we used our ABA shadows first and foremost to ensure that she got off to a smooth start at school. We ended up booking them in for almost full days for the first 2 weeks of kindergarten -- to help her internalize the school rules & routines, help encourage appropriate behavior/management of emotions, that sort of thing.

Now that she is in Year One, our shadows play more of an aide role -- for instance, they come on the two mornings that my daughter has parent-led reading groups, and they are the ones who lead J's group. They help reinforce the behavioral plan, help give her tools for dealing with challenges during the day (like the challenge of having to transition from subject to subject, even if she doesn't want to). Because they are on our payroll and "report" to us, they are our eyes and ears in the classroom. We have had spectacular teachers, and the shadows work very much in concert with them as peers in the support of our daughter.

Honestly, if money weren't an issue, I think MANY kids - not just ones with special needs -- could benefit from having shadows in the class!

DS almost 6 has been doing ABA for quite some time now, just today his therapist did an observation session at kinder and as of next week she will start shadowing him. She will work on skills on the day prior to kinder and assist him with generalising the skills while she is shadowing him. From my understanding, she will help him to use his skills that shes taught at home, and generalise them in the preschool setting. At the moment she is working on social skills, so at kinder she will assist him at play, lunch/snack time etc. I am also hoping to employ her for the first few weeks at school next year, we are hoping that he is funded for an aide, so his aba therapist will be used to train the aide etc.