And so it begins....

ABA process is in the works.  Below is some info on what exactly this is, but in short, a team will come to the house for observation and help strategize to reduce problematic behavior.  Many of you who know 'Milo personally may say, he's well behaved and well mannered.  I do not disagree, when we are out he does very well.  His social skills have improved so much and his interaction with people is great.  Other than making direct eye contact, he does well holding a conversation now.  But at home when there are things that he is struggling with or just challenging authority (as all kids do at times) it can lead to meltdowns, excitability, uncontrollable laughter or lack of focus.  As a parent, it can fell like YOUR under the microscope.  YOUR parenting skills are not up to par.  YOU need to learn how to control you kids from outsiders who don't even know you.  But it really isn't' about the parents, so you have to really not take it personally.  Trust me, I know I'm a good mom.  And part of being a good parent is knowing when to be vulnerable and allowing others to help.  Both my kids are respectful, polite, and well behaved, this I know.  This is not a decision I made lightly, there is a lot of commitment in this.   I have struggled for the last two years wondering if this is the right thing.  At this time, I feel it is. 

ABA RESOURCES: WHAT IS ABA?

What is ABA TherapyBehavior Analysis is the scientific study of behavior. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the application of the principles of learning and motivation from Behavior Analysis, and the procedures and technology derived from those principles, to the solution of problems of social significance. Many decades of research have validated treatments based on ABA.

The Report of the MADSEC Autism Task Force (2000) provides a succinct description, put together by an independent body of experts:

Over the past 40 years, several thousand published research studies have documented the effectiveness of ABA across a wide range of:

    populations (children and adults with mental illness, developmental disabilities and learning disorders)
    interventionists (parents, teachers and staff)
    settings (schools, homes, institutions, group homes, hospitals and business offices), and
    behaviors (language; social, academic, leisure and functional life skills; aggression, selfinjury, oppositional and stereotyped behaviors)

Applied behavior analysis is the process of systematically applying interventions based upon the principles of learning theory to improve socially significant behaviors to a meaningful degree, and to demonstrate that the interventions employed are responsible for the improvement in behavior (Baer, Wolf & Risley, 1968; Sulzer-Azaroff & Mayer, 1991). **resource: CARD website**