Home-based Services

This program is designed to teach parents and caregivers techniques to successfully communicate and interact with their child in the home and the community. The training addresses students’ needs in the areas of language/communication, behavior management, adaptive daily living, play and leisure, and social skills. Parent and caregiver training is a supplement to the regular school program. It provides an opportunity to integrate the effective strategies being used at school into the student’s home and community life.

 

Parents and caregivers develop the tools they need to manage challenging situations as they arise. Students become more independent as they improve their real life skills. The programming is based largely on the paradigm of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), a set of principles used to increase or decrease socially significant behaviors and specific skills. Objectives for programming are observable, measurable and data-driven. Parents are active partners and a vital support in helping their child reach their potential.

 

Comprehensive assessments are available in order to determine appropriateness, and duration and intensity of services. Individualized objectives are developed based on the information gathered during the assessment process. A student’s individual preferences, developmental level and age are considered when creating goals.

 

 

 

Language and communication skills are essential for a student’s development and independence. Often a lack of communication skills influences behavior and an individual’s ability to access his or her surroundings effectively. Skills addressed include:

•    Sign language

•    Picture Exchange Communication System

•    Use of augmentative and alternative communication devices

•    Receptive communication

•    Verbal behavior

•    Discrete Trial Teaching

•    Incidental Teaching

 

 

Behavior management systems in home programming are based on an individual student’s behavior. These students often exhibit behaviors which significantly impact their ability to access typical routines and events in the home and community. Systems to address behaviors include:

•    Token economies

•    Reinforcement

•    Behavior reduction procedures

•    Chaining

•    Shaping

•    TEACCH for visual supports

 

 

Adaptive daily living skills are used for the performance of daily activities required for personal and social sufficiency. Skills include:

•    Dressing

•    Toileting

•    Gross motor

•    Fine motor

•    Sensory needs

 

 

Functional play and leisure skills are necessary at all ages in order to decrease the frequency of self-stimulatory behavior and increase opportunities for appropriate interactions with same-age peers. Play and leisure skills include:

•    Independent play

•    Structured play schedules

•    Game play

•    Turn taking

•    Socio-dramatic play

 

 

Social skills evolve and grow as an individual ages; they are necessary for effective communication. Instruction includes:

•    Community outings

•    Structured play dates

•    Video modeling

•    Social thinking curricula

•    Executive functioning strategies

•    Social stories

•    Pragmatic language

 

 

Individuals who hold a master’s degree and are licensed as Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA) provide supervision and parent consultation. Supervisors create home programs and implement staff training. Many teach in graduate programs and facilitate workshops.

 

Therapists providing direct services hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree. Each therapist undergoes training in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and many have additional certifications such as crisis intervention, CPR and first aid. Therapists participate in professional development training in which current research and best practices are discussed to help them stay abreast of current interventions.

 

 

 

 

For additional information contact:

Catherine Fortin, Coordinator of Home-based Services

508-653-6776  ext.16

cfortin@accept.org