What to Do while Waiting for ABA or Other Services to Start
Just got a diagnosis but you are finding waitlist after waitlist?
With ABA waitlists becoming increasingly longer, many parents are concerned about what they can do now to help their child. They want to know if there are any steps they can take before sessions begin to facilitate a smoother transition. While no two situations are identical, here are some general tips:
Work on transitions or following instructions
If your child is accustomed to using the iPad or watching YouTube from the moment they get home from school until bedtime, it will be beneficial to begin working on transitioning away from the device before sessions start.
Offer choices of activities to do, start small and work up to longer activities, get out of the house so the devices aren’t in front of them
Once sessions start, it can be hard if free access continues when the BT is not there. This will likely lead to behaviors from the child who will associate the BT with the removal of the device
Identify a space in your home where most materials can be stored, or collaborate with the school, daycare, or afterschool program to determine what arrangements need to be made for the BTs to provide sessions there.
If your child is no longer motivated by their toys or has difficulty sharing them with others, consider obtaining activities that can only be used during sessions. If these activities are engaging, your child will look forward to participating with the BT.
Typically, it is good to have a table or main location for a session in your home. This may be in the living room, the child's bedroom, a playroom or other location with a table and chairs, toys, etc where there are limited other distractions
Start assessments with other providers
Do not assume ABA will be able to address every issue you have. Ensure you are also pursuing speech, OT, or other providers as necessary
Gather reports and areas of need
It is very helpful when an ABA assessment starts for you to have any school or other provider reports, as well as a list of specific behaviors or areas you would like to discuss.
Obviously, this can still occur over the assessment process or during services but it can be overwhelming to remember everything in an assessment. Getting a list together before can help limit stress