Autism Speaks

Lisa G. Wagner-Jones Acting Up For Social Change

An ABA Awareness Campaign

Changing the way people think about treatment

Goal of the Organization

At Autism Speaks, our goal is to change the future for all who

struggle with autism spectrum disorders(autismspeaks.org)

Highlights of the Organization

• Leader in Autism Research• Successful fundraisers• Website provides

education/awareness• Successful change in insurance

policy for behavior intervention treatment

The Issue

Although the organization is extremely successful in the area of research, they lack in dissemination. Scientists have discovered that a treatment for autism called applied behavior analysis(ABA) is most effective and should be started as early as possible.

The insurance act will not go into effect until 2014 which means children diagnosed now will not get treatment unless they can afford it.

ABA Treatment is expensive

• Initial workshop to train parents and therapists- $175-$1000 per person

• Schools that specialize in ABA- $16,000-$25,000 per year

• Home program with private therapists-up to $50,000 per year(healingthresholds.com)

What is ABA?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=iyCx-OLzgJw

The Plan

• Launch a campaign to raise ABA awareness

• Target parents, teachers, healthcare professionals, clinicians and school board decision makers

GoalsLong termAll children with Autism will have access to a quality ABA programPublic Schools will recognize that behavioral therapy is the treatment of choice for children on the spectrum and implement it into their special education and inclusive programsIntermediateParents, public schools and pediatric developmental centers will accept training in ABA from our trained professionalsShort termGet parents , educators and school officials to attend an event to explain ABA treatment

Organizational ConsiderationsVolunteers

Parents EducatorsTherapists

Behavior analystE-mail campaignYou tube video

FlyersArt Supplies

Office suppliesFund Raising:

ConcertsArt in the park

Kid friendly dinner party

Constituents, Allies & OpponentsConstituentsParentsABA therapists

AlliesBehavior intervention specialistsABA therapistsParents that have used the treatment for their children

Opponents

School officials

TacticsShow the benefits of ABA by video interviews of parents and children who have used the treatment

Arrange training sessions at schools and child developmental centers

Launch ABA awareness campaign

Get media attention at eventsDemand that school officials will implement principals of ABA into the curriculum

Who will deliver the message?

Trained ABA professionals on the committee can organize seminars, fund raisers and events to get the message to the targets.•Workshops•Art in the Park•Concerts•Kid friendly dinner parties

How will this be done?

Ask for invitations to schools and child developmental centers to provide a workshop on ABA. Include a lecture, presentation and “make & take,” activity. Stress that behavior modification can help classroom management as well.

Make & Take

Teachers love kinesthetic learning, show them how to make a picture schedule that can be used for the entire class or geared to one student.

Art in the Park

Team up with a local park district and provide an event that is child friendly. Send a powerful message of the struggles of Autism by creating a giant puzzle. Each participant can write or draw their own personal struggle on a giant puzzle piece and find the connecting piece to finally assemble one giant puzzle. It will give participants a sense of unity with their peers, they are not alone in their struggles.

In Conclusion

• Send a petition to state legislators and school board officials requesting that ABA become a part of public school curriculum

• Demands need to be made that teachers are trained in ABA in order to teach children with Autism effectively

References• Autism speaks strategic plan for science [Brochure]. (2011). Retrieved October

22, 2011, from http://autismspeaks.org

• Bobo, K. A., Kendall, J., & Max, S. (2010). Part 1 chapter 4. In Organizing for

social change: Midwest Academy manual for activists. Santa Ana, CA: Forum

Press.

• Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2007). Chapter 2. In Applied

behavior analysis. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Merrill-Prentice Hall.

• Finding a path to progress and hope. (n.d.). Home | Autism Speaks. Retrieved

October 25, 2011, from http://autismspeaks.org

• Healing Thresholds Autism Therapy Homepage | Connecting Community and

Science to Heal Autism. (n.d.). Retrieved October 22, 2011, from

http://healingthresholds.com

• Home | Autism Speaks. (n.d.). Retrieved October 21, 2011, from

http://www.autismspeaks.org