Workshops and Training News
 
Workshops added:

ABA-VB Workshops feature hands on, small group instruction for putting theory into action. Call now to reserve your seat. Led by certified behavior analyst qualified, experienced and knowledgeable practitioners of ABA-VB working full time as consultants to school districts. They will engage you and coach you through the HOW, specifically to work with a student on pairing with reinforcement, manding, tacting, etc. as outlined in the ABLLS-R.

Welcome!
This site is dedicated to families of children throughout the world struggling daily, to do the best they can, with what they have, where they are. We wish to acknowledge the courage of all the kids out there who do their best, on a daily basis, carrying baggage we can never fully understand, in the form of a syndrome called Autism. The Verbal Behavior Institute (VBI) was created by working with some of the best and the brightest in the field of Verbal Behavior method of Applied Behavior Analysis.  more


"LET THE BUYER BEWARE"

We respectfully suggest based on our experience that IF YOU ARE AN EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATOR your district (New Jersey, NYC Metro) is best served by making one of two unpopular choices about starting an ABA-VB program:

One serious choice is DO NOT START an ABA-VB program (Applied Behavior Analysis - Verbal Behavior) unless you are absolutely certain about the background of whom you are using to develop your program. {Consult with the special ed attorneys for several of the larger school districts in New Jersey, you will find out whom you should and should not use.}

Or, the more time consuming and likely more reasonable path... Spend a Great Deal of Time...in performing "due diligence" make sure you understand IN DEPTH the qualifications of your consultant (read: supervised experience from a known instructor who will verify training for the person seeking to consult with your program). Many districts trying to do "the right thing" without due diligence on who their consultants are, end up in litigation despite their good intention.

For Clarity - We believe Applied Behavior Analysis is an essential component of any program for children with Autism or disabilities who need to develop functional communication. (We invite skeptics to review the US Surgeon General's web site
www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/chapter3/sec6.html

Unfortunately, we make the above recommendation as we are painfully aware there is currently a BETRAYAL of the Public Trust by individuals unwilling, perhaps unable and certainly not concerned about the wreckage of broken promises, unethical practice, shattered families and unmet goals their poor quality programs are leaving behind. Beware of a new tactic in 2007. Those same individuals hiding behind larger education firms. Drilldown, get the names and specific educational supervised experience of any person who will be with your children! Do your homework BEFORE you hire a consultant. You owe it to your students, and families to preserve this technology through your diligence.

We invite inquiry and can provide several recent references from our work in the field.

Terence Blackwell, Jr. BCBA, SAS, CAS
Parent - Advocate
Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Licensed School Principal