Product review – stress relievers

STRESS RELIE VERS!

WE’RE ALL JUST GETTING BY IN THESE UNCERTAIN TIMES. HONESTLY, NONE OF US KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING AT TIMES, SO BREATHE DEEP AND KEEP GOING! THESE PRODUCTS WILL HELP TO EASE THE STRESSFUL MOMENTS.

Make music with a giant piano mat Interacting with music is a sure-fire way to change direction or pace! The Giant Piano mat has 24 coloured touch sensitive keys, with eight instrument sounds, record and playback mode so you can record yourself. Roll on the keys, play with your hands or your feet! RRP $109.00 www.sensoryconnect.com.au

Sweet dreams with Kloudsac Have you experienced the pure bliss that is Kloudsac? Kloudsac will calm, soothe and give your family a sense of security that traditional beanbags cannot. A range of styles that will have you dreaming in no time… sweet dreams!

RRP from $469

www.kloudsac.com.au

BOX IT OUT! The Hart Ultimate Jnr Boxing Set is not only a great workout with many benefits, including cross patterning, it’s also a great stress reliever! The kids range from Hart sport will keep them on their toes, and help keep their anxieties at bay. RRP $59.00 www.hartsport.com.au And mums and dads can get in on the action too with these boxing gloves. Left jab, right hook and uppercut your way through your frustrations! RRP $16.00 www.kmart.com.au

The game pad – loaded with fun activities These personalised Game Pads are the perfect way to break the boredom and soothe the mind: Naughts and Crosses, Hangman, Spelling Games, Maze, Colouring and Word Searches are a just a few in these activity books. RRP from $24.95 www.stuckonyou.com.au

Insight Timer – #1 free app for sleep, anxiety and stress

Insight Timer is a great app that has a load of free mindfulness, meditation and music to choose from. From Coping with Anxiety, Managing Stress and Improve your Sleep as some of the groups, this app is designed for the whole family, including a section for children. insighttimer.com

Compression squishy animals These compression squishy animals are a great tool to calm and ease minds. They look and feel like a stuffed toy on the outside but have a squishy interior. They feel wonderful when squeezed and are fruit scented! RPP $7.50 www.mydiffability.com.au

The Works Kit The complete works kit from Kaiko Fidgets contain their 7 best sellers – a medium bike chain fidget, magic ball, small single loop, small centipede, spikey, cog and caterpillar. RRP $69.95 kaikofidgets.com

What is ABA at Irabina?

Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) has a long history within the autistic community. Since its inception in the 1960s, it has gone through decades of iterations and refinement. ABA looks very different today compared to its inception, and is now a fully-realised, scientific approach to identifying, understanding and affecting a positive change in behaviours.

In an era where social media is rife with ‘pseudoscientific’ solutions and scaremongering, ABA is one of the few (if not only) treatments for autism that has been thoroughly researched, proven and developed on stringent scientific evidence.

I spoke with Rebecca McLinden, a Behaviour Analyst at Irabina, to get a better understanding of what ABA really looks like today, and what makes ABA at Irabina so unique.

First, could you please give a brief introduction to ABA?

Most people know it as a therapeutic intervention for individuals with autism, but ABA is first and foremost a branch of science concerned with the application of basic principles of behaviour and learning. When used in therapy, it applies the science of how behaviour works to reallife situations.

What does an ABA session look like?

Each session looks different for every individual, dependent on their age, skill set and interests. A very brief overview would be that we make effort to constantly establish ourselves as a reinforcing person to the individual, whilst simultaneously teaching. In sessions, individuals are encouraged to repeatedly practice new skills, with additional skills added as their repertoire increases. Over time, these skills may be combined to form more complex behaviours, such as: conversations, cooperative play, daily living routines etc.

How is ABA different at Irabina?

I think what makes us different is the knowledge base and experience of our team. We have all been in the field for many years, and have come from quite different backgrounds within the field. This means we are able to create a ‘bespoke’ ABA package for each client, working together to use an approach that best suits them. We also have a dedication to longer hours, with sessions being a minimum of 3 hours and upwards to 7 or 8 a day, allowing us to maximise learning opportunities. Irabina is also a family centred practice. We see parents and caregivers as an essential part of each individual’s team, and so a lot of support is given to them. Finally, we are a multi-disciplinary team here, which is great for collaborating on goals.

Who are the staff members that implement the plans?

Our team is led by masters in the field of behaviour analysis with extensive experience in ABA. Some of them have been in the ABA field for 7-10 years, and in the autism field even longer. Behaviour technicians are typically university graduates, who receive extensive training and practice under the ongoing supervision from the experienced team.

In addition to the experienced behaviour analysts, the team work very closely with other allied health professionals within Irabina to ensure we provide a comprehensive plan for our clients.

Is there only one way to deliver ABA?

No, not at all. ABA refers to a science, or practice of the science – think of it as an umbrella above many different ‘teaching strategies’ that can be implemented to effect behaviour and learning. At Irabina we leverage a variety of teaching tools. This could include Discrete Trial Teaching, Natural Environment Teaching, Incidental Teaching, video modelling, group and 1:1 learning, and even strategies such as Precision Teaching. We don’t stick to one ‘method’ here. At the end of the day, it’s about meeting the needs and goals of that individual and their family. We want to be as flexible as possible to support that.

Is ABA just for young kids?

No, while there is a lot of evidence that ABA when delivered as an Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention (EIBI) has amazing outcomes, that doesn’t mean it should stop there or cannot be applied to school aged children, teens and adults. Everybody’s behaviour works on the same principles; therefore, ABA can be applied to a baby, a child, a teen and even me and you. ABA can be used at any age - plans are personalised to be effective in a way that meets the needs of that individual.

Is ABA only used in autism treatments?

No. ABA is used in a variety of settings – from athletes training for the Olympics to diabetics needing to manage their sugar intake. ABA can help those with acquired brain injuries or dementia, or improve workers productivity and wellbeing in business, and many more situations.

“I don’t think a week goes by where I haven’t cried with pride for our clients.”

ABA is simply about applying a behavioural science to a population so we can understand certain behaviours to bring about socially significant change, which means to effect behaviour in ways that is important to the person and those around them.

What are some of the goals you’ve seen individuals achieve with ABA?

It’s funny, but when most people think of achieving goals they picture these big outcomes, like flying to the moon. But for so many of our clients and their families it’s the small things that make all the difference. Being able to tolerate a haircut or go to the optometrist. Walking safely next to their parent or carer. Asking for a hug. Learning to go to the toilet. Being independent in school or able to carry out their own food shopping. These ‘every day’ goals can make all the difference for an individual with autism and their caregivers.

As behaviour analysts it’s our responsibility to identify these goals and then break them down into the tiny steps needed to get there. And trust me, we’ll be cheering (and crying) just as hard as the parents at every sign of success. I don’t think a week goes by where I haven’t cried with pride for our clients.

Irabina Autism Services has grown to become Australia’s largest paediatric Autism-specific service provider, developing its ABA program with the needs and goals of its children and their families at its heart.

Achieve everyday goals with ABA at Irabina

Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is the behavioural intervention model of choice for children with autism. It’s a unique and wellestablished clinical discipline, supported by scientific evidence.

At Irabina our ABA-based programs can help to improve communication skills; develop positive learning behaviours; decrease problem behaviours that interfere with daily-life and learning; and improve attention, social skills, memory and academics.

World’s best-practice ABA model

We incorporate knowledge from over 50 years of research, compiled in hundreds of peer-reviewed papers.

Wrap-around support

Combine ABA therapies with other services and supports for children with autism. You won’t need to go anywhere else.

Family-centric approach

We work with families to build the knowledge, understanding and skills to help their child learn, interact and develop.

Sessions available now

Skip the waitlist. We have Behaviour Analysts and Technicians ready to start taking appointments today.

Attend sessions in-person or online with Telehealth

From 26 May 2020 we have returned to providing in-person services at our centres in Bayswater, Pakenham and Bundoora.

However our ABA programs are still available via Telehealth should you need to remain isolated, or if you are unable to travel to our centres.With Telehealth, sessions are run online using your phone, tablet or PC. Learn more at www.irabina.com/telehealth

MAKING PHYSICAL THERAPY FUN MATE

Book a Free No Obligation Chat

• Low Cost and Low Risk with NDIS • Motivates achievement of ALL movement goals • Use in clinic, at home, anywhere, anytime • Remote monitoring by clinicians

www.lusiorehab.com