Helping Children Meet Their Full Potential Faster
Payal and Josh Mody are hardworking professionals and parents of a young child named Rina. After dealing with increasing tantrums and rigidity that were both restricting and overwhelming, they decided that they needed to see a specialist. On the recommendation of their family physician, they took her for an evaluation where she was diagnosed with ASD. On the advice of the professional, they have signed her up for in–home therapy through a highly regarded ABA company.
One of the main concerns of family members beginning or considering in-home ABA therapy is the safety of their child. Listed below are some ways to keep your child safe during ABA therapy:
Have a trusted family member present during the therapy sessions. This ensures that the child is treated with care and therapy is appropriately conducted. Additionally, should an emergency or medical situation arise, assistance can be promptly sought.
Remove all dangerous and sharp objects. In general, the home should be a safe haven/sanctuary. The place of therapy should be devoid of any objects that can pose a threat to the child and/or the therapist. This includes any items that can be used as a weapon, exposure to toxic or poisonous substances, gates, and locks. One way to make a home safer is to plastic instead of of metallic or glass items. , lock up any hazardous items.
Arrange the furniture in the therapy room that does not impede or pose any danger to the child/therapist or any third party. More furniture and items placed on all table surfaces can add to unwanted scenarios such as falls, injuries, and so on. Organize the furniture at a distance from shelves or places where the child could climb and face danger.
Keep all tabletops and surfaces clear at all times. Remove all objects from table/surface tops particularly if the child is prone to swiping items off the tables. It is ideal to keep all items stored safely away in shelves/bins or even locked away.
Positive reinforcement is a great way to keep everyone safe and reduce maladaptive behaviors such as tantrums, self-injury, consuming non-food items (known as PICA), and aggression. The reinforcement of good behavior/acts etc with rewards goes a long way in keeping the environment and all in it safe especially the concerned child.
