What can
the Help Us Learn training program give me?
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Consistency – All of your worker/therapists
learn the same thing, get the same message, do the same practice exercises,
read the same material, so you get workers who finish the program being
predictably consistent in their knowledge and skill set.
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Reliability – All the right material
and information is covered EVERY TIME, as opposed to the more traditional
‘stamp pad method’ of training. You know this – its when you have
your expensive expert consultant train the initial therapist(s) and that
therapist trains the next therapist, who trains the next therapist... with
the initial information getting weaker and weaker.
The problem with the ‘stamp pad method’
is that the new therapists are so far removed from the original training
that they won’t have a basic understanding of the underlying principles
of ABA, and will be unable to make solid, theory-consistent decisions.
They won’t be able to problem solve because they don’t know the "operating
rules." And, they are likely to learn and repeat the same mistakes that
their ‘trainer’ makes. Messages get distorted just like in the game of
broken telephone.
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Control – You will have more control
over the workers’ learning process, and the assumptions and attitudes that
they are forming.
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Efficient learning - All the information
is covered in a logical, sequential way, building learning and competency
in an efficient, timely format. It’s the best way to get the most information
to stick in the shortest amount of time.
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Cost effectiveness – Consultants
are expensive. At $75 to $100 an hour, it can cost up to $2,500 for three
days of training (not including possible transportation and accommodation
costs), vs. $99 for the Help Us Learn
program. Some people like to use their consultant for the initial team
training, but it can be prohibitive to bring your consultant back every
time you have to train a replacement worker. I like to put my workers through
the training and 3 – 6 weeks of on-line experience before I bring my consultant
in to evaluate them and give developmental feedback.
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Flexibility – The program works
equally well as a facilitated seminar lead by you or a team leader or teacher,
or as a self-paced study course that can be done alone. It can be scheduled
to do all at once, which takes about three days, or spaced out over a longer
period
of time (I like to do mornings as study and afternoons as practical observation
and practice). It doesn’t have to be done ‘on-site’ – workers can take
it home and complete it. You could even ask them to do it on their own
time.
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Reference material – It’s a great
reference resource that each therapist can keep to refer to. (Have them
return it if they leave!)
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Interactive format – The program
is filled with practical exercises, knowledge quizzes, role-plays, observational
exercises, and guided discussions.
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Easy to understand - The program
is written in a style that makes it accessible to all of the people that
you would want to include; grandparents, aunts & uncles, teachers,
friends, camp counselors, etc. Even if these people are not actively teaching
your curriculum, they will be able to contribute to your child’s development
when they understand the most effective way to interact, whether it is
through play, short verbal exchanges, or responding to your child’s verbal
or non-verbal requests.
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