Common Questions from Families about Our Services

Common Questions from Families about Our Services

We are the agency for you if you are interested in:

  • utilizing treatment strategies that are scientifically supported
  • working with professionals who have been providing effective ABA treatment since the 1970’s with individuals with autism
  • actively participating in the process by learning all you can to effectively relate to and respond to your child

We are not the agency for you if you are interested in:

  • using a variety of treatments that do not adhere to a behavioral model, follow an eclectic approach, or do not make treatment decisions based on solid research
  • not participating in the intervention process or parent training

If you have high expectations for your child’s future, we would like to be a partner with you in your child’s treatment process.

We have found that ABA can be of benefit to ALL children in reaching their individual potential. We have also found that the extent of benefit depends on the following factors: the quality of the Service Provider, including qualifications and extensive experience; the personal and social resources available to the parents, including how whole-heartedly they embrace ABA philosophy and practices, as well as how available they are to participate meaningfully in their child’s program; and the extent of the child’s own skills and challenges. Perhaps the most important factor is the successful interaction of all of these components, resulting in a cohesive team working towards the same goal: your child’s growth and learning.

For families that reside outside of Hong Kong, Autism Partnership Consultants travel and provide services to children worldwide. Families, school districts, and agencies are encouraged to contact us directly for Consultant availability.

The sooner you begin intervention the better. Don’t wait! Research into the effectiveness of intervention with students demonstrates better outcome with early intervention. But, it’s never too late to start. The strategies of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) can help individuals of all ages.

A key to ABA success is to immerse the child into treatment for as much of the day as possible. We don’t want to lose valuable time. Young children are able to not only tolerate intensive intervention but thrive on the stimulation. It is important to use as many opportunities throughout the day to teach appropriate skills and to reduce the child’s opportunity to engage in detrimental behaviors. Working regularly with children as young as 20 months, Autism Partnership staff have unequaled expertise in providing treatment sessions that are age-appropriate, energetic, playful and full of reinforcing activities, while respecting the natural stamina of the child. When an intervention is creative, natural, and fun, children are eager participants. Fatigue and ability to engage are closely monitored and the number of weekly intervention hours is adjusted accordingly.

Our goal is to achieve the best possible outcome for your child. Since research and our clinical experience confirm that children who receive more hours of quality behavioral intervention make better progress, it is common for many children served by Autism Partnership to receive between 20 and 45 hours per week when services begin. Mastery of skills, reduction of interfering behaviors, increased attendance in school and/or more involvement with friends and community activities may result in a recommendation for a reduction of time spent with Autism Partnership staff.

It’s a common misconception that ABA doesn’t apply to children who are at a higher functioning level. ABA is designed to provide a varying level of structure according to the need of the student. High functioning children are able to learn better in a less structured format and the program is adjusted accordingly. In fact, ABA strategies are incredibly effective and important for this population. Autism Partnership has  this expertise.

Parent involvement and ability to implement Applied Behavior Analysis strategies are essential for obtaining the best long-term outcome for a child. Therefore, we are committed to our partnership with parents. Once receiving services from Autism Partnership, Program Supervisors will invite you to training workshops and seminars and will schedule individual parent training sessions on a regular basis. To improve skills, parents participate in some of the weekly ABA sessions with our staff and attend monthly clinic meetings with their child’s Case Supervisors. We recognize this as a tremendous commitment of time and energy, but we know it is critical to the success of the child’s program and both the child’s and the family’s quality of life. All of the work that the AP team does with a child is greatly amplified by the involvement and expertise of parents.

Research indicates children make the most significant progress in the first two or three years of intervention. While the initial learning curve is steep, many parents adopt a mind-set that the extra time and effort spent now will reduce stress in a very short time and result in the children requiring less intensive intervention in the future.

Many of our parents have been successful in committing to the process by building a solid support system. By having family members and friends help with babysitting other children, commuting to our clinic or cooking dinner once in a while, parents have been able to maintain focus (and sanity). Although we know this is difficult, some families have found it is worthwhile for one of the parents to reduce their work hours.

That’s a difficult question to answer. The majority of our families require services for two to four years. Prepare yourself to give 100% during that time. Some students stay longer, but with a reduced model of service (e.g., school support, case consultation, etc.). If you’re going to embark on an ABA program, you should prepare for a long, but incredibly rewarding journey.

Taking into consideration the safety of the child and the therapists, usually when Storm Signal No. 3 or Red Rainfall Warning System is hoisted in Metro Manila, there will be heavy rains, floods, and strong winds that could be very dangerous. AP Center will only close under Signal No. 3 or Red Rainfall Warning System.

Parents should use your discretion in sending your children to our Centre if local weather, road, or transport conditions have not returned to normal or the lowering of signals has been cancelled. Please listen to radio and television announcements. These measures have taken solely for the safety of your children.

Rainstorm warning /Typhoon
Action to be taken

Yellow Warning

Public Storm Signal No. 1, hoisted in Quezon City/Metro Manila

  • AP Manila Center is open
  • Note: For the safety of children, the parents should determine whether to send their child to the center at their own discretion

Orange Warning

Public Storm Signal No. 2, hoisted in Quezon City/Metro Manila

 

 

  • AP Manila Center is open
  • Note: For the safety of children, the parents should determine whether to send their child to the center at their own discretion

Red Warning

Public Storm Signal No. 3 hoisted in Quezon City/ Metro Manila or as advised by Malacañang that work is cancelled

  • If Storm Signal No. 3 or Red Rainfall Warning is hoisted, all sessions will be cancelled.
  • In the event that students are already at the center, Administrator will inform the parents to pick up their child immediately so that they can be home safely as soon as possible

Please also note that Local Government announcement of suspension of classes will only serve as warning of the weather situation on a specific area relative to floods and thunder storms. AP center will remain open unless Signal No. 3 or Red Warning is declared. It will be the parent’s discretion to send their child at the center.

If the child’s therapist cannot come due to severe weather conditions, we will provide cover session.

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about our services and how we can help your child strive!

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