- The RBT slapped my child's hands so hard he jumped up and screeched so loud it echo'ed through…read morethe center.
- Janelle Saunders, who was NOT in the room, hollered back at my son to comply.
- The supervisor Marissa instructed the RBT to push my toddler back in his chair.
- The RBT put both hands on his shoulders and pushed him back in his chair.
- My child wouldn't look at the RBT who slapped and pushed him for pronunciation, so they grabbed his faced and FORCED him to look at them.
- My feedback, along with his mothers, was that our son didn't need to get slapped or pushed around to learn.
Jon Paul Suanders response was to ask me into his office "to teach me a lesson" which included:
- the techniques I witnessed are the only way he knows ABA therapy to work.
- I can expect this treatment toward my toddler to continue.
- He stands firmly behind his RBT's
Kudos for JP's blind loyalty to the RBT's, but the 2-week fresh RBT was the least of my concerns.
- The supervisor *ESCALATING* the abusive tactics was my #1 concern.
- Janelle *BLINDLY* yelling at my son to comply with ANY treatment being dished out was my #2 concern.
- One week prior, my mostly non-verbal son *REFUSED* to get in the car torturously crying "I WANT PAPA! I WANT PAPA! I WANT PAPA! (x20)" If this is the treatment they were showing to us parents in person, we were afraid of what they did or were planning to do when we weren't there.
From what I recall, Jon Paul insisted that "He doesn't know every Autistic person perfectly, but he is the master at ABA and these techniques were necessary".
These are the techniques I witnessed:
When the RBT raced my sons hands to the iPad - I heard a CRACKING SOUND, my son JUMPED and SCREECHED, and then I watched my 3yr old toddler rubbing his hands from the sting of being slapped. I consider that a "slapping-technique".
Both hands on both shoulders, forcibly pushing him in the chair, I call it the "shoving technique".
When my son wouldn't look at the RBT using the "slapping and shoving techniques", she grabbed under his chin and forced him to look at her, I call the "face yanking" technique.
It is worth noting that my son had done this particular exercise hundreds of times prior - the only thing new they were showing me were the abusive techniques.
I am no ABA expert myself - but as an autistic parent who comes from an abusive household, I know first hand the self-doubting, suicidal, high anxiety behaviors that result from slapping an autistic child as he is desperately trying to follow confusing instructions. There is also a TON of modern science that shows a clear correlation between these traumatizing events and PTSD, depression, and anxiety later in life.
The financial fallout from ACW's RBT hitting my child is severe. It's a 3 month wait to the pediatrician, and THEN 3 month wait to another therapists, at best. So now it's private tutors, private pre-school, and no insurance help what-so-ever. Lawyers have made it clear: no bruising, no blood, no interest.
And that is why I think it's important to leave this review - the only thing protecting you child from being abused up to the point of bruising is TRUST from their care providers. When I pointed out that their staff was hitting my child, their only response was to try and distract and discredit me.
As an example, I wanted to discuss the fact their staff slapped my child in front of me and his mother and what corrective action would be taken, however, Jon Paul Saunders #1 concern was that 6 MONTHS PRIOR I had let my child jump on the bed for 5 minutes after 7 hours of therapy and 30 minutes of crying. This was considered "stepping on the RBT's toes". It became increasingly clear to me that the RBT's feelings were more important than my child's physical safety and mental integrity.
Perhaps I do owe an apology to the RBT though - I had accused them of *accidentally* slapping my child, but considering the both of the Saunders, as well as the Supervisor applauded these techniques applied to my toddler I can only assume this is an intentional part of their programming.
In all honesty, in the 18 months at ACW I never ONCE saw a child that was 5 years old and ready for kindergarten. I genuinely think the Saunders lack the technical capabilities to educate a child that far and it has been both costly and distressing to find out in this manner.
I did NOT find the Saunders willing, wanting, or capable of enforcing the "neutral and positive touches" policy Autism Care West had advertised to me and my wife when we joined.
I kindly ask the owners of Autism Care West to review their programming, policies, and procedures to ensure they comply with the "neutral and positive touch" policy they advertise.
