NEW SERVICES & STRATEGIES

TeleHealth ABA:
A new way of supporting our families during service disruption

New Haven Learning Centre is committed to doing our utmost to protect the health and safety of our community and the extended residents of Ontario, and to creatively pivot and adapt in order to support our students and clients in new methods and formats, while continuing to support the critical actions that reduce the impact of COVID-19.

As a gold-standard evidence-based treatment and education centre for individuals with autism and related disorders in Ontario, we are focused on supporting our clients and students in growing their potential and ultimately changing their lives while respecting that an unprecedented disruption to service was required.

At this time, our service model has adapted to a TeleHealth model, which is effective and both a creative and safe means of supporting our community. We are transitioning many of our services to this alternative means of delivery, making innovative use of online technologies and other ingenious strategies to carry-on with our teaching and learning activities that are so important to each individual client.

New Haven TeleHealth & Remote Services Rationale:

  • Government orders or emergency regulations have been actioned
  • Services must pivot in the reality of service restrictions
  •  New Haven falls within nine categories of essential services
          based on the Ontario Essential Services List:
          https://www.ontario.ca/page/list-essential-workplace
          We are respective of the State of Emergency protocol and request sent by the Provincial government.
  • New Haven can legally provide remote service supports

BEHAVIOUR ANALYST RULES/REGULATIONS & PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

  • BACB Professional and Ethical Compliance and Ethical Guidelines for ABA Providers
    throughout COVID-19 Pandemic informs our New Haven staff as they:
  • Comply with applicable laws and regulations, including emergency government orders
  • Act in client’s best interests to avoid interrupting or disrupting services, protect them from harm
  • Evaluate likely harm of continuing services as they are vs. augmenting (e.g., via teleHealth ABA) or stopping
  • Rely on scientific evidence, behavior analytic principles and procedures
  • Practice within boundaries of training and competence
  • Protect client privacy and confidentiality

CRISIS DOESN’T MEAN YOU STEP ASIDE.

IT MEANS YOU STEP UP.

IT MEANS YOU SOAR.

THAT’S THE NEW HAVEN WAY.

NEW HAVEN SHARED RESPONSIBILITY

  • Advocate for medically necessary services for our clients
  • Utilize ABA interventions which are proven as effective for reducing maladaptive behaviours that put clients and/or their caregivers at risk of illness or injury
  • Support caregivers with elevated stress levels even under normal circumstances!

NEW HAVEN TELEHEALTH FOCUS

Engagement of Adaptive Behaviours

  • Communication skills (e.g., reporting symptoms, requesting help)
  • Personal Hygiene skills (handwashing, using hand sanitizer, bathing, toileting, sneezing into sleeve or tissue, disposing of tissues)
  • Cooperating with medical procedures or medication delivery
  • Hydrating
  • Following Instructions
  • Independence
  • Joint Attention, Joint Play

Play and Social Skills

  • Engage with caregivers
  • Engage with siblings
  • Engage remotely with family and friends
  • Leisure skills
  • Following activity schedules
  • Eating routines
  • Seek and find games
  • Self-management
  • Board games
  • Puzzles
  • Obstacle courses

Support with Maladaptive Behaviours

  • Pica
  • Biting (self or others)
  • Spitting
  • Mouthing hands and objects
  • Licking surfaces
  • Touching face
  • Touching siblings
  • Touching or licking playground surfaces

Safety

  • Identifying and removing items in the home environment that may jeopardize a client’s safety (e.g., cleaning and disinfecting solutions and wipes, sharp objects, etc.)
  • Balancing stress levels of all family members

NEW HAVEN ABA STRATEGIES APPLIED DURING TELEHEALTH SESSIONS

  • Direct observation
  • Task analysis
  • Video prompting
  • Video modelling
  • Reinforcement
  • Behaviour Skills Training for caregivers
  • Functional Analysis with Clinical & Executive Directors
  • Functional Communication Training
  • Activity Schedules
  • Habit Reversals

GROWING POTENTIAL, CHANGING LIVES

To receive the most accurate and up to date information on Ontario’s response to COVID-19, please visit: www.ontario.ca

CONTACTS

Sandra Hughes, M.Ed, BCBA, CAS,CFRE

Executive Director

info@newhavencentre.com

Jennifer Hieminga, M.Ed, BCBA

Clinical Director

info@newhavencentre.com

Jennifer Jeynes, MA, AC, CFRE

Manager, Fundraising & Development

info@newhavencentre.com