INTRODUCING ISADD ISADD (Intervention Services for Autism and Developmental Delay) is a private organisation which provides services and consultancy in the field of Developmental Disabilities. SERVICES: ISADD provides Assessment, Programming and Therapy, based on Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) and Discrete Trial Training (DTT) for children and adolescents with Autism and other Developmental Disabilities. It also offers Counselling and support for adult clients and parents. Consultancy services are provided to Schools and other agencies in most states throughout Australia and overseas (New Zealand and Asia), as is training for ABA/DTT Therapists and other professionals. DIRECTORS: Jenny Bolland Daryl Cooper Jenny is a Behaviour Therapist who migrated from England where she first started working with children with disabilities. In WA, she worked with the Autistic Association, and then with the Murdoch University Young Autism Study (which sought to replicate the work of Lovaas). Since the early 90 s she has been in private practice until joining with Jura to form ISADD Daryl is a Psychologist with extensive clinical experience in the fields of education, rehabilitation and disabilities. Currently he is Executive Coordinator of ISADD. Jura Tender Jura is a Clinical Psychologist with many years of experience in the fields of Developmental Disabilities, Challenging Behaviours and Behaviour Therapy. She has collaborated with Dr. Van Dyck (Holland) and Prof. Lovaas at UCLA (USA). She has worked in both the Victorian and West Australian government services for Disability and in both education systems. Prior to forming ISADD, she was Director of Professional Services of the Autistic Association of WA. HISTORY: Jura Tender and Jenny Bolland first met in the late 1980 s when both were working with the Autistic Association (Jura as Director of Professional Services). Jenny accompanied Jura to Los Angeles to work with Professor Ivar Lovaas at the University of California (UCLA) on his Young Autism Project. Later, both moved separately into private practice. In 1994, they formed a partnership, registered as ISADD, in order to provide a more comprehensive service to their respective clients. As demand grew, the need for a more structured organisation saw ISADD become, in 1997, a Pty. Ltd. Company, with Jura and Jenny as its Directors. ISADD operates as a network of Program Managers, Case Managers, independently practicing accredited ABA Therapists and Consultants, providing intervention and other services to several hundred clients throughout Australia, New Zealand and Asia.
BECOMING AN ACCREDITED ISADD ABA THERAPIST Thank you for your interest regarding ISADD and working as a Behavioural Therapist. This package provides the necessary information about ISADD and the required steps in becoming a Behavioural Therapist representing ISADD. WORKING AS A BEHAVIOURAL THERAPIST ISADD trains and Accredits personnel as ABA Therapists. Once Accredited, Therapists normally work as Independently Practicing ABA Therapists who are paid directly by families to whom ISADD has recommended them. They conduct therapy sessions at the family s home or in community settings. These sessions are usually two hours duration twice a week with each family. As an Accredited ABA Therapist you are required to follow the child s individualised program as set by the Case Manager. This will involve working one to one on any number of skills in which the child has deficits such as language skills, maths skills, social skills, or play skills and decreasing behaviours that the child does to excess, for example tantruming, obsessions and self stimming. SOME PROS OF WORKING AS A THERAPIST It is challenging work that always requires a variety of attributes and skills such as problem solving, being able to work autonomously, implementing a program, working as part of a team, working with parents as partners, patience, energy and enthusiasm. It is rewarding to see and help a client improve. It is fun working with the clients. Many therapists have differing employment and educational backgrounds. If you are a Psychology student it provides an opportunity to develop your practical skills and determine your career path. It s a career that is achieved mostly through on the job training. There is a career pathway available, allowing therapists to strive for accreditation at higher levels based on their performance, skills and attributes. The hours are flexible allowing some sessions to be arranged around other commitments. It gives therapists a good opportunity to improve and integrate previously acquired skills. SOME CONS OF WORKING AS A THERAPIST The work can be physically and mentally demanding. Therapists will be expected to deal with behaviours such as tantrums, biting kicking and scratching. It can be isolating, as you conduct sessions with the client autonomously. The pay is per hour of service from the client s family so there is no holiday or sick pay. Travel between clients can be exhausting. There is no indemnity insurance. Due to varying family situations, you can be working in a highly stressed environment.
THE STEPS TO BECOMING AN ISADD THERAPIST 1. Read this package and if you are interested fill in the application form and return it to : Robyn Thompson 5 Wickling Drive Beckenham Perth W.A. 6107 2. Suitable applicants will be asked to observe a 2-hour therapy session to determine if they are interested in this line of work. 3. Following the observation, potential ABA Therapists will be asked to book in to two one day workshops by contacting Heidi on 9397 5970. The first workshop is held on a Sunday and a week later the second workshop is held on the Saturday. Potential ABA Therapists will be informed of the address for both. The workshops are free for potential ABA Therapists. If you choose not to work with ISADD you will be invoiced for both of the workshops. 4. During this time period ABA Therapists will need to attend an orientation meeting to discuss the policies and procedures of working as a therapist. This is a two hour meeting conducted by Robyn Thompson or Isabella O Donovan and is of no charge to the therapist. 5. At the orientation meeting successful ABA Therapists will need to sign a contract, they need to bring with them their Working With Children Id, St John Ambulance Child or Seniors (first aid) certificate, or evidence of future attendance at the course and a copy of an up to date Federal Police Clearance. Please note that if you hold a senior first aid certificate then you do not need to complete the above course. 6. Once an ABA Therapist has completed the above stages, they may be allocated as a trainee ABA Therapist to a family. Training sessions take places in tandem with a Case Manager or Senior ABA Therapist. Training is usually approximately 4-6 sessions at the discretion of the Case Manager. 7. Once conducting sessions one to one with the client on your own, you are considered to be an accredited ABA Therapist and can then apply for more hours. Please note: Due to the specific nature of the work, at any stage above, you may be deemed unsuitable to work as an ABA Therapist, in which case you will be notified and training and allocation to families will cease. People who were not initially chosen to observe, but are still interested in learning about Applied Behavioural Analysis and Discrete Trial Training are most welcome to book in and do the workshops as described above. This may be beneficial in being selected at a later date to observe and continue training as an ABA Therapist. Please notify Robyn if you wish to do so.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS AS A THERAPIST It is a requirement that all ISADD ABA Therapists working on ISADD programs are accredited by ISADD. Accreditation begins when the above steps to becoming a therapist are complete. However it is also necessary to maintain your accreditation as a therapist by: Working a minimum of 8 hours per week (2x2hour sessions with 2 families). Attending 70% of monthly support group meetings. These meetings give you the opportunity to meet with other therapists, problem solve and learn about specific topics. Complete any other training deemed necessary by your Case Manager or Program Manager. All work must be implemented according to the policies and procedures as set out in the Handbook and discussed during the orientation meeting and training. Work as a team as per instructions from the Case Manager and Program Manager. Are willing to give a minimum commitment of six months, when starting at a new family, except in special circumstances of which your Case Manager is aware. Pay a Licence Fee to ISADD on a monthly basis (This will be explained more fully at the observation session) As an accredited ABA Therapist you will receive: Referrals to clients/families. Quality specialized training and supervision. Access to information and resources. Regular Training meetings held every month to give you the opportunity to problem solve and meet other therapists. In addition also You will have the status that comes from being an accredited ABA Therapist with an international organisation. You will receive bi-monthly issues of the Rhubarb Newsletter The fee is tax deductible.
CONTACTS If you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact ISADD s Training and Resource Manager s, Robyn Thompson and Isabella O Donovan. ROBYN THOMPSON: 5 Wickling Drive Beckenham Perth 6107 Phone: (08) 9458 7694 (between 10.30a.m-2.30p.m and before 6.00p.m) Email: isaddsp@bigpond.com ISABELLA O DONOVAN: Phone: 0458990736 (during office hours only) Email: isabellaodonovan@gmail.com HEAD OFFICE: Phone: (08) 9397 5970 Fax: (08) 9397 6258 Postal address: P O Box 255, Kelmscott 6991 Email: isadd@isadd.org web-site: www.isadd.org
APPLICATION FORM PART 1 Name Address E-mail Phone Date of Birth / / How did you find out about ISADD? Friends /Advertisement /Internet /University Other Do you have reliable transport? Are you interested in full time or part time work? If part time how many hours per week are you available to work? How far are you willing to travel to client s houses? Do you speak another language/languages other than English? List educational qualifications and the dates they were completed: List previous employment and period of employment:
APPLICATION FORM PART 2 1. Have you had any other experiences that are relevant to this line of work that you have not mentioned above? 2. What is your knowledge and understanding of Autism? 3. Why does working as a therapist appeal to you? 4. What will be most challenging aspect of this work for you? 5. What skills do you have that will be beneficial to this job? 6. What personal attributes do you have that will be beneficial to this job?
Please fill in or shade your available times for work in the timetable below MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT 8.00 9.00 10.00 11.00 12.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00 OFFICE USE ONLY Date received : Initial Contact : 1 st Observation : 1 st Workshop : 2 nd Workshop : Orientation Placement : :
EARNINGS Position Earnings* Senior Case Manager $120 Case Manager grade 2 $115 Case Manager grade 1 $105 Advance ABA Therapist $80 Senior ABA Therapist grade 2 $70 Senior ABA Therapist grade 1 $65 ABA Therapist grade 2 $55 ABA Therapist grade 1 $52 Trainee ABA Therapist $27 *Based on a 2 hour session (inc call out) The above earnings are based on the following ISADD recommended fees charged to parents and applicable license fees. (nb the amount charged to families [for a 2-hour session] by the Therapist is the amount in the "Parents Charged" Column) Level Senior. Case Manager (ES & O/S only) Charge-out Rate per hour Callout fee Parents. Charged Lic. Fee (per hour) Inc GST $54 $27 $135.00 $15 (7.50) Case Manager Gr 2 $54 $27 $135.00 $20 (10) Case Manager Gr 1 $54 $27 $135.00 $30 (15) Advanced ABA Therapist $40 $20 $100.00 $20 (10) Senior ABA Therapist Gr 2 $34 $17 $85.00 $15 (7.50) Senior ABA Therapist Gr 1 $34 $17 $85.00 $20 (10) ABA Therapist Grade 2 $28 $14 $70.00 $15 (7.50) ABA Therapist Grade 1 $28 $14 $70.00 $18 (9) Trainee ABA Therapist $16 $8 $40.00 $5 (2.50)