Looking for ways to enrich your child’s cognitive, physical, and emotional growth during these long summer days? One of the most effective ways to do so is through tactile sensory play! Here are some summer-friendly sensory play ideas made easy with things from around your house, thoughtfully curated by an ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) Educator.
Sidewalk Chalk Paint
Materials: Muffin tin or cups, paint brushes/sponges/foam brushes, cornstarch, water, liquid food coloring
Instructions: Mix equal parts cornstarch and water and whisk smooth. Divide the mixture into cups or a muffin tin. Use one small drop of food coloring to color the individual containers. Then, use paint brushes, sponges, or foam brushes to paint onto sidewalks.
Instructions: Mix two cups of cornstarch with one cup of water. Add a few drops of blue food coloring when the mixture is partially combined. Add your ocean animals and see how fast they can swim!
DIY Moon Sand (Taste Safe)
Materials: Flour (or rice flour for gluten-free), coconut, canola, or vegetable oil, pan, sand/water toys
Instructions: Mix eight cups of flour with one cup of oil. Combine ingredients until the mixture feels silky and sandy but will hold shape if you squeeze it. Now, go ahead and build a sandcastle!
Ice Cream Sensory Bin (Taste Safe)
Materials: rainbow sprinkles, container, ice cream toys such as an ice cream scoop, spoons, cupcake liners, ice cream cones (real or pretend), and any other ice cream-type tools you have on hand
Instructions: Fill a bin with rainbow sprinkles and ice cream toys. Have fun scooping ice cream!
Incorporating tactile sensory activities into your child’s day nurtures their overall development by engaging their senses. These activities can be done indoors or outdoors. So grab those materials to whip up hours of summer fun!
In the realm of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, efficiency is paramount. The ability to streamline processes, accurately collect data, and provide seamless support can significantly impact the quality of care for individuals receiving therapy. In this blog, we delve into the experience of No Missing Pieces, led by COO Jennifer Arredondo, an ABA therapy organization, as they transitioned to using Raven, an ABA data collection platform, and how it revolutionized their operations.
No Missing Pieces, led by COO Jennifer Arredondo and based in Louisiana, is committed to providing high-quality ABA therapy services to their clients. However, like many organizations, they faced challenges with previous data collection platforms, which hindered their efficiency and productivity.
Recognizing the need for a more efficient solution, No Missing Pieces, under the leadership of COO Jennifer Arredondo, explored various ABA data collection platforms. They ultimately chose Raven due to its user-friendly interface, comprehensive features, and excellent support system.
No Missing Pieces quickly realized the numerous benefits of using Raven. From streamlined data collection to improved billing processes and enhanced preparation for audits, Raven became an indispensable tool in their arsenal.
One of the standout features of Raven is its efficiency and user-friendliness, appreciated by COO Jennifer Arredondo and her team. The intuitive interface and customizable scheduling options have made supervision sessions more productive and streamlined.
The team lauds Raven’s support team, particularly highlighting the responsiveness and dedication of Miguel Garcia. Their prompt assistance and willingness to resolve issues have further solidified their trust in the platform.
Based on their positive experience, No Missing Pieces wholeheartedly recommends Raven to other ABA therapy organizations. Their overall experience with Raven can be summarized in one word: efficiency.
Raven allows me to easily review session details, including notes and data points, which wasn’t possible with previous platforms we used. With Raven, I can see each data point made within a session, making audits much smoother.Jennifer Arredondo | COO – No Missing pieces
Conclusion
The journey of No Missing Pieces with Raven exemplifies the transformative impact of leveraging technology in ABA therapy. By prioritizing efficiency, user-friendliness, and robust support, Raven has become an invaluable asset in enhancing the quality of care provided by ABA therapy organizations.
As the demand for ABA therapy continues to grow, embracing innovative solutions like Raven can empower organizations to optimize their operations and ultimately make a positive difference in the lives of individuals with autism and related developmental disorders. To embark on a similar journey of transformation, we encourage other ABA service providers to set up a call with Raven Health and unlock the potential for enhanced efficiency and client care.
In the fast-paced world of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, few tasks stir as much frustration among Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) as the drafting of session notes. These detailed records are not mere paperwork; they are the backbone of high-quality client care, critical for securing payer reimbursements, and pivotal in the grand scheme of healthcare documentation. Getting technicians to efficiently produce accurate, consistent, and clinically relevant is critical. Thankfully, the latest advancements in ABA therapy technology have revolutionized the process, enabling swift and precise documentation of session notes.
Session Note Templates: A Lifeline in Documentation
Imagine a scenario all too common in the healthcare industry: a Department of Labor (DOL) audit, leading to a substantial fine for an ABA therapy clinic. The offense? Requiring hourly therapists to complete session notes off the clock. And yet this was exactly what happened to a Raven Health customer in the past when they were using pen and paper to do their data collection. “Due to the heavy manual documentation requirements, our techs were completing their session notes during down time over the weekend,” the clinic’s Clinical Director shared with Raven. “Unfortunately this led to a huge headache with the audit and later settlement.” This real-life example underscores the gravity of accurate and timely documentation.
With tools like session note templates, providers can use technology to greatly simplify the session note capture process. By providing a structured format for data collection, these templates ensure that information aligns with payer requirements, mitigating the risk of errors. Moreover, they expedite the claim submission process, preventing costly delays and fostering a smoother workflow.
Session Note Management Tools: The Administrative Compass
Beyond templates, session note management tools offer a comprehensive solution to one of the most daunting aspects of clinic administration. These systems actively monitor the completion status of session notes, alerting technicians and clinicians to areas that require further attention. The benefits are two fold: First, these tools uphold clinical excellence by steering technicians toward detailed observations that align with clinicians’ expectations, thereby enhancing the overall quality of care. Second, they ensure regulatory compliance, a safety net in the event of payer audits.
Conclusion: A New Era for Session Notes
The narrative surrounding session notes in ABA therapy is changing. No longer the bane of a BCBA’s professional life, session note creation and management have been reimagined as streamlined processes, thanks to innovative, AI-based technology. With these tools, clinics can now deliver exceptional care, assure compliance, and optimize operational efficiency, all the while keeping their focus where it truly belongs – on the client.
Obtaining insurance authorization for applied behavior analysis (ABA) services has become a routine job expectation for many board certified behavior analysts (BCBAs). Navigating insurance authorizations can be daunting for BCBAs because it requires them to write goals that align with medical necessity and each funder’s unique requirements. Failure to write goals in this manor can lead to partial or full denials for authorization for services, resulting in less access to care for clients. This presentation will focus on understanding funder-specific requirements for ABA services, tying the core deficits of autism to those requirements, and writing treatment goals that are individualized to the client and that are likely to be authorized by funders. Participants will be guided through case examples and practice describing medical necessity, writing treatment goals, and requesting authorization for services from funders.
In the current ABA and landscape we have seen a steady increase in the need for ABA services throughout the United States. This demand has subsequently driven the need for BCBAs to provide that care. Current information says that ~50% of all BCBAs have had their certificate for less then 3 years. This indicates that a majority of the workforce is new to the field. As a BCBA you are asked to be competent in dozens of various skills in areas you may not have been adequately trained for or trained at all. On top the daily speedbumbs that may arise to make your day-to-day clinical life challenging we are also faced with technology and administrative burdens. During this session, Dr. Rodriguez will discuss how these challenges can be addressed and mitigated by using OMB applications to support clinical teams, and ensure higher quality care for the families we care for.
Learning Objectives:
1. Identify OBM Applications to support common concerns in ABA Clinics.
2. Identify OBM solutions that may help your performance improvement needs.
3. Identify OBM solutions to help new BCBAs thrive in an oversight role.
