ABA Hell...........

Applied Behavioral Analysis. The only therapy "proven" to work to improve autism according to the American Association of Pediatrics. And it does work. But it is harder than I imagined sometimes.

The Rock is so fortunate to go to a preschool that provides 35 hours of ABA therapy a week. They send his program home so that we can do it at night. So a few nights ago I sat down with him to do his program. The first goal we worked on is "What is your name?" And he is supposed to answer "Rock".

Sounds pretty easy huh? He is going to get this - no problem. Right.

It is my ultimate dream for him to be able to answer this question. When we are in public people will always squat down to him and say, "hey little man what's your name? how old are you?". I always answer for him and people walk away thinking he is just shy.

WELL HE IS NOT SHY!!!!!!!! HE JUST CAN'T FREAKIN SAY IT!

Oh, but he will. So we are sitting in the floor and I've got a full box of Nerds candy as reinforcers. I say "what is your name?" And he says "what is your name?". WHAT? He's not supposed to say that! He's supposed to say "Rock"! Echolacia at it's finest. We go through this cycle until I am at the verge of tears. #1 Dad looks at me and tells me I am being too hard on him. We get in a huge fight.

I.just.want.this.so.bad.for.him

So.bad.

After what seems like an eternity of The Rock just repeating me and I am just about to give up, I said one last time - "What is your name?". And i heard a very faint "Rock". Well I almost died. I gave him the whole box of Nerds and he chomped away at them happily.

So today's gameday score is: The Rock = 1 Autism = 0