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Important Information for Parents
Why is the RASP Important?
A Note of Caution for Parents
Higher Standards for Professionals Joining the RASP
RASP On-Line Profiles for Behavioural Consultants
The Grandfathered List
Concerns About Your Behavioural Consultant
Why is the RASP Important?
In order to use funding received under the Ministry’s Autism Funding for Children under Six Program, parents MUST employ behavior consultants and other professionals who are on the Registry for Autism Service Providers List – the RASP. The RASP is intended to help families make informed choices about the professionals who provide early intervention services. While we continually monitor and update the list, ACT does not endorse the expertise of any of the service providers on the RASP, nor do we take responsibility or guarantee the quality of service they provide.
A Note of Caution for Parents
A professional who is on the RASP has stated that he or she meets the minimum requirements for inclusion on the registry as set out in the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) Application form. By placing themselves on the RASP, behavior consultants are formally declaring they are qualified to design, supervise, and oversee the implementation of intensive, comprehensive, effective, and individualized behavioural treatment programs for children under 6 with ASD.
Parents should keep in mind, however, the varied skills and abilities of behaviour consultants, in particular. There is no college of behavior consultants in BC so this means they have no professional body to whom they are accountable and which can provide protection for consumers. Autism is a rapidly evolving international field of study, characterized by the ongoing development of new treatments, intervention strategies, and methodologies. See Addressing Concerns: A Note of Caution for Behavioural Consultants.
In British Columbia, behaviour consultants can differ dramatically in terms of their education, training, experience and fee structure. Some may have little direct experience working with children with ASD. It is important for parents to ask questions about a consultant’s experience and skills (See Tips for Parents and Program Evaluation Check List). We strongly encourage parents to carefully review the qualifications and ask questions of professionals on the RASP whom they may wish to hire. It is best to enter into a contract with him or her that sets out exactly what the consultant will provide, his or her role in the process, expectations, and costs.
Confused? You are very welcomed to call the ACT office and one of our information officers will be pleased to help you. ACT is a not-for-profit society whose staff has extensive experience in supporting families who have children with ASD – several of us are parents ourselves! We can be contacted at 604-205-5467 or toll-free 1-866-939-5188 or email info@actcommunity.net, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Friday. At ACT, we speak, in addition to English, Cantonese, Mandarin and Tagalog.
Higher Standards for Professionals Joining the RASP
In August 2006, MCFD issued a new application form for professionals who wish to be on the RASP list. The revised application form clarifies qualifications required to be placed on the list. The form can be viewed at www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/autism/service_providers.htm.
RASP On-Line Profiles for Behavioural Consultants
In order that parents have more information on which to base their selection of a behaviour consultant, ACT has developed the RASP profile. The profiles are detailed overviews of a professional’s skills and experience in ASD treatment. These have been completed on a voluntary basis by a growing number of behaviour consultants. In cases where a professional has no profile available, parents can use the format to ask questions of consultants.
The profile initiative was made possible with the support of members of the ACT Advisory Council and other professionals. We are especially grateful to behaviour consultants from the Family Centred Practices Group and the ABA Learning Centre who helped us to develop and test prototype profiles. In 2008, ACT received funding from the Ministry of Children and Family Development to allow us make more profiles available. We hope that by the end of 2008 the majority of Behaviour Consultants will volunteer their profile as parents tell us they appreciate them greatly.
To view profiles of behaviour consultants, scroll down the list and you will see “view profile” beside the names who have submitted profiles. Here is an example - view example.
The "Grandfathered" List
In May, 2006 ACT contacted all behaviour consultants on the RASP and asked them to send updated information about their qualifications. We made this request because some consultants had provided little supporting information when they initially applied to the predecessor of the RASP (the Qualified Service Provider List) when it was managed by another agency.
Those consultants who failed to provide requested information by the stated deadline were placed on a Grandfathered list. A “Grandfathered” consultant is someone who is part of the RASP because he or she was on the previous list of service providers (QSP) that we inherited, but would not qualify for the RASP if they were to apply today with the information they have provided to ACT to date. View Grandfathered list
Concerns About Your RASP Service Provider
If you have concerns about the service provided by a behaviour consultant or any other professional on the RASP, please click here for more information.
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