Applied Behavior Analysis Field Experience – Fall 2015
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The ABA Field Experience is intended for psychology and neuroscience majors:
 Who enjoy working with children or teens.
 Who’ve had experience helping children with challenging behaviors improve their behavior.
 Who envision themselves potentially working in a career with children and families as a behavioral or mental
health professional, social worker, or teacher.
Field experiences are different than regular classes – we’ll meet as a class just once for an orientation. You’ll read an
assigned book, additional readings, and write reports, but there aren’t any quizzes or exams. You’ll be challenged to
apply what you learn to help people. Read this entire packet carefully!
Our Field Experience Partner:
Crystal’s Behavior Solutions (CBS) uses the fundamental principles of ABA to guide and direct autism treatment
programs helping children with special needs reach their full potential. Each autism program is developed by a
behavioral therapist and individualized to meet the unique needs of each child. Children receiving treatment typically
start with 1:1 therapy and move to a larger ratio to prepare them for learning in a group environment. Their autism
therapy programs can take place in the home, in a center, at school, in the natural environment, or wherever a child
needs services. Behavior therapy services provided include behavior analysis, community involvement, family
interaction, interventions, learning readiness programs, life skills, parental support, toilet training and more.
Crystal’s Behavior Solutions http://www.crystalsaba.com
Learn more about ABA:
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The Lovaas Institute http://www.lovaas.com
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Applied Behavior Analysis http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/treatment/applied-behavior-analysis-aba
What is P457 - ABA Field Experience?
This field experience course, offered through the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, is primarily intended
for students who envision themselves working in a career as a licensed behavioral or mental health care professional or
in a related health-care field (as a psychiatrist, psychologist, counselor, or health care administrator).
If you enroll, you’ll work as an ABA therapist’s assistant and will complete academic requirements similar to an
independent study course – reading and writing about an assigned book and/or journal articles that relate to ABA
research and practice.
REQUIREMENTS:
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You’ll enroll in P457 – ABA Field Experience (2-credit course) for Fall 2015.
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You’ll complete an on-boarding process similar to that of an employee – including background checks and
orientations.
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REQUIREMENTS (continued):
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You’ll work about 10 hours per week under the supervision of a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and
Case Managers.
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Administrative duties may include creating data pages for use during sessions, transferring client data into an
electronic data collection system (Catalyst), collaborating with support staff to enhance use of Catalyst and other
tasks.
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Training: You’ll attend off-site training sessions covering necessary ABA principles (e.g.: pairing, reinforcement,
behavior modification, prompting, instructional control, etc.). You’ll shadow current therapists and have
individualized training sessions in which you’re taught to deliver 1:1 ABA-based therapy to children with autism
in home and other naturalistic settings. The goal will be for you to actively work toward transfer of skills from
current therapist to yourself during overlapped sessions.
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Delivering therapy: After client-specific training sessions, you’ll independently run therapy sessions.
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Client/family interactions: You’ll assist with daily self-help skills when necessary, interact with clients whenever
and however appropriate, and maintain precise records on client program progress. You’ll work to provide prompt
professional communication amongst parents/families and CBS staff in a timely manner.
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Assisting in developing therapy programs: You’ll review professional literature and help select new, effective
methods for solving specific behavior problems using ABA.
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You’ll submit weekly reports about your experiences to Dr. Patton via Oncourse Forums.
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You’ll purchase an assigned book and read additional assigned journal articles that introduce Applied Behavior
Analysis. You’ll write papers about the material.
Recommended Readings – You are encouraged to read a few to prepare for the interview.
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Baer, D. M., Wolf, M. M., & Risley, T R. (1987). Some still-current dimensions of applied behavior analysis.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 20, 313-327.
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Lovaas, O. I. (1987). Behavioral treatment and normal educational and intellectual functioning in young autistic
children. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55, 3-9.
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Cohen, Howard, Amerine-Dickens, Mila, Smith, Tristram. (2006). Early Intensive Behavioral Treatment:
Replication of the UCLA Model in a Community Setting. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics,
27 (2), 145-155.
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KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF SUCCESSFUL FIELD EXPERIENCE STUDENTS:
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Clinical interests: Academic and career interests related to a career as licensed behavioral or mental health care
professional or in a related health-care field (as a psychiatrist, therapist, or health care administrator).
Interpersonal skills: Have a comfort level interacting with a variety of age groups and maintain a warm,
professional, positive attitude with clients and staff.
Clinical demeanor: Demonstrate sensitivity to confidentiality. Demonstrate respect and empathy for persons
with mental / behavioral health challenges.
Personal organization: Organizational and computer skills are necessary.
Attention to detail: You’ll be expected to complete assigned tasks with very careful attention to detail!
Able to communicate accurately in writing and orally.
Decision-making skills: demonstrate the ability to adapt to a changing environment and actively
problem-solve.
Behave professionally: Dress, speak, and act professionally when interacting with clients and staff.
Be extremely reliable and responsible.
Initiative: Demonstrate initiative and fill time productively.
Independence: Be capable of working independently and asking questions as needed.
Willingness: Willingness to do any/all tasks that will contribute to making CBS successful.
COURSE SCHEDULING/REGISTRATION: You must enroll in P457 – ABA Field Experience to participate in this
program. Here’s how that might happen:
1. Students will submit applications before 11:55 p.m. on Monday, April 20
2. CBS will notify students they wish to interview during the next two weeks – keep an eye on your IU email and
phone messages and be ready to schedule an in-person, phone, or Skype interview on / before Friday, May 6th.
3. If you are interviewed by the CBS staff and are told that you’ve been accepted to work at the hospital, then
you’ll email me (Dr. Patton) and I’ll ask the Academic Advisors to grant you permission to enroll via Onestart.
P457 – ABA Field Experience is an elective. It will appear on your transcript and the credits do count towards your
graduation. It does not, however, fulfill any Psychology or Neuroscience major requirements – it does not count as an
Advanced or Capstone course.
Application for Field Experiences at ABA – Fall 2015
Instructions:
1) Read this entire application form - especially descriptions & requirements - before you begin filling it in!
2) Complete this application by typing your answers directly into this Word doc. Be concise. Use as much space as needed.
3) Save e-versions of this application with a new filename using this format: “Yourlastname_ABAApp_Fall2015.doc”.
For instance, if I were the one applying, my file would be called “Patton_ABAApp_Fall2015.doc”.
4) Prepare a targeted cover letter and resume for this opportunity. Address the cover letter to Dr. Patton.
5) Save your completed cover letter/resume in ONE FILE in either *.doc, *.docx, or *.pdf format and use a filename with this
format: “Yourlastname_ABAResume_Fall2015.doc”.
6) EMAIL YOUR COMPLETED APPLICATION & COVER LETTER/RESUME TO DR. PATTON AT
hoffmanc@indiana.edu before 11:55 p.m. on Monday, April 20.
Keep your cell phone turned on and keep a close eye on your IU email over the next few weeks after you submit your
application. You may be contacted for a phone interview and/or to set up a formal interview during this time period. You’ll have
24-hours to confirm that you will participate or the opportunity may be offered to another student.
Contact Information
Full Name:
Full IU Email Address:
Phone Number(s):
Basic Information
Year in school:
Cumulative GPA:
Major(s):
Minor(s):
Career(s) in which you are currently interested:
CONTINUE ON THE NEXT PAGE
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Relevant Coursework
List the NAMES and numbers of all classes you’ve taken that are relevant to this field experience – to child development,
families, behavior or mental disorders or therapies; the semester you took the course; and grade received for each. You may list
classes in which you are currently enrolled.
NAME OF THE CLASS (& number) – Semester Taken (Fall/Spring/Summer & Year) – Grade
Experience with Children
What previous experience(s) have you had working with children? List the roles you’ve played (babysitter, daycare provider,
volunteer at a preschool, camp counselor or…). For each role, list the ages of children with whom you’ve worked and your
responsibilities while providing care.
ROLE – AGES – RESPONSIBILITIES:
What experience do you have working with groups of children? What size(s) were the groups and what activities did you lead for
the groups?
YOUR ANSWER:
IMPORTANT: What types of challenging behaviors have you managed while working with children? Describe 3 different kinds
of behavior challenges you’ve encountered, the age(s) of the child(ren) in question, and your problem-solving responses to each
behavior. Was there change in the behavior as a result? (Example: At daycare, 7-year-olds Jason and Christopher regularly got
into arguments that turned into physical fights. This often happened when the group was finishing one activity and moving on to
the next. We initially tried…, and then we decided to… Over the next few weeks I saw that…).
TYPE OF CHALLENGING BEHAVIOR – CHILD’S AGE – YOUR RESPONSE – CHANGE?
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Have you had experience with children who are higher than the norm in terms aggression or oppositional behavior? Do you have
any experience with children with behavioral or mental disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD);
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD); an Autism Spectrum Disorder; or with anxiety or depressive disorder?
YOUR ANSWER:
Teamwork
It’s important that you are able to demonstrate initiative and to build friendly, professional relationships with the other members
of the CBS staff who’ll be working on your team. To get the most out of this experience you’ll need to maintain a positive
attitude, to challenge and support each other; and to negotiate differences of opinion. Briefly describe past situations in which
you’ve been able to plan and accomplish tasks with a team of peers.
YOUR ANSWER:
CONTINUE ON THE NEXT PAGE
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Commitments / Availability for Fall 2015
How many credit hours are you CURRENTLY enrolled in this semester (include semester-long & 8-weeks courses)?
YOUR ANSWER:
There are no prerequisite courses required to enroll in P457 – first years, sophomores, juniors, and seniors are welcome. IF
you’re invited to participate in the ABA Field Experience, you will be required to enroll in a 2-credit unit course (P457).
If you enrolled in P457 for 2-credit units, how many credit hours would you be enrolled in this semester in total? Would you plan
to adjust your schedule by dropping a class?
YOUR ANSWER:
Fees: If you’re currently registered for 12-16 credits, you will not incur any cost to add P457. If you’re currently enrolled in fewer
than 12 credits or in 17 or more credits, then you will be charged tuition / fees to add P457. Check Tuition & Fee Rates
(http://bursar.indiana.edu/home/index.php/tuition-fee-rates/) and call Student Central if you have questions
(http://studentcentral.indiana.edu/register/index.shtml). How much will you have to pay in tuition / fees to enroll in P457?
YOUR ANSWER:
What other obligations will you have during the Fall semester in terms of part-time jobs, internship experiences, volunteering,
student or community groups? Indicate the total number of hours per week you’ll be dedicating to these activities.
YOUR ANSWER:
Are there any dates during the semester - other than Fall Break and Thanksgiving Break that you will not be available to work?
Exactly which dates? For what reason(s)?
YOUR ANSWER:
You must have reliable transportation to get to the CBS office and to the homes of clients. Do you have a valid driver’s license?
Do you own or have consistent access to a reliable car? Can you provide proof of valid auto insurance? Are you willing to
transport a client from their home to a location in which they’ll receive therapy?
YOUR ANSWER:
References
List 3 references below – people who know you well. List each person’s full name, how they know you (employer, professor,
volunteer coordinator…), and provide their current email and phone number. Do not use family members or friends as references
unless you do not have any other references. Tip: Contact anyone you list to ask them if it is okay to list them as a reference and/or
to let them know about that you’ve applied for the position. CBS will contact your references!
Name – Relationship to You (Employer, Professor, Supervisor) – Current Email & Phone Number
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Complete the schedule below AFTER you’ve completed registration for your Fall 2015 classes.
Field experience students will be assigned to do training, administrative tasks, and work with clients based on
their availability.
Complete the calendar below by typing “AVAIL” in the box for each hour-long period during which you’re
AVAILABLE to work over the ENTIRE Fall 2015 semester. Fill in ALL boxes for which you are available.
IMPORTANT: Allow at least 30-minutes for travel between home, campus, work and CIP. You’ll be expected to arrive
early at CIP for your meetings and appointments and may occasionally need to stay a few minutes late. It is not
appropriate to expect to be able to leave a few minutes early to get to your next commitment. Example: If you have a
class that lets out at 1:10 pm then you are not available for an off-campus meeting until 1:45 at the earliest.
Sunday
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