Hiring Therapists

Hiring therapists can be a challenge. There is no more important job than choosing the right people to work with your child with special needs. I have had great success in hiring the right therapists to work with my boys, and because of that we have an excellent in-home team. I currently have 4 aides, and we've had so little turnover that every therapist we've hired has been with us a year or more.

There are a few great resources I know of to advertise for therapists/aides. These resources can be beneficial whether looking for aides to do ABA therapy, play therapy, provide respite time, transport your child to school or therapies, serve as a school aide, etc. Here are a few options that could help you and your child:

1. The Lantern: I have had incredible response when I have placed a classified ad in The Lantern, Ohio State's student newspaper. The cost to advertise is inexpensive and I have received 20-50 responses to every ad I have placed. If this sounds like a good option for you, here is a link to The Lantern's classifieds:
http://adproserver.soj.ohio-state.edu/online/entry/start.do?refresh=true

2. ABA Connections: I found our lead therapist on this website, and she has been with us more than 2 years now. This is a free service that allows families looking for aides to post a personal ad, and vice versa. If interested, check out this website:
www.abaconnections.com

3. Otterbein College: This is another free option that can get your ad to college students at Otterbein. You can send an email to the psychology department at MAman@otterbein.edu and they will place an ad on the bulletin board in the psychology department as well as the career center.

4. My favorite way to find therapists...word of mouth from your fellow autism mommies. I have 4 therapists on my boys' in-home team. I have shared 3 of them with close friends, and the fourth was sent to me by someone already on my team. This is the easiest and often best way to find the best therapists. Ask around, ask your friends if they have any aides looking for more hours, and ask your current team if they know any other therapists that would be a good addition to your child's team.

Hiring therapists can be a very selective process, and it should be. Only interview the best applicants, and when they come to your home, see how they interact with your child. My older son has truly chosen every team member I've hired. As the parent, you can ask all the right questions, and the therapist may give you all the right answers...but the most important factor should be how the therapist interacts with your child. Does your child warm up to them? Do they get down on your child's level and play and seem comfortable with your child? Do they seem energetic and willing to learn and adapt? My lead aide had never done this before I hired her, she was a swim instructor. She did have experience with kids, just not in a therapy environment, and not much experience with kids on the spectrum yet. But when I saw her interaction with my son I knew she should be a part of our team. With my other 3 therapists it was the same. They had experience in the field, but the most important factor was how my boys warmed up to them...and it was an instant connection. One of my favorite interviews was an aide who barely knew I was in the room she was so engaged with my son. Keep this in mind when you choose your team. Education and knowledge are a great background, but that won't impress your child - their playfulness and the right connection could make all the difference :-)