I’ve noticed many concepts or theories from my disciplines (learned from my college courses) practiced at AZA United since I started working for this organization. One big theory that applies to my Speech and Hearing discipline (as well as a teaching discipline) is ABA. ABA stands for Applied Behavior Analysis and it concept that all AZA United employees must learn before they habilitate. ABA is a way of not looking at the behavior of a child as good or bad; instead it defines behavior as being measurable, observable, and never occurring in isolation. ABA is a way to objectively look at behavior in order to develop a game-plan that will help improve or increase certain behaviors while replacing the unwanted behavior. Along with ABA there is the concept of Positive/Negative Reinforcement. When habilitating a child with autism, AZA United habilitators use reinforcements which are consequences that support a certain behavior in hopes of increasing the desired behavior. A positive reinforcement would essentially give the child something if they perform the desired behavior (i.e. praise, toy, sticker) while the negative reinforcement is when avoidance occurs to facilitate the behavior. [An example for all you bloggers would be if you were driving on the freeway and see a photo-enforcement sign; you would slow down to avoid a speeding ticket.]
As for the Mass Communications side of my major, AZA United has been actively utilizing the concept of networking. Networking is a strategy used in businesses to build relationships that mutually benefit both parties while also spreading the business to potential clients. Currently, I am contacting various organizations or companies (with the help of the internet – mode of mass media) around Arizona that have similar goals or meet specific needs of our clients. I have been basically been calling and emailing these businesses to obtain information, like brochures and handouts, that I can add to the Resource Library that is intended for professionals, families and people affected by autism. Public Relations is also a concept that AZA United uses. PR is used to connect the organization to its intended audience, or public. With the use of news letters, emails, brochures, word-of-mouth, and public events, AZA United has successfully established a great reputation with its clientele and the community. With the help of public relations, this non-profit organization has really strived in less than 4 years with 200 habilitators to rank number 11 as one of Arizona’s Best Places to Work (Business Journal 2009).
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Ms. Lingman: Your use of both areas of concentrations is spot on. Our generation has the luxury of networking with the touch of a button. Forget the days of letter writing to request institutional information it’s all at our fingertips now. There is more and more information that comes out about Autism and other disabilities that any educator should be able to take advantage of what they can find. Working with special needs children before I moved to New York I totally understand what you see on a daily basis. It takes a lot of patience, as well as a lot of outside information to help these students acclimate to their academic surroundings as well as outside the classroom. I hope using all forms of media within the mass comm. spectrum help you further your educational experiences. I am sure your musical talents are a positive reinforcement for the children. With education becoming more of a national issue, I think more and more information about disabilities will be available to all educators, and places like the AZA United are great to help out the youth of Arizona. –M. Kaphan
ReplyDeleteKira
ReplyDeleteWow your internship sound like so much fun. I actually have to friends who's children have autism. One is a much more sever case than the other. I really like the idea your organizaion has about creating the resource library. There are so many more options for children who suffur with this disease. And the more that word can get spread about them the better. I was shocked when my friend was telling me something as simple as diet, has really helped her son. And with technology and all the great reasearch people are doing, even more help is on it's way for these children.
Suzanne
Hi Kira. Speech and Hearing sounds like a very interesting thing to study. I like the idea of Applied Behavior Analysis in order to understand the behaviors of people, rather than to judge them as right and wrong and make changes to them. The networking side of your internship also sounds like it would be really interesting. I think that more networking needs to occur with organizations that are all striving towards the same goal. I have a friend who works for the Salvation Army, and the networking between his organization and similar ones around town is generally pretty terrible. Better communication between non-profit groups can definitely move everything forward in a very positive way. Good luck with all you do. –Wayne Jepsen
ReplyDeleteHi Kira,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Matt Manning. I think what your doing is very admirable. I too am in a similar situation where I am placed with children in hard places. I work at Phoenix Children's Hospital and sometimes i can see the cancer children and i just want to help out them badly. Do you ever feel like when you create contacts in networking that it is easy? I feel like when i make contacts it is sorta like fishing with dynamite because as soon as i mention PCH whoever i am on the phone with wants to help out in any way that they can. I never thought about the Education side in my applied study but after reading what you have posted i can see how i can apply it in my own practice. Thank you and keep up the good work.
Kira,
ReplyDeleteI agree that Networking is a major and beneficial concept learned through your Mass Communication degree.
It is important to be able to network and obtain contacts of individuals whom you meet along the steps of your career path. Also, networking provides a name for yourself too.
It seems you have been to successfully relate your internship with concepts and theories you have learned, which makes this degree so great! Keep up the good work!
Hey Kira,
ReplyDeleteNetworking is huge these days! Being a Peer Mentor to the freshman I can tell you that they live by networking. Social Events, Friends, and everything they do is through online networking. I think your intership is very unique and different from everyone else! How you are helping the children in need is amazing as well. You have to be a multi-tasker to do what you are doing and there are very few of you these days. It sounds like your on the right track. Good luck with your internship this semester!