One of our students in special education called her mother and asked her to get her out of school. She asked why God hated her because he made her so dumb that she had to watch Barney videos with the “special” kids. Another has delivered mail for years as part of her “schooling”. Both learn very well when taught.
In another school, the “special” kids are placed in a large room where the students are kept minimally busy and the EAs (Educational Assistants) socialize.
How does anyone justify working in such organizations? Why do some choose the hammock and others the plow?
Back to the finish of the Community Reinforcement Approach to Alcohol Rehabilitation from the book: Shadow Dancing on the Grave of Hope:
Notice the last paragraph–Although the Community Reinforcement Approach is the most effective alcoholism treatment, but is not used in one government treatment programs.
“The program was constructed with as many effective elements as possible, each one of which has been demonstrated as successful on its own. Arrangements were made to provide the drug disulfiram (Antabuse) at certain times. Drinking alcohol after taking disulfiram produces nausea and vomiting. A Job Club provided techniques to find a job which was permanent, satisfying, well-paying and produced wider social contacts. Reciprocity Marriage Counseling was provided for those who were married. Advice was provided on how to improve the person’s social and recreational activities. A buddy procedure was instituted to provide practical advice on everyday problems. The client was taught refusing skills to be used when someone offered alcohol. The client was taught relaxation skills to control drinking urges. The client was taught positive methods for dealing with difficult social situations. A synthetic family was created for clients who were alone. Contracts were drawn up with those who had social relations with the client. The client agreed to do certain things and abstain from certain things. In return, the other person agreed to provide the client with certain things such as companionship. A social club was set up to provide social meetings without alcohol. An early-warning system was in place to alert the counsellors to impending trouble with alcohol. Daily reports were reviewed during the early part of the program. Some clients were encouraged to adopt pets to alleviate loneliness. All of these program components were used in the community in the context of the client’s everyday life. Alcohol use was recorded by the client and others in his environment.
The investigators provide a composite of the clients in the experimental group. "Carl" was currently married but his marriage was in trouble, had no friends but his "drinking buddies", had been hospitalized three times for excessive drinking and had not worked regularly for seven months. He took his Antabuse regularly, used the Job Club techniques to find the best job he had ever had, went to the social club meetings and received marital counseling. His wife, agreeing to give the marriage one more chance, ensured that he continued to take his Antabuse. Using the principles of the behavioral counselling, Carl thanked her regularly for her help. He got a better job and established new friendships and reestablished old ones outside his former drinking group. His friends called him "a completely new man". Carl was a completely new man because he was doing completely new things. The program had placed him in a different world of reinforcers which drinking would have eliminated. I wonder what happened to Carl’s "deep personality structure" which "motivated" his drinking as he tried to "escape the demons of his past".
In spite of its success, relative low cost and comprehensiveness, the Community Reinforcement Approach, according to Stanton Peele, ”is not in regular use at a single treatment center in the United States.” ”
Cheerio and ttfn,
Grant Coulson
November 29, 2009 at 9:04 pm |
is this quoted from a report?
November 30, 2009 at 11:10 am |
Both are from personal observation. The first was from a student we saw on Saturday. The second was from a mother of an autistic child who works at a school. I expect no less from government workers.
Cheers, Grant Coulson