ABA SERVICES
The focus of our Behavior Therapists (BCBA, BCaBA, RBT) is to foster a nurturing relationship with your child as this helps to facilitate the behavior therapy process that will enable your child to reach their full potential.
ELIGIBILITY
At this time, patients must meet these criteria to participate in therapy at the ABA Clinic.
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Age 18 months – 10 years
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Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
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Coverage through Medicaid or parent who is able to cover the cost of therapy out of pocket
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Available for recommended amount of time for treatment
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Able to participate in parent training
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Available from 8am-12 pm or 1pm-5pm
INITIAL EVALUATION
When a child is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), the child’s or family’s physician can make a referral. It should be noted, a physician referral is not required. Referrals can also come from parents seeking positive ways to influence their child’s behavior or enhance other forms of therapy, such as physical, occupational, or speech therapies.
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Upon referral,our facility contacts the family and sends a questionnaire to gather information about symptoms and family history. When the following items are received, clinic staff schedules a tour and an ABA evaluation:
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Proof of diagnosis
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Completed intake questionnaire
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Confirmation of insurance coverage*
PLANNING
After the evaluation, our Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) will then work with you to develop a ABA therapy plan that will be carried out at home or at our clinic. ABA therapy is a highly structured treatment found to be most effective when modifying the behaviors to that of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
BEST PRACTICES
The best way for your child to benefit from our planning is by using events occurring in your child’s home or school as the foundation for therapy sessions. In short, we attempt to integrate therapy into the child’s everyday life to make the experience more “real.” By having your child quickly make connections between what is learned during therapy and what is happening in the immediate environment, our goal is to make your child’s new communication skills a permanent part of his or her daily life.
In addition to providing therapy sessions, we constantly offer support and guidance to parents, the child’s teacher and classroom curriculum (if desired) and any of the child’s caregivers to ensure the child’s therapy goals are being incorporated on a daily basis. This concept of “whole child” development, thoroughly involving key people in the child’s life, is an essential part of our service model.
Lastly, to further reinforce all of the skills your child acquires during therapy sessions, the therapist will give your child “fun work”, which is brief yet comprehensive work to complete along with you. Our goal is to help children communicate better and to involve parents in the process.
POST EVALUATION
After 3-6 months of therapy sessions (depending on your child’s age and needs), we provide a follow-up evaluation to measure the child’s progress. As with the initial evaluation, our BCBA informs parents of the results and recommends the next course of action, which may include decreasing the frequency or duration of therapy sessions, ending the therapy sessions, or increasing therapy sessions. Again, because every child is unique, each reevaluation factors in the child’s age, needs, abilities, and parental concerns.
