How ABC Delivers Meaningful Outcomes in ABA Therapy

At Action Behavior Centers, we focus on what truly matters to families: meaningful outcomes for their children. In everything we do, we strive to provide quality care, contribute to scientific research, and deepen our understanding of applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

From the initial tour to intake, and from Family Guidance to graduation, we carefully design each step of our processes to provide the best early intervention services for the children we serve. Throughout your child’s time with us, Clinical Directors regularly review their progress through a thorough case review to ensure the highest quality of care.

In order to do this, we focus on:

• Hiring and training skilled teammates
• Maintaining small clinician-to-child caseloads 
• Involving families in assessments and therapies whenever possible

Setting goals that matter most to families

We track how well ABA therapy works by focusing on specific, practical goals families often have when seeking Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI) services:

• Help their child develop language, social, and adaptive skills to prepare for school
• Address behaviors that impact their child’s health and safety
• Improve their child’s quality of life
• Reduce stress for the whole family

We evaluate progress at intake, during treatment, at discharge, and through follow-ups. Progress is measured through standardized assessment tools, observations during treatment, and feedback from the family.

What is the ABA therapy success rate?

A scoping review published in the Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities in May 2022 analyzed more than 770 study records and found that 63% to 88% of cases reported positive outcomes from ABA therapy for autism, including improvements in cognitive and social skills.¹

Real ABA results: 86% drop in challenging behaviors

Many families worry about behaviors that affect their child’s health and safety, such as self-injury (e.g., biting, head-banging), aggression, property destruction, and elopement (wandering away). To address these, we work with families to create individualized behavior intervention plans. One of our goals is to help children reduce challenging behaviors by at least 80% within their first year of ABA therapy.

In a 2021 study involving 20 children ages 2 to 6 who received at least one year of ABA therapy, we found:

• Challenging behaviors decreased by 86%
• Improvements were sustained even with a 20% reduction in weekly therapy hours
• Aggression and property destruction showed the most significant reductions

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Access the full White Paper here →

Reducing parental stress through ABA therapy

The PSI-4 SF is a survey that measures the stress associated with parenting. Parents of children with ASD have been shown to often experience higher levels of stress.² At Action Behavior, parents complete the PSI at intake and every six months. In our October 2023 analysis of 298 families:

• Average parenting stress scores dropped from the 57th to the 53rd percentile after one year.
• Families reporting the highest stress levels (93rd percentile) saw scores fall to the 80th percentile. 

This data highlights the tangible impact of ABA therapy not just on children diagnosed with ASD, but also on their families. By reducing this stress, families are better able to focus on building positive connections, supporting their child's progress, and enjoying day-to-day life.

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How to manage parent burnout during ABA therapy

Supporting your child through ABA therapy can be meaningful and encouraging, but it can also feel exhausting at times. Between appointments, daily routines, and emotional demands, it’s common for parents to feel stretched thin. Recognizing burnout early and building in support can make a real difference.

Practical ways to reduce parent burnout include:

• Noticing early signs of burnout, such as ongoing fatigue, irritability, or feeling overwhelmed
• Celebrating small steps and progress, even when change feels slow
• Sharing responsibilities and talking openly with your ABA team about what’s working and what’s not
• Scheduling short breaks and personal time, even in small doses
• Staying connected with other parents who understand and can offer support

Taking care of yourself is an important part of supporting your child. When parents feel supported, they’re better equipped to show up for both their child and themselves.

Early intervention supports school readiness

At Action Behavior Centers, our early intervention services can help children diagnosed with autism start school on time alongside their peers. In fact, many younger autistic children make significant progress with ABA therapy. By the time they reach school age, children who have received ABA therapy are often functioning at the same level as their neurotypical classmates.

No matter your child’s needs, our autism therapy services aim to prepare them for the least restrictive and most inclusive school environments possible. To measure our impact in this area, we surveyed 77 families whose children completed our ABA programs:

• Of the 47 families who chose school rather than continuing services, 22 responded (47%). Among those, 10 families (45%) indicated their child was in a general education placement for at least half of the day.
• Of the 30 families with a program graduate, 19 responded (63%), and 17 families (89%) reported their child was in a general education placement for at least half of the day.

A follow-up survey later in the year showed that all 13 families who responded confirmed their child’s school placement remained the same.
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Learn more: How to Help Autistic Children in the Classroom

Ongoing research on ABA therapy outcomes

At Action Behavior Centers, we continually collect data to serve families better. You can view our latest research updates here. Our outcomes research evaluates progress using a variety of assessment tools, such as:

• Bracken School Readiness Assessment (BSRA-3): This standardized assessment is one measure of a child’s school readiness that examines their understanding of basic concepts like colors and numbers. We use the BSRA-3  throughout treatment as one measure of progress.
• Skill assessments: At intake and every six months, our Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) use special tools to assess a child’s skills. These results guide our goal-setting and curriculum selection, which can help children build strong foundations in learning, communication, adaptive skills, and social interactions. Some of the tools we use may include:
  
  
  • Verbal Behavior Milestones and Placement Program (VB-MAPP)
  • Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills (ABLLS-R)
    
    
• Autism Impact Measure (AIM): The AIM tracks how autism affects a child’s day-to-day life. While early research supports AIM’s reliability, most studies lack diversity. To address this, Action Behavior Centers is partnering with Western Psychological Services (the publisher of the AIM), Dr. Ivy Chong (Little Leaves, Inc.), and Dr. Ryan Martin (Mosaic Pediatric Therapy) to ensure our research includes children from diverse racial, ethnic, and language backgrounds.

Learn more:

• Demonstrating Large-Scale Success with ABA Therapy at ABC
• ABA Study: the Reduction of Challenging Behavior through Early Intensive and Comprehensive ABA Therapy

Get started with ABA therapy at Action Behavior Centers

At Action Behavior, we combine evidence-based practices with frequent Family Guidance sessions to make a real difference in the lives of autistic children. We are more than just an ABA therapy center—we’re a supportive community that welcomes families with open arms. We are here for every milestone, every challenge, and every success.

• We promise to celebrate your child’s individuality  
• We promise to help your child reach milestone moments
• We promise to advocate for your child in everything we do
• We promise to honor your family’s dynamics and values

We offer no-cost ADOS-2 autism assessments and personalized center-based ABA therapy with no waitlists. Schedule a no-cost autism assessment today or visit one of our ABA therapy centers near you to begin your child’s journey toward milestone moments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can autism be cured?

Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition. ABA therapy does not “cure” autism, but it can help children build important communication, social, and daily living skills that improve independence and quality of life.

How long does ABA therapy take to work?

Many families begin to see early progress within the first few months of consistent ABA therapy. Meaningful, lasting outcomes typically develop over time and depend on factors such as a child’s age, goals, and the intensity of ABA therapy.

• Learn more: How Long Does ABA Therapy Last?

How does certification improve ABA therapy outcomes?

Certification helps ensure that ABA therapy is delivered consistently, ethically, and according to established clinical standards. At Action Behavior Centers, all Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs^®) are credentialed and registered through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB^®). In addition, every teammate working directly with children completes the Registered Behavior Technician^® (RBT^®) credentialing process.

These requirements support a shared foundation of training, oversight, and accountability across all centers. By holding our clinical teams to clear professional standards, we help promote quality care, strong clinical decision-making, and better outcomes for the children and families we serve.

How many hours of ABA therapy are needed to see meaningful progress?

There is no single number of hours that works for every child. Some children benefit from comprehensive ABA therapy that targets multiple skill areas and requires a higher level of support. Others benefit from focused ABA therapy, where goals are concentrated in a smaller number of areas.

The recommended level of care depends not just on the number of goals, but on the intensity of support a child needs to make progress. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA®) determines the most appropriate approach by considering the child’s age, individual needs, and family priorities.

Consistency plays an important role. Regular therapy hours and ongoing communication with the care team help children practice skills over time and support steady progress. Therapy hours may change as a child grows and goals evolve, with the focus always on building skills that last.

Does parent involvement improve ABA therapy’s success?

Family Guidance is a collaborative part of your child’s therapy journey at ABC. These sessions give you and your BCBA the chance to work together on meaningful goals that support your child’s progress both in and outside of the center.

No two families are the same, so each Family Guidance plan is personalized. Your BCBA will help you identify what matters most to you right now, whether that’s building communication skills, reducing target behaviors, or creating smoother daily routines. Together, you’ll set goals that fit your lifestyle and help your child reach important milestones at home, school, and in the community.