ABA therapy at ABC

What is ABA therapy?

Applied behavior analysis uses behavioral principles to help autistic children develop new skills and make positive changes in their lives. At ABC, we use play-based teaching methods that have been proven through research to unlock growth and learning for children on the spectrum. 

ABA at ABC involves one-on-one sessions where therapists use positive reinforcement to teach and model behaviors. They work with each child to break down new skills into small, achievable steps.

What ABA therapy methods do you use?

Our ABA therapy providers use two training methods: Natural Environment Teaching (NET) and Discrete Trial Training (DTT). Both methods are used to help children build meaningful skills in ways that fit their learning style and therapy goals.

Natural Environment Testing
NET uses a child's natural surroundings in an engaging play space to teach important skills. This technique can help children apply what they’re learning to real-life situations, making lessons more relevant and effective. While children lead the play experience, our clinicians are actively working on creating learning opportunities in the moment based on preselected goals. Working 1:1 with your child, our autism therapists teach skills such as appropriate play, name recognition, sharing, and motor skills through activities that the child already enjoys.

Discrete Trial TrainingDTT is an ABA technique that breaks down new skills into small, manageable steps. Each step includes a prompt, the child’s response, and positive reinforcement. This process is repeated until the child learns the new behavior or skill. DTT may consist of table work, matching games, imitation practice, and other targeted tasks, all tailored to your child’s needs and abilities. DTT is especially useful for introducing new concepts or teaching step-by-step routines.

What are target behaviors in ABA?

In applied behavior analysis, target behaviors refer to the specific actions or habits that are the focus of therapy. These can be skills we want to teach, such as sharing toys or making eye contact, or behaviors we want to reduce, like aggression or elopement (running away). The goal of ABA is not only to decrease unwanted behavior but also to teach meaningful alternatives that help children thrive at home, school, and in the community.

Our clinicians focus on two core goals during ABA therapy:

1. Understanding behavior

We look at why a behavior is happening. What is the child trying to communicate, gain, or avoid? Once we understand the function of a behavior, we can teach a more appropriate way for the child to meet the same need.

2. Teaching new skills

We assess the child's current abilities and identify the skills they need to develop, such as communication, social interaction, self-care, and school readiness. These goals are always personalized and developed in collaboration with the family.

Often, challenging behaviors stem from a missing skill. That’s why these two goals go hand in hand: as we teach new, more effective skills, we frequently see challenging behaviors decrease naturally.

The beauty of ABA is that it is both a science and highly individualized. Some children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) respond best to structured tools, such as token boards and visual schedules. Others thrive in natural play-based learning environments. Our therapists tailor each child’s program to fit their unique strengths, needs, and learning style.

What does ABA therapy help with​?

ABA therapy helps children with ASD develop meaningful and functional skills that they can apply to their everyday lives. Parents also receive training to support the generalization of these skills across different settings and with different people.

ABA therapy can help children grow in many important areas:

Reach practical goals with ABA therapy

No two children with autism are the same. Some children on the autism spectrum are nonverbal and need help developing communication skills, while others may struggle with repetitive and self-injurious behaviors. Because each child is unique, our Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) set individualized goals after discussing family goals and comprehensively assessing each child’s needs.

After evaluating your child, our BCBAs will identify their current strengths and abilities as well as the areas that need skill development. We will also provide strategies for families to apply these skills in real-life situations.

We collaborate with families to set measurable goals for their child's time with us. Our ABA therapy for autism is tailored to meet your family’s needs, and we focus on teaching practical skills for everyday life. Examples of measurable goals for a child in ABA therapy may include:

Does ABA therapy mean my child is “stuck” at a table all day?

No way! At Action Behavior Centers, we create an exciting environment for learning. While sitting at a table may be a developmental goal for school readiness, there are so many other skills to learn and fun to have.

Our centers feature designated “Eats and Crafts” spaces, which are used daily for creative and engaging activities. Circle Time, another daily highlight, brings therapists, BCBAs, and children together to sing, laugh, and learn. Children can also explore our sensory rooms, which are expertly designed to offer opportunities for trying new things and building essential visual processing and fine motor skills.

What does a typical day of ABA therapy look like?

Before therapists begin working on a child’s specific goals, they want to make sure the child is comfortable in their new environment. The first few ABA therapy sessions are all about establishing rapport, figuring out a child’s favorite toys and games, and what makes them laugh.

At Action Behavior Centers, each team is structured with one BCBA supervisor and nine RBTs. The RBTs will deliver therapy as directed by the BCBA for up to eight children. This caseload is much smaller than other ABA therapy centers! We believe it’s important to always have an extra set of hands on deck to ensure the highest level of care and attention for the children we serve.

This is what a typical day of ABA therapy may look like:

How expensive is ABA therapy?

ABA therapy is covered by most private health insurance plans, and Action Behavior is in-network with the largest health insurers in the country. However, health insurance can be tricky to navigate. Our insurance specialists will check your insurance eligibility and handle the paperwork on your behalf. Allow us to do the heavy lifting so that you can focus on what truly matters – supporting your child.

Learn more about the insurance plans we work with and how we can help make ABA therapy affordable for your family.