What is ABA?
Overview
ABA is an empirically validated treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities. We address skill deficits, like communication and daily living skills, while simultaneously targeting behavior challenges that interfere with the child’s ability to learn from their natural environment.
Each child’s individualized programming is developed based on his/her developmental level so that a solid foundation of prerequisite skills, such as imitation and matching, builds to a more complex repertoire of skills, such as social and pre-academic skills.
Supported by Research
Research supports that starting ABA early (3-5 years old) produces the most positive outcomes. Not surprisingly, researchers also found that the more intensive an ABA program is, the quicker the child progressed through their goals.
Following an initial evaluation, your Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) will determine whether an intensive program is appropriate for your child, and she will recommend a number of weekly treatment hours. This determination is based on age, skill level, verbal abilities, and maladaptive behavior, among other factors.
Goal Development
Following the initial evaluation, the BCBA will develop an curriculum that aligns with your child’s current skill level. Goals are continually developed as the therapists develop a deeper understanding of your child’s capabilities in the first weeks of beginning ABA.
Each week, the ABA team will meet with parents and caregivers during the team meeting. This allows collaboration between parents and the ABA team. Goals are developed as parents provide feedback about their child’s progress and continued challenges outside of ABA session times.
