Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is a behavioral intervention that helps individuals with autism strengthen social skills, communicate their needs, regulate their emotions and become more independent.
Research shows that children who receive ABA therapy early in life have more positive outcomes later in life. For children who have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), early intervention with ABA therapy can dramatically impact their quality of life for years to come.
Finding the right therapy center is crucial for a child with autism in order to ensure they receive the necessary ABA therapy to thrive. If you’ve been struggling to find the right ABA therapy center in your area, we’re here to help.
The team at Stride Autism Centers understands the necessity of combining compassionate care with reliable and convenient programs to help meet each family’s individual needs. We’ll explain what you should consider when choosing your child’s ABA therapy center.
Understanding the Basics of ABA Therapy
ABA therapy, especially with children, is not like a talk therapy session you might attend as an adult. Children engaged in ABA therapy are often playing and learning in their ABA therapy center part time or full time (up to eight hours per day). This means your child will spend a lot of time at their ABA therapy center.
ABA centers are staffed with Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) that work directly with your child on skill development and behavior modification. BCBAs, in collaboration with parents, develop an individualized plan for your child’s therapy. Those plans include goal setting, identifying and monitoring strengths, techniques used, and continual monitoring and adjusting of the plan to ensure that progress is being made as fast as possible.
Although ABA therapy centers oversee many children, it is vital that therapy sessions and plans are customized to each child. Autism exists on a spectrum, and each child is different. Therefore, unique needs will need to be considered so that your child has the chance to grow and work on new skills as needed.
The first step in finding the right ABA therapy provider is to do some background research on centers near you.
Research Potential Providers
Many areas have multiple ABA therapy providers. If you live in a smaller town, start by asking your child’s pediatrician or whomever diagnosed your child about the availability of ABA providers in your area. Once you find a list of providers, there are some research tips that may help you narrow down your list.
Credentials
While there is no degree requirement for ABA therapy providers, it is important to look for centers that employ certified behavior analysts such as Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA).
In addition, ask who oversees the therapy center. Generally, psychologists oversee clinical operations and program design. While this isn’t a requirement to operate an ABA therapy center, it holds the center to a higher level of accountability and standards.
Experience
ABA therapy is not new, but continued research into neurodivergent children and the positive outcomes that they experience with ABA therapy means the demand for more providers has increased. New facilities can help make ABA therapy accessible to more families, but it is important to determine whether the ABA therapy center you find has experience with children your child’s age.
If a therapy center primarily works with school-aged children and your child is preschool age, they may not be able to focus on the needs of your child as efficiently as a different facility.
Look for Referrals
Autism affects approximately 1 in 36 children in the United States. Chances are, you know someone who has a child with autism. Asking for referrals and recommendations from friends and acquaintances who have experience with ABA therapists is a good way to find one you may also want to partner with.
In addition, take time to read through the details of positive reviews on Google. Focus on signs of real progress made by former or current clients—these insights can give you a better understanding of how effective the center is and how satisfied other families have been with their services.
Once you’ve narrowed down the list of providers, you can begin to interview them. The interview process is important, and coming to the table with your own questions can help you avoid confusion later.
Ask the Right Questions
Many ABA therapy centers will provide a free consultation to meet with you and your child. During this time, you’ll tour the facility, learn about the credentials of the clinicians working with your child, and get a feel for the center itself.
Although the ABA therapy center will have their own presentation, it’s important to have your questions answered. Here are some questions you can ask to better understand how the facility operates.
1. What is your approach to ABA therapy?
There are varying techniques with ABA therapy (such as discrete trial training (DTT) and positive reinforcement). Understanding which forms a center uses can help you avoid any surprises in the future if you decide to enroll your child.
2. How do you measure progress and adjust treatment plans?
It’s important to know how and when treatment plans will be modified, and what role you will play as a parent. It’s also beneficial to know if a center is using technological devices to record and monitor progress or if they use traditional methods like paper note-taking and visual observation.
3. What qualifications and experience do your therapists have?
The credentials of the staff members working directly with your children is important. Find out how they are certified and where, and how much experience they have working with children your child’s age.
4. How do you involve parents in the therapy process?
As parents, understanding your role means allowing the BCBAs to do their jobs efficiently and allows you to bring home the techniques being used in the center to reinforce them at home.
Transparency and clear, consistent communication is key to a successful relationship with your child’s ABA therapy center. You should feel like your questions are welcome and answered to the fullest.
Consider the Provider’s Location and Availability
No matter how much you love a therapy center, if they aren’t available during hours that work for your family’s schedule it will not be a good fit. Likewise, if you find travel to and from the center troublesome, you may want to find a center close to your home or workplace.
Consistency with ABA therapy is key to success, and missing sessions due to time restrictions and/or travel mishaps can take away from the time your child has to work with their therapist.
Evaluate the Provider’s Approach to Family Involvement
Autism is a family matter, and a family-based approach to ABA therapy is necessary for being most successful. Ask how a potential ABA center involves family members and what will be expected of the family at home.
In addition, talk to the personnel about how they collaborate with your child’s other providers. Speech therapists, educators, and occupational therapists can all collaborate with your child’s ABA therapy center to ensure that goals are aligned and that the skills your child is working on are being focused on across the board.
Lastly, ask about parental involvement during sessions. Some therapy centers have strict policies that do not allow parents to sit in on every session. Also, ask what sessions you will be able to attend and how your feedback will be used to adjust your child’s program goals.
Trust Your Instincts
If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. If you meet with an ABA therapy provider and feel like your questions are being skirted or that the staff aren’t particularly caring, you can look for a different provider. It is vital that both you and your child feel comfortable with the therapy center and staff members so that your child feels safe and free to express themselves fully.
If you and/or your child don’t like the facility you are visiting, keep searching until you find one that you both love. ABA therapy may last between 3-5 years of your child’s life, so finding a provider that checks all your boxes is important. Keep in mind that finding the right provider may involve interviewing numerous facilities.
The Right Fit
Finding the right ABA therapy provider may take a little time, but it’s worth your research. Your child’s ABA provider will work with them for a long time, and it’s important that all the metrics (logistics, family involvement, personalities, and credentials) are all considered.
ABA therapy is the gold standard of treatment for children and individuals with autism, and involving your child in therapy as soon as possible gives them a better chance for successful outcomes as adults.
At Stride Autism Centers, we focus on matching you and your child to a BCBA that is right for you both. We combine compassion, ABA techniques, playtime, one-on-one sessions, family involvement, and new technological innovations to create an atmosphere of learning where your child can truly thrive. Contact us today to explore our ABA therapy services.
Sources:
Treatment and Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorder | CDC.gov
Patient Outcomes After Applied Behavior Analysis for Autism Spectrum Disorder | PMC
US Employment Demand for Behavior Analysts: 2010–2023 | BACB
