What is ABA therapy?
Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is a type of therapy rooted in scientific principles of learning and behavior. Using positive reinforcement, ABA therapists employ a variety of techniques to teach clients new skills and encourage positive adaptive behaviors while reducing harmful or maladaptive behaviors.
ABA is used in a variety of contexts — such as in ADHD, anxiety, and substance abuse treatments — but it is most commonly utilized as an intervention for autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
For children with ASD, ABA therapy is used to address developmental delays in these areas:
- Cognitive functioning (memory, information processing, problem-solving)
- Physical development (gross and fine motor skills)
- Speech and language (listening, speaking, nonverbal communication)
- Social and emotional development (expressing emotions, turn-taking, relating to others, and appropriate play)
- Adaptive self-help skills (sleeping, feeding, bathing, toileting)
- Behavior shaping (gradually reinforcing behaviors that approximate the desired behavior)
Is ABA effective for autism?
Medical research suggests that early intervention ABA therapy shows substantial improvement in skill deficits for children diagnosed with ASD. In one study, researchers found direct correlations between the number of treatment hours and age and the amount of progress participants made during therapy. In other words, the earlier a child enrolls in ABA and the more therapy they receive, the better their outcomes.
ABA therapists consider your child’s unique strengths and challenges as well as your family’s goals when determining therapy objectives, duration, and intensity. Some children only need ten hours of therapy per week, while others (usually younger children) may need forty hours per week to make significant progress in meeting developmental milestones. This highly individualized process is one reason why ABA is an effective intervention for autism.
How do ABA programs work in Hawthorne, NY?
To get started with ABA therapy in Hawthorne, you can enroll directly with an ABA provider or apply through a state-funded Early Intervention Program (EIP).
Insurance-Funded ABA Services
Many centers like Ascend Autism accept insurance for ABA therapy services. Most major insurance providers, including Medicaid, will cover ABA therapy as long as your child has an autism diagnosis.
If you use insurance to pay for ABA services, the cost of treatment will ultimately depend on your insurance plan. At Ascend Autism, we always confirm coverage with your insurance and are transparent about how much you can expect to pay out of pocket. We even offer payment plans to ensure that cost is not a barrier to accessing services.
Unlike state-funded services, insurance-funded ABA therapy does not have an age limit and has more flexibility in terms of treatment duration and hours per week, so it is especially beneficial for children aged six and under, who tend to have more availability.
New York State’s Early Intervention Program (EIP)
New York’s EIP is available to children under three years of age with a developmental disability. Your child must be referred and evaluated by a state-approved professional for eligibility in the program before receiving services. An official autism diagnosis is not required.
EIP services are provided at no cost to you but have limitations. Due to provider availability and reimbursement mechanisms, these programs may not be able to offer enough hours to meet your child’s needs, especially if your child has an autism diagnosis or is suspected of ASD. Children also age out of EIP on their third birthday. There are services for children over three years old, but they are administered via a different program (Committee on Preschool Education or CPSE), which has different requirements and offerings.
Ascend Autism is an approved and contracted EIP provider. If you are interested in EIP services, call (914) 813-5094 to begin the application process.
Ascend Autism’s Approach to ABA
Our approach to ABA therapy uses evidence-based practices and individualized therapy plans to support every family’s journey. We structure our ABA sessions to feel just like a normal day for your child, using naturalistic environments and a play-based approach to activities.
Individualized Therapy Plans
Every ABA therapy plan begins with a Functional Behavior Assessment performed by one of our Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA). During the initial assessment, your BCBA will conduct a parent interview and evaluate your child’s strengths and challenges. Based on those observations and your feedback, you’ll receive a treatment plan with a set of goals for therapy.
Parental involvement is a critical part of our process — after all, no one spends more time with your child than you. We rely on parent feedback to identify areas where your child has made significant progress so that our BCBAs can adjust therapy plans as needed.
In-Home ABA Sessions
In addition to center-based services at our Hawthorne location, we offer in-home ABA sessions throughout Westchester County. All in-home ABA services are performed by trained behavior therapists and Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) who tailor and personalize the therapy programs to your child’s needs.
Some families prefer therapy at home for a number of reasons:
- The familiar environment helps their child stay calm and focused on learning activities.
- Busy parents can save time staying at home, enabling them to complete household tasks while their child receives care.
- Parents, siblings, and extended family can actively participate in the child’s therapy, learning new skills and techniques for managing your child’s needs.
There are drawbacks to in-home therapy, especially for younger children (6 and under). Drawbacks include the lack of socialization with peers, less opportunity for the generalization of skills, the absence of a controlled environment that is often more beneficial for the attainment of certain goals, and a limit on the number of therapy hours that can be effectively delivered without interfering with home-life norms. Our goal is to provide ABA therapy in the most beneficial environment for your child. During your initial assessment with a BCBA, we can discuss the pros and cons of center-based vs. in-home ABA settings in order to determine the best course of action for the whole family.
Center-Based ABA Sessions
Our center-based ABA sessions are delivered at our dedicated therapy centers, such as our Hawthorne location, where we create a structured, engaging environment that mirrors everyday learning settings. In these sessions, your child benefits from a controlled setting designed to enhance focus and foster natural skill generalization, particularly in communication and socialization.
All center-based services are conducted by our experienced team of BCBAs and behavior therapists, who craft individualized therapy programs that combine one-on-one instruction with opportunities for peer interaction.
Some families choose center-based therapy for several reasons:
- The structured setting closely resembles school environments, encouraging consistency and smoother transitions to academic or social settings.
- Children have ample opportunities to engage with peers, which enriches their social and communication skills.
- The controlled environment minimizes distractions, allowing for focused, intensive learning sessions.
As with all therapy options, during your initial assessment, our BCBAs will help you weigh the benefits of center-based sessions against other settings to decide which environment best meets your child’s unique needs.
Social Skills Groups
In addition to individualized ABA sessions, we offer social skills groups designed to nurture your child’s ability to interact confidently with others. These group sessions provide a supportive, structured environment where children can practice communication and social interaction through engaging, play-based activities.
Led by our expert BCBAs and behavior therapists, social skills groups focus on developing practical skills such as turn-taking, active listening, and appropriate conversational cues.
Key benefits of our social skills groups include:
- A dynamic setting that encourages natural peer interactions and the building of friendships.
- Structured activities that promote social problem-solving and effective communication.
- An opportunity to generalize skills learned in one-on-one sessions to real-world social situations.
Our social skills groups complement individualized therapy by offering additional practice in a fun and collaborative environment. During your initial assessment, we will discuss how group sessions might further support your child’s social development alongside their personalized ABA therapy plan.
Trained ABA Therapists
Therapists at Ascend Autism are highly qualified in their field and possess specialized training and certifications in ABA therapy. Our therapy team includes BCBAs, RBTs, and BTs:
Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs): Graduate-level behavior analyst professionals, qualified to administer ABA treatment plans and oversee RBTs and BTs. Every child gets individualized ABA support from a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) during their time at Ascend. Parents also receive recurring, consistent (ideally weekly or bi-weekly) parent coaching sessions to ensure that caregivers are kept up to date with goals and progress and to ensure that progress is generalized outside of Ascend sessions.
Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) and Behavior Technicians (BT): ABA professionals who have received specialized training in behavioral analysis. Behavior technicians work one-on-one with children diagnosed with autism and directly implement ABA treatment plans designed and guided by BCBAs.
ABA Success Stories From Our Hawthorne Clients
We are fortunate to work with so many amazing families across Westchester County. Here are some of our Google reviews from parents who have found success with ABA therapy at Ascend Autism:
“My son is safe, he is happy, improving each day”
Joining Ascend is the best decision my husband and I could have made when it came to obtaining behavioral services for our son. In the short time he has been there has made such progress and we could not be happier. The dedicated staff members are truly wonderful, they go above and beyond to make sure their kiddos and their parents are happy and are reaching goals. Walking into their facility, you will be greeted warmly by Darby, other staff members, and RBTs who are always ready to assist with any questions or concerns you have. They are responsive and always helpful, I can tell how much they all really care about my child and the other kiddos. Every week I meet with my son’s BCBA Sandra for a check-in session where we go over any progress, discuss goals, and implement new programs and strategies to ensure my baby’s success. When I pick up my son each day, he has the biggest smile on his face and I know he’s had a great day and he is being treated well. My son is safe, he is happy, improving each day, and I am learning more than I thought I could about his needs and how to better support him. I only wish we had learned about Ascend sooner! —Elizabeth
“Truly life-changing for our daughter”
Our experience with Ascend Autism has been truly life-changing for our daughter. From the very beginning, the staff has been incredibly supportive, knowledgeable, and attentive to her unique needs. Their personalized therapy plans and consistent communication helped her make remarkable improvements, both socially and behaviorally. We have seen a significant increase in her ability to communicate and interact with others, as well as her confidence in new environments. The therapists are patient, professional, and genuinely care about her progress. If you are lucky enough to have your child paired with Sandra, Tia, and Phardia just know your child is in great hands as they will treat them like their own. Truly though everyone at the center was amazing and very accommodating. From the admin staff to the therapists, each of them developed a special relationship with our daughter and aided in her progress. We are deeply grateful for the positive impact Ascend has had on our daughter’s development. Thank you! —John
“Tremendous strides and noticeable improvements”
Ascend Autism has been a godsend for our family. I had heard horror stories about starting ABA services, but the enrollment process at Ascend was seamless! Gina and Darby were patient with all the questions and constant calls we made to the office. They were always available to assist us.
My son has been at the center for a little over a month now, and he has made tremendous strides and noticeable improvements. My husband and I are grateful for the team at Ascend. Our BCBA provides updates via text and calls about our son’s progress. Our BCBA is proactive and comes up with new ideas that will help our son reach his goals.
The behavior technicians (BTs) are amazing, and our son loves working with them every day. They are well-trained by the BCBAs. We can confidently say we made the right decision by enrolling our son at Ascend. Thank you guys for everything. —Lipa
“The team is caring, genuine and supportive”
Our family loves Ascend. The team is caring, genuine and supportive. Our son has progressed significantly since attending the center and has been receptive to the various programs he’s been a part of. Most importantly, although he is currently nonverbal, he lets us know he feels safe and loved there. As a mom, I am thankful for the work they do every day and the communication we have with everyone there. —Mariela
Enroll in Early Intervention ABA Therapy With Ascend Autism
Ascend Autism provides insurance-funded and state-funded early intervention services in Hawthorne and surrounding Westchester County, NY. Our insurance-funded early intervention program is available to children ages 18 months to seven years old.
In our early intervention program, children receive one-on-one therapy in a naturalistic, play-based setting for a total of 20–40 hours per week. Whether you decide on center-based or in-home therapy, our ABA specialists work closely with you to create a loving and stimulating atmosphere for your child to grow and learn.
To get started with Ascend Autism, learn more about our enrollment process or fill out our online enrollment form. nts and children thrive with consistent, meaningful support.
