ABA Therapy Programs

Not all organizations operate the same way, but there are some general steps you can expect to go through when starting out with a new ABA therapy provider. If you decide to work with Ascend Autism, we will assist you through each of these steps in order to begin scheduling therapy sessions as quickly as possible.

Step 1: Contact an ABA Services Provider

After receiving a diagnosis, you should contact a clinical professional to set up an initial consultation for ABA therapy. For this meeting, you should be prepared to answer several specific questions about your child and your family. This information will be used when developing the most appropriate treatment plan.

Step 2: Assessment for a Customized Treatment Plan
Once your insurance benefits have been verified, you will schedule an assessment with a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). The BCBA will determine which assessments are the most appropriate for your child.

After all assessments are complete, the BCBA will develop a comprehensive treatment plan. Included in this will be assessment results, treatment goals, therapy schedule, as well as teaching procedures, and data templates used to track progress during therapy.

Once a plan is ready, the BCBA should schedule a meeting with the family/caregivers to review the treatment plan and make any final tweaks before the first therapy session.

Step 3: Begin Therapy Sessions
Usually, direct 1:1 Applied Behavior Analysis therapy is performed via experienced technicians or RBTs (Registered Behavior Technicians). The BCBAs are also intimately involved with all of the programming and treatment planning evaluation for tweaks and improvements.

Throughout therapy, the entire team will provide updates and feedback regarding your child’s progress. Generally, the BCBA will set up monthly meetings to provide formal updates regarding progress and the treatment plan, as well as implement family training.

There is no single correct answer for how long it will take to see improved outcomes from Applied Behavior Analysis therapy. ABA is considered an evidence-based practice (“EBP”) treatment by the U.S. Surgeon General and by the American Psychological Association. 

More than 20 studies have established that intensive and long-term therapy using ABA principles improves outcomes for many, but not all children with ASD. “Intensive” and “long-term” refer to programs providing 25-40 hours per week of therapy for 1-3 years. These studies show gains in language development, social functioning, intellectual functioning, and daily living skills. Studies with adults show similar results.

At Ascend Autism, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst is responsible for evaluating your child and determining the most appropriate treatment plan for their needs.

A BCBA is an individual with expertise in the field of behavior analysis who is responsible for designing targeted intervention and assessment plans while overseeing Registered Behavior Technicians (“RBTs”) and other therapists. All BCBAs are required to possess a Master’s Degree in ABA, Psychology, or Education. They are also required to complete over 1,500 hours of direct fieldwork with ABA programs, spending about 50% of those hours learning how to work on ABA programming and data analysis. During the fieldwork, existing BCBAs supervise BCBAs in training helping guide them through their fieldwork. After all coursework and fieldwork are complete, BCBAs are required to pass the BCBA examination through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB), a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation established in 1998 to meet professional credentialing needs identified by behavior analysts, governments, and consumers of behavior analysis services.

A BT or RBT is primarily responsible for the direct implementation of behavior-analytic services and practices under the close supervision of a BCBA. Behavior Techs typically work one-on-one with the child in therapy sessions but do not design the intervention or assessment plans. 

Following successful performance as a BT, many pursue the advanced step of becoming an RBT. RBT is a nationally recognized certification from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB). To achieve the certification, one must complete 40-hours of training, pass a competency assessment, and a proctored exam. After receiving the certification, an RBT is cleared to work with children with ASD. RBTs are required to complete annual competency assessments to maintain their credentials.