Choosing the right ABA therapy provider is a very important decision for a family with a child with autism. Many key factors should be considered to make sure the provider you choose is the right fit for your child and lifestyle. This process can feel daunting but don’t worry. We’ve compiled a list of eight questions to help you get started.
8 Questions to Ask ABA Providers
1. What type of training and experience do the providers have in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy?
If you are considering an early intervention center-based ABA therapy program, your child will be spending anywhere from 20–40 hours a week there. With your child spending so much time in the therapy center, you want to ensure that all therapists are well-trained and experienced working with young children with autism. Make sure the ABA therapy program is made up of BCBAs (Board Certified Behavior Analysts) who are graduate-level professionals in behavior analysis. They will be creating your child’s treatment plan, working with the child directly at times, and supervising RBTs (Registered Behavior Technicians) who execute the treatment plan and collect/analyze data. You can learn more about our clinical leadership on our Clinical Excellence page.
2. What will the therapy involve, how often will sessions occur, and how long will they last?
These questions are extremely important. What exactly is your child doing at the center all day? Staff should be able to provide parents with a mock schedule during the center tour. When do the children eat? Is there nap time? Do children go outside? These are all valid things to ask.
The format of every center will be slightly different. However, here at Ally, our children participate in group activities such as circle time and lunch, in addition to one-on-one sessions with therapists for discrete trial training or other skills in their treatment plan. Our centers offer speech and occupational therapy services as well. If your child needs these services in addition to ABA, frequency and format should be discussed. It can also be beneficial to find a provider offering most services your child needs so your schedule is simpler.
3. What are the recommended number of hours of therapy per week?
There are both part-time and full-time centers. Recommendations vary depending on the child’s needs and the provider’s assessment; research often discusses up to 40 hours as an intensive model for early intervention ABA. Parents should consult with their diagnosing physician or pediatrician to determine what is appropriate.
ABA therapy is not a replacement for school. Once a child reaches the age to enter the school system, that should become the priority—often affecting the amount of time available for therapy. Ask providers whether their offerings are full-time, part-time, in-home, and/or flexible. Many families continue part-time ABA once their child is school age.
4. What is the cost of the therapy?
Most insurance plans now cover much of the cost associated with ABA therapy. Consult with your insurance provider to confirm the provider is in-network and to review your coverage, since every policy is different. Families are often responsible for deductibles and/or copays. If you are exploring services at Ally, our team can also help you understand enrollment steps on our Enrollment page.
5. How does the program measure progress and outcomes?
Once therapy begins, you’ll want to know how your child is progressing. Ask how the center measures progress and what data or documentation they provide to show baseline skills and improvement over time. Ask how they assess skills at intake and throughout enrollment.
Baseline assessments help determine where a child is starting, and BCBAs build plans to help children progress. Ask how assessments are conducted and whether the environment and evaluator remain consistent. Experienced providers should be able to answer these questions clearly.
6. How many staff members will be involved in the therapy?
The number of staff involved is important. Children often make more progress when they have consistent relationships with familiar providers. A solid plan typically includes a consistent group of therapists to support rapport, accuracy in data collection, and clear communication with parents.
Ask how many therapists work with each child and how often, if ever, staffing changes. Staff turnover can happen in ABA and childcare; however, high turnover can make consistency harder. Ask how the center maintains continuity of care.
7. What will the parent’s role be in the therapy?
While children are the daily focus, parents play an important role in success. Parent input helps shape goals and priorities, because parents know their child best. This involvement helps ensure therapy targets the most meaningful skills while building on existing strengths.
8. How will therapists communicate with the parent about progress and any changes that need to be made?
Effective communication between parents and staff is essential. A good provider should check in regularly, share updates, and communicate changes. Ask what their guidelines are for updates, how you’re notified, and how frequently communication occurs.
Parent training is a required component of ABA services so that techniques used at the center can generalize to the home setting. If the provider offers occupational and speech therapy services, ask how communication is coordinated across disciplines.
Summary
We hope that these eight questions provide a strong foundation for what to look for and ask when searching for an ABA therapy provider.
Do you have a young child who is not yet enrolled in school? Check out another one of our articles to learn more about
“Early Intervention Autism Therapy”.
Give us a call at (240) 342-2666 to find out more information about Ally Behavior Centers ABA therapy and
diagnostic evaluations for autism;
we’d be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. You can also start with our Contact Us page.