What is ABA therapy and what is it’s purpose?

Yes, in order to move forward with services through the company and with insurance, a comprehensive evaluation completed by a licensed diagnostic medical professional will need to be completed. Your primary care physician should be able to assist you in a referral to find a professional.

The length of ABA services is different for every child and depends on their individual needs, goals, and progress. Some children benefit from short-term, focused support, while others may require longer-term services that will span over multiple years as they grow.

It’s also important to note that coverage for ABA services can be dependent on your insurance plan. In many cases, services may be available through insurance up until age 21, as long as they are considered medically necessary. We work closely with families and funding sources to ensure services are appropriate, effective, and aligned with your child’s needs.

An adult 18 years or older must be present in the home during our therapy hours. Caregivers do not need to participate in the entirety of the sessions, but are encouraged to observe for periods of time. The more involved you are in your child’s therapy, the better you will be able to implement the learned strategies into your daily life. However, parents are required to participate in caregiver support training with the BCBA.

The number of ABA therapy hours your child may need each week depends on their individual strengths, needs, and goals. After a comprehensive assessment, our team will recommend a schedule that is tailored specifically to support your child’s development.

Some children benefit from a more focused schedule of 10–15 hours per week, while others who need more intensive support may receive 20–40 hours per week. These recommendations are based on factors such as age, skill level, areas of need, and how your child responds to intervention.

Yes! We strongly encourage families to incorporate community-based sessions to help your child generalize the skills they are learning at home into real-life situations. These outings may include trips to the park or local library, visits to the grocery store, or attending doctor’s appointments—especially in settings that may be challenging for your child. Our trained staff will support you and your child during these experiences, helping to build confidence and ease transitions across environments.

We also collaborate closely with other professionals involved in your child’s care, such as speech therapists, occupational therapists (OT), and physical therapists (PT). Please note that ABA services cannot occur simultaneously with these therapies. Additionally, we value working alongside your child’s school team to support their success. If you are interested in having a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) provide one-on-one support within the classroom, this can be explored in collaboration with school staff and must be approved by the school.

ABA therapy is a separate service from speech therapy, occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), and feeding therapy. Each of these disciplines has its own area of expertise and licensed professionals who provide specialized care.

However, ABA therapy often overlaps in skill areas such as communication, daily living skills, motor planning, and feeding-related behaviors. Within our scope of practice, we can support and reinforce many of these foundational skills—such as requesting, following directions, tolerating new foods, or participating in self-care routines.

Our team works collaboratively with other providers to ensure consistency across all services. We also stay up to date through ongoing training and continuing education so we can ethically and effectively support your child’s progress while remaining within our professional scope.

No—ABA therapy does not replace school. It is designed to support your child’s success in school and other settings, not take the place of their education.

ABA focuses on building skills that help your child learn and function more independently, such as communication, following directions, social interaction, and daily routines. These skills often carry over directly into the classroom and can improve your child’s ability to participate and succeed at school.

Depending on your child’s needs, ABA services may take place after school, in the home, or in the community. In some cases, ABA providers can collaborate with your child’s school team or even provide support within the school setting if approved by the district.

Our goal is to work alongside your child’s education—not replace it—so they can thrive across all environments.

In most cases, yes—ABA therapy is covered by insurance. Most private insurance plans and Medicaid plans include coverage for ABA services when they are considered medically necessary, typically for individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Coverage can vary depending on your specific insurance provider and plan. Factors such as the number of approved hours, required documentation, and any out-of-pocket costs (like copays or deductibles) will differ. In Ohio, many insurance plans provide coverage for ABA services up to age 21, though approval is still based on medical necessity.

Our team works closely with families to verify benefits, obtain authorizations, and help navigate the insurance process so you can focus on your child’s care.

ABA therapy focuses on understanding why a behavior is happening and then teaching safer, more appropriate ways for your child to meet that same need.

Our process begins with a functional assessment, where we look at what happens before, during, and after a behavior to identify its purpose (for example: gaining attention, escaping a task, accessing something preferred, or sensory needs). Once we understand the “why,” we create an individualized plan to support your child.

We will use this information to teach replacement skills, by using positive reinforcement, modifying the environment, and building self-regulation skills.