OUR ABA THERAPY SERVICES
THE INITIAL ASSESSMENT
When services first begin with your child, a BCBA will conduct both formal and informal assessments in order to determine your child’s current levels of functioning and areas of needed skill development. Information obtained from this initial assessment allows the BCBA to pinpoint obstacles that have been preventing your child from acquiring new skills, make recommendations regarding treatment goals, and suggest the number of hours of therapy per week that would be most beneficial to your child.
A comprehensive treatment plan is then developed based upon assessment information and the scientific principles and procedures of Applied Behavior Analysis, ABA. Treatment plans utilize a variety of ABA strategies, such as discrete trial (DTT), verbal behavior, natural environment teaching (NET), and behavior modification programming.
ONGOING ASSESSMENTS
Approximately every 12 months or when otherwise indicated (i.e., a rapid increase in skills occurs), your child will be re-assessed by the BCBA. Your child’s Behavior Technician may assist in this process, as the Behavior tech will be able to contribute valuable information based upon her direct work with your child. This assessment will provide information on skills gained during the past treatment period and allow for necessary changes to be made to the treatment plan.
ASSESSMENTS WE USE
The assessments consist of:
- an agency developed parent interview
- informal behavioral checklists (i.e., the Motivation Assessment Scale, the Functional Assessment Screening Tool, etc.)
- an observation of your child going about daily life (at home during meals, play, transitions, etc. and/or at school).
- VB-MAPP: The Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program
- ABLLS: The Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills
- Vineland
- AFLS: The Assessment of Functional Living Skills
- SSiS
- DAYC-2: Developmental Assessment of Young Children–Second Edition
- ABAS-3
- Functional Behavior Assessment
- Functional Analysis
ONE TO ONE ABA THERAPY
Our Behavior Technicians work individually with your child on the treatment goals developed by you and your team. Treatment is based upon the principles of ABA and utilizes strategies (i.e., DTT, NET, etc.) appropriate to the skills being taught and your child’s individual learning needs.During therapy sessions, we also work on decreasing any interfering behaviors and teaching appropriate replacement behaviors. We strive to make each session engaging and fun by incorporating what is motivating to the child.
In-Home Sessions
In-Home sessions are done in the client’s home. The Behavior Technician will come to the house for sessions and work on programs in a one-on-one setting or with siblings and other family members. Home sessions provide an opportunity to teach and generalize skills in a comfortable environment. Generally, in-home sessions will consist of a variety of activities, which will depend on the individual client and their treatment plan. Parents are encouraged to take an active roll during in-home ABA; this helps with the generalization of skills and behaviors.
Community Sessions
Community sessions may be done in the community as well. Community based sessions are great for teaching social skills, life skills, and promotion independence. Going into the community is also a great way for clients to generalize skills to other settings.
Center-based ABA Sessions
Center-based ABA sessions are much like in-home ABA sessions, but they are done at Positive Synergy’s center. This is useful for generalizing skills learned at home with other people and settings. Center-based sessions are done in an environment that more closely resembles a classroom setting, which helps make sessions more structured.
Clients have access to many activities that they may not have at home, which makes them new, exciting, and highly reinforcing. Some clients will have a mix of home and center-based ABA sessions, while others will have one or the other. This depends on the individual goals of the client and where they are in their individual treatment plan.