6 Tips for Choosing an ABA Agency for Your Child

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a type of interpersonal therapy that can be very effective for children with spectrum disorders like autism. In fact, evidence shows that ABA can result in mild to moderate improvements in behaviors like communication, socialization, and expressive language.

Even so, finding the right ABA agency for your child’s autism therapy can be overwhelming. How do you know how to find an ABA provider that’s willing to meet your child’s needs?

The great news is learning a few tips will help you know what to focus on. Read on to learn six helpful tips for choosing an ABA agency for your child.

1. Research Credentials 

Your first step in choosing an ABA provider is doing thorough research. Once you find providers in your area, you’ll need to dig deeper. 

First, you’ll want to look for a Behavioral Health Center of Excellence (BHCOE) accreditation. BHCOE provides oversight of ABA therapy to ensure children get the quality care they need.

BHCOE accreditation involves a step-by-step process an organization has to follow. This ensures they meet standards of excellence that meet best practices and must be renewed annually.

Checking Google reviews and reviewing websites is also a great way to get an idea of their services and how other parents feel about them.

2. Ask Specific Questions

Take this opportunity to come up with a list of questions to ask your potential ABA therapist. You can think of this as a mini-interview session.

Don’t be afraid to ask specific questions like:

• How will you individualize ABA treatments?
• How will you measure my child’s progress?
• What is your educational experience?
• What are the ABA treatment goals?

You should also expand further on measuring progress during treatment. An ABA therapist needs to set tangible benchmarks for therapy. It’s perfectly OK to ask what will happen if your child doesn’t meet specific benchmarks.

This means that an ABA agency should be constantly evaluating progress and making adjustments along the way. So, don’t be afraid to dive into the specifics.

3. Find Out More About Your Involvement

Remember, you know your child best, and all types of therapy are most effective if parents and therapists are united in their approach. This will make it easier for you to continue using certain techniques between therapy sessions.

You’ll also need to feel comfortable with these techniques, so be sure to ask questions like:

• Do parents actively participate in sessions?
• Do parents get any direction or training?
• How will communications about progress take place?
• How often will we communicate about my child’s progress?

You’ll also need to find out who to contact if you have questions about your child’s progress. Good communication and balanced involvement are key and will make it much easier to raise any concerns with the therapist. 

4. Understand the Proposed Treatment Plan

The approach an ABA agency takes to developing treatment plans is crucial, so it’s something you’ll need to pay attention to.

The more personalized an autism therapy treatment plan is, the better it will meet your child’s specific needs, making it more effective.

Treatment plans must also focus on the root cause of behavioral issues and not just the behavior. For example, say your child has problems getting back on a school routine on Mondays. A tailored treatment plan would focus on what’s triggering these challenges and figure out ways to manage them.

Overall, make sure to ask about the details of how the ABA agency creates custom treatment plans and get examples.

Look for an ABA agency that has a streamlined process in place for intake assessments and treatment plans with short and long-term goals.

5. Ask About Costs and Insurance

You’ll see that the costs of ABA services can vary greatly, so it’s essential to get this information at the very beginning. Various factors impact these costs, which include:

• Your child’s needs
• Types of treatment services
• Frequency of treatment

First, you’ll need to look at your insurance policy to find out what percentage of treatment they’ll cover. 

You should then talk to the ABA agency and find out specifics like equipment needs or any other expenses you’ll need to cover. In addition, ask questions about what insurance companies they work with and their billing practices.

This way you’ll be able to plan for therapy costs in advance and won’t have any surprises.

6. Look at In-Home Therapy Options

Your home is ideal for ABA therapy sessions. This is because it allows your child to practice new skills in a familiar and comfortable environment. It lessens the stress load on your child since they won’t have to travel to an unfamiliar place for therapy sessions.

In-home ABA services are also much more convenient since they have the least impact on your current routine. You have enough to do as it is and traveling to various clinics can really wreak havoc on your schedule.

Additionally, in-home therapy also allows for family involvement. You’ll be able to observe therapy sessions and ask questions when you need to. Ultimately, this makes it much easier to stay up to date on your child’s progress toward therapy goals.

It also allows other extended family members to get involved. They can then work on these skills between sessions.

Finally, it provides a natural way for your child to utilize these skills at home and get positive reinforcements along the way.

All in all, be sure to make in-home therapy a requirement during your ABA agency search process.

Choosing the Right ABA Agency for Your Child

Following these tips will help you choose an ABA agency you’re comfortable with.

If you’re looking for ABA therapy that offers home visits, you can turn to Double Care ABA for all your needs. Our mission is to provide customized treatments that address your child’s challenges. 

Our team of professionals is passionate about providing quality ABA therapy in the comfort of your home. Our streamlined process involves an easy intake process, followed by an assessment and individual treatment plan.

We offer services in New York and New Jersey and are expanding to Pennsylvania, along with other areas throughout the US.

Make sure to contact us today to schedule a consultation for your child.