ABA Therapy (Applied Behavior Analysis)

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the science of learning and behavior and is supported by decades of research. ABA Therapy utilizes these principles to create meaningful behavior change across a variety of socially significant behaviors, such as language and communication, play and social interaction skills, and self-care skills. ABA-based interventions have been endorsed by The American Academy of Pediatrics, The National Institute of Child Health & Human Development, The Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, The American Psychological Association, The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and the American Academy of Occupational Therapy Association.

ABA is an evidence-based treatment approach that also takes into account each individual’s unique learning needs. Behavioral principles such as reinforcement, extinction, prompting, task analyses, and self-management strategies will be incorporated into the development of an individualized intervention plan that is designed with consideration of your child’s specific learning style, strengths, and areas of need. Our goal is to embrace what makes your child unique and develop an intervention plan that celebrates that uniqueness while also enhancing your child’s ability to connect and interact with others in all facets of their lives.

Our ABA program has two branches: skill-building and behavior support. We use a communication-based approach to address both areas. The skill-building branch focuses on teaching essential communication, cognitive, self-care, and social skills by breaking down each skill into smaller steps and teaching each step systematically, while gradually building towards more complex skills. The behavior support branch focuses on reducing maladaptive behaviors by identifying the root cause contributing to the behavior and teaching appropriate replacement behaviors.

Parent education and support are key components of our intervention programs aimed at providing parents with the tools and confidence necessary to support their child’s success in their everyday lives. When appropriate, training is also provided to schools and other caregivers.

At BYS, our ABA intervention programs are individualized to meet the needs of each client and their family. The clinical service recommendation is determined by the BCBA and is based on a variety of factors. These include assessment results, which indicate the scope of the skill domains a client will focus on, and the intensity of any maladaptive behaviors. It is our goal to develop an intervention plan that promotes sufficient meaningful client success and progress that can lead to service intensity fading over time.