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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is ABA Therapy?
To understand ABA therapy, we must recognize the larger field of scientific study called behavior analysis. Within Behavior Analysis, professionals use fundamental principles to understand how children’s behaviors affect and are affected by environmental events. Behavior Analysis is a well-developed and widely recognized field that requires intensive training and supervision.

ABA therapy is overseen by the Behavior Analysis Certification Board® (BACB®). The board certifies therapists implementing daily therapy as well as top level clinicians writing and implementing treatment plans.

At Crosby Learning Solutions, we practice applied behavior analysis, or ABA, which uses systematic, data-based methods to improve socially significant behaviors in children with autism. READ FACT SHEET

Multitudes of studies have shown that ABA is the most effective form of autism therapy. The AAP, U.S. Surgeon General and the CDC all endorse ABA therapy as the gold standard for Autism treatment. All aspects of ABA therapy are individualized to each client and their family.

What is the goal of ABA therapy?

ABA stands for Applied Behavior Analysis. The term applied means two things in ABA therapy.

  • Programs implemented track behavior and help a child learn skills that are socially significant. In treatment, we reduce problematic behaviors while also increasing meaningful, socially important behaviors.
  • Thoughtful programming by the behavior analyst helps children use their new skills in a variety of situations. One paramount goal of treatment is that the child will be able to generalize these new behaviors to all aspects of their environment; as well as with caregivers and friends, and not just with clinicians on the treatment team.

This page on the Autism Speaks website provides an excellent overview of the goal of ABA therapy:

https://www.autismspeaks.org/applied-behavior-analysis-aba-0

What are some elements of ABA therapy?
ABA specialists and team members deliver multi-step treatment that allows children to overcome challenging behaviors and expand new behaviors that will help them achieve their highest potential.

ABA Therapy typically involves the following elements:

  • Initial and Ongoing Assessment: The ABA specialist conducts various assessments to get a clear baseline level of the child’s current behavior levels. Assessments tell us where the child is beginning on their learning journey. We measure many facets of behavior including language, social skills, expressive and receptive communication, as well as any challenging behaviors present. Throughout the duration of treatment, repeated assessment continues to guide our programming.
  • Defining and Implementing the treatment plan: After assessment occurs, collaboration with the family as well as coordinating providers enables the specialist to develop the treatment plan. We select goals for the child that will directly impact and improve their daily life.
  • Continued Support: Even after being discharged from therapy, Crosby Learning Solutions clinical team continues to support caregivers as well as patients as they transition to either a lesser intensive setting or a complete discharge from ABA therapy. Supports are put in place to ensure a smooth transition to the new learning setting.
What does ABA therapy look like?
Instructional procedures: Crosby Learning Solutions specialists are trained in the most-effective ways to teach children with autism. Play and time learning away from the table are also paramount with our agency. We believe that some of the most important teachable moments are within the child’s natural environment. Methods we use to teach can include discrete trial training (or breaking down a task into small, attainable steps), positive reinforcement, prompting and contriving situations where the child is motivated to use language in a positive environment, and natural environment teaching. These strategies help children with autism learn and grow.

Treatment goal areas typically come from the following categories:

  • Adaptive and self-care independence
  • Vocational skills
  • Language and communication
  • Social skills and relationships
  • Attending and social referencing
  • Self-management skills
  • Cognitive functioning
  • Play and leisure skills
  • Pre-academic readiness
  • Self-advocacy
  • Emotional identification and development
  • Community participation
  • Reduction of inappropriate or barrier behaviors
  • Coping and tolerance skills
  • Safety awareness

With the right interventions through ABA therapy, children can improve their behaviors and reach their full potential.

Who will be implementing ABA therapy with my child?
ABA treatment involves a tiered service implementation design. Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) implement the treatment plan as designed and are supervised by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). This approach of using RBTs to deliver ABA therapy has been empirically-validated to be the most effective way in which many important milestones are achieved in across all domains addressed in ABA therapy. Caregiver training and clinical supervision are also frequently implemented in order to ensure ABA therapy is being delivered in the most effective way.
Do you accept insurance?

Crosby Learning Solutions is in network with most major insurance carriers.  In an effort to better serve all families, we continually work to become in-network with an increasing number of insurance carriers.  At this time, we accept United Healthcare, Magellan, and Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Do you provide services outside of the home?
At this time, Crosby Learning Solutions only provides therapy in the home setting. We feel that this is the optimal place to work with the child in a comfortable way. We are also able to build strong relationships with families and provide parent and caregiver training directly in their natural environment. Skill generalization is also seamlessly worked into therapy sessions. We love each and every one of our families! We appreciate the trust given as they welcome us into their homes each session.
Contact us to learn more about ABA therapy at Crosby Learning Solutions.