Being equipped with the right questions to ask an ABA therapist is the first step in navigating the journey towards effective therapy for your child with autism. Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is highly personalized, and you want to ensure the provider you choose is the best fit for your child’s needs and family expectations.
Flywheel Centers explores key questions to ask when looking for an ABA provider, helping you make informed decisions and feel confident about your choice.
How to Find a Good ABA Provider for Your Child
How should you choose an ABA therapist\provider? One of the best tips for choosing an ABA provider is to ask direct and precise questions to ensure they align with your child’s needs. Listed below are 25 essential ABA questions to ask an ABA provider before you commit to beginning your child’s therapy. For your convenience we’ve sorted them by topic.
General Information on ABA Services
- What therapy services and family services do you offer?
From the get-go ensure that the therapy services they provide align with the interventions you’d like for your child. Additionally, find out what services they offer to the families, to ensure family involvement.
- How long have you practiced ABA therapy, and what kind of results have you seen?
As a parent, you want to make sure you are entrusting your child to the care of experienced individuals who have seen positive results in the children they’ve worked with.
- What type of insurance do you accept, and what are your billing practices?
Coverage for ABA therapy can vary, therefore it is important to ask which insurance plans the provider accepts. This will help you understand your financial responsibilities upfront and ensure no surprises later.
Questions to Ask an ABA Provider About Staff and Training
- How many BCBAs and behavioral therapists do you have on staff?
BCBA’s are specially trained to develop, implement and manage ABA cases. It is imperative for there to be a fair ratio of BCBA’s and behavior therapists to children.
- Are your BCBAs licensed with the BACB and through the state?
The BACB ensures that BCBA professionals possess the expertise and understanding to deliver behavior services efficiently. If the BCBA is licensed through the state, you can be assured that the BCBA has met specific competency standards. It is important that the BCBAs are licensed through both.
- What measures are in place to prevent abuse?
Although ABA has come a long way and now focuses on positive reinforcement and praise, it is still important to find out what safety precautions are in place to ensure there is a zero-tolerance for abuse policy.
- Do your staff members undergo background checks?
It is important to make sure that the provider has done thorough background checks on each staff member. This helps identify any past criminal behavior, including violence, abuse or exploitation that can pose a risk to clients.
Supervision and Oversight for the ABA Therapists
- How much direct supervision do behavior therapists receive from BCBAs weekly?
The amount of supervision for each case must be responsive to the individual client’s needs. Ensure that there is a minimum of 2 hours per week or more if needed.
- How many cases does the BCBA supervise at a time?
You’ll want to be certain that the BCBAs do not take on too many cases and are not overwhelmed. A BCBA should manage about 6-12 clients to guarantee they are serving each child’s case with the utmost care and precision.
- Will the behavior technicians working with my child receive ongoing training? If so, what kind and how often?
See to it that the behavior technician receives ongoing training often as the field of ABA therapy is rapidly evolving. Ensure that they are staying updated with the latest research findings, therapeutic techniques, and ethical standards.
ABA Therapy Sessions and Methods
- What does a typical ABA session look like?
To get a better idea of what will take place during your child’s ABA sessions, allow the therapist to paint a clear image of everything that goes on. You’ll want to hear that the interventions are personalized to fit each child’s specific needs and that each session is motivating with an emphasis on positive reinforcement.
- What ABA methods do you practice? Do you specialize in one main method or practice a variety?
There are many different approaches to ABA therapy. Therefore asking pointed ABA questions about the methods used helps you choose a provider that utilizes approaches and techniques that are right for your child.
- Can I observe my child’s therapy session, and are there alternative observation methods available?
In most ABA programs, parents are welcome to observe the therapy sessions. This is an especially important practice to ensure that parents and therapists work together to help the child progress.
- Are there group social skill sessions offered? What is the group size?
Children with autism tend to struggle socially and being able to practice their social skills with others in a controlled environment can be very beneficial. You’ll also want to ensure the group is not too large, so that your child receives individualized attention and support.
- How are the skills my child will be learning generalized across different settings and people?
One of the key aspects of ABA therapy is teaching skills children can use across various environments – home, school and community. Ask how the provider generalizes the skills learned during therapy to ensure they are meaningful in real-world scenarios.
- How do you handle difficult sessions or clients, and what safety measures are in place?
Children with autism often have behavioral challenges, which can make ABA sessions difficult. Ensure that your provider has safety guides in place and that the therapists navigate challenging behaviors effectively while protecting their own well-being.
Parental Involvement Throughout the Process
- Is there parent involvement in the treatment sessions?
Parent involvement is crucial for ABA therapy success. When parents are involved in treatment sessions, it fosters generalization of the skills learned and consistency between therapy and home-life. It is important that your provider understands the significance of parental involvement.
- How much training is provided for parents and what would they be expected to implement at home?
Effective ABA therapy programs often include parent training to ensure strategies used during therapy are consistently reinforced at home. It is important to know how the provider will involve you in your child’s therapy and how they will support you in implementing these techniques.
- How can parents address concerns about interventions observed during treatment?
Parents should be able to openly communicate any concerns they have regarding their child’s treatment. You’ll want to confirm that you can schedule regular meetings to discuss progress and address any worries you have.
Data Collecting and Progress Tracking in Therapy
- How is data collected and shared with parents?
For data collection to be most effective, there must be collaboration between therapists and parents. The therapists should consistently be collecting data and sharing it with you.
- How often will my child’s goals and programs be updated, and how is it decided which skills will be taught?
Your child’s needs may evolve, and ABA therapy should be flexible enough to adapt. Ask how often you can adjust your child’s goals and treatment plan based on progress.
- How do you measure and track progress?
ABA therapy is data driven. Providers should collect data during each session to track your child’s progress and adjust treatment plans. Understanding how the provider measures progress and how often they review data can give you an insight into how they will ensure your child is making meaningful progress.
- How often do parents meet with the BCBA to discuss progress or changes in therapy?
Ensure that the provider welcomes meetings with the BCBA as often as necessary. Meetings can be held at weekly, bi-weekly or monthly intervals, as required.
Evaluation and Assessment of Your Child and Their Progress
- What evaluations are conducted to identify my child’s areas of need?
There are a few kinds of assessments in ABA, find out how the provider assesses your child and create intervention plans based on these assessments. This will let you know right away what to expect when you begin your therapy journey.
- What is the process for ending or “graduating” from therapy?
ABA therapy is not forever and you hope that at some point your child will be ready to navigate the world with the tools gained during the ABA process. You want to ensure that the provider offers a supportive transition for your child, including a consultation model before therapy ends entirely.
Red Flags to Look Out For in an ABA Provider
When seeking ABA therapy for your child with autism, it’s crucial to be aware of potential red flags that may indicate problematic practices. Recognizing these red flags can help ensure that your child receives the best quality care. The list below details some problematic practices and potential concerns to look out for:
- Excessive Use of Punishment: ABA therapy should primarily focus on positive reinforcement to encourage desired behaviors. Excessive or inappropriate use of punishment tactics, such as physical restraints or verbal abuse, should be a reason for concern.
- Aiming to “Cure” or “Recover” Autistic Individuals: Autism is not an illness or disease to be cured. ABA therapy should be looking to improve challenging behavior and help your child gain necessary tools for life, not “fixing” them and trying to eliminate “problem behaviors”.
- Lack of Individualization: ABA therapy should be tailored to the unique needs of each individual. If the therapy appears to follow a one-size-fits-all approach without considering the specific goals and challenges of the individuals, it may be a red flag.
- Enforcing Neurotypical Behaviors: Autistic children should never be pushed to behave in a neurotypical manner or be encouraged to conform to neurotypical individuals. ABA therapy should enhance their strengths, address their challenges and help them unravel their full potential.
Choosing an ABA Provider With Confidence
ABA for autism is a powerful therapy. Knowing how to choose an ABA therapist and program is a crucial step to supporting your child’s development. By learning questions to ask your ABA provider, you can ensure that the therapist you choose is well-qualified, experienced and a good fit for your family.
At Flywheel Centers we are committed to giving every child the most effective therapy to meet their unique challenges and needs. Our expert team of professionals collaborates with parents and caregivers to design intervention plans that are tailored to each child. To learn more about our ABA programs please contact us.
