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Caregiver’s Guide to Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

Understanding Your Child’s Journey

Raising a child with developmental delays or learning differences comes with unique challenges and rewards. Learning more about what to expect and how to support your child can make a big difference. This guide will help you understand the basics of ABA therapy and how it can benefit your child.

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FAQ

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is an evidence-based method for teaching children new skills, behaviors, and coping strategies using positive reinforcement. Therapists track progress, adjust strategies, and help children grow at their own pace. The goal of ABA is to provide children with the tools they need to navigate daily life and reach their full potential.

The earlier, the better! Research shows that children who start ABA therapy before age two make the most progress. However, ABA can be beneficial at any age. The key is to begin as soon as possible to help your child develop essential life skills.

ABA is widely recognized as the leading treatment for children with autism and developmental delays. It is backed by organizations such as the U.S. Surgeon General, the American Psychological Association, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Research has shown that long-term ABA therapy improves cognitive skills, communication, social interactions and daily living abilities. Over the past 40 years, thousands of studies have confirmed its effectiveness across different settings, populations and behaviors.

Several key factors contribute to the success of ABA therapy:

  • Personalized Programs: Each child gets a customized plan based on their unique needs.
  • One-on-One Support: Therapists provide individual attention and care.
  • Consistent Practice: Regular sessions reinforce learning and progress.
  • Positive Reinforcement: Desired behaviors are encouraged and rewarded.
  • Ongoing Adjustments: Therapists continually evaluate and refine strategies to improve results.

ABA therapy follows a structured approach:

  • Assessment: Therapists evaluate your child’s strengths, challenges and your family’s goals.
  • Individualized Plan: A personalized program is developed to help your child improve in specific domains (e.g. communication, daily living skills such as toileting, etc.). Your child’s treatment plan will include long-term and short-term goals.
  • Real-Life Practice: Skills are introduced in a calm and comfortable environment and applied in real-world settings.
  • Tracking Progress: Therapists take data and get feedback from parents to adjust the plan as needed.

 

The ABC Model is an important way of understanding your child’s behavior, and your team will take data tracking these components:

  • Antecedent: What happens before a behavior (e.g., an instruction from the teacher.).
  • Behavior: How the child responds (e.g., following the instruction, or covering ears and running away to hide).
  • Consequence: The outcome, which may involve positive reinforcement (e.g. earning free play time) if the instruction is followed to increase the chance that your child will listen to instructions in the future.

When a child is rewarded for desired behavior, they are more likely to repeat it. Therapists use rewards like praise, toys, or fun activities to encourage progress, depending on what motivates your child. Each skill is broken into small steps, making learning easier and more enjoyable.

Your team may use one or more of these tools

  • Discrete Trial Training (DTT): Repeating specific tasks until the child masters them.
  • Modeling: Demonstrating behaviors for the child to imitate.
  • Functional Communication Training (FCC): Teaching the child to engage in safer, healthier, or more comprehensible forms of communication to replace previous communication methods. This may look like using words, pictures, communication devices, or gestures in order to meet the child’s needs.
  • Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS): Using pictures to build vocabulary and communication skills.
  • Reinforcement Systems: Rewarding desired behaviors while reducing undesired ones.

 

Introduction to ABA Teaching Techniques (continued):

  • Pivotal Response Training: A child-led approach where the therapist follows the child’s natural motivation to engage in specific activities.
  • Natural Environment Training (NET): Teaching skills during playtime and in everyday settings to promote real-world application.
  • Early Start Denver Model: A play-based approach used by BCBAs that integrates multiple goals into activities to support the development of communication and social relationships.
  • Verbal Behavior (VB): A functional method of increasing your child’s communication skills.

 

Your care team will use data to track improvements in your child’s behavior, communication, social skills, and daily living activities. Instead of vague descriptions, your team will document objective changes over time. Regular updates help your care team see progress and make informed decisions about your child’s care.

At Denver ABA Therapy, we provide a supportive team to help your child succeed. Your team includes:

  • BCBA Clinical Supervisor. Designs and monitors treatment plans, trains behavior technician, and provides caregiver education and support. Generally the BCBA will meet with you on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.
  • Behavior Technician or RBT: Works one-on-one with your child frequently to implement the plan designed by the BCBA Clinical Supervisor.
  • Support Staff: Helps schedule sessions, verifies your insurance benefits, and answers your questions.
  • You (The Parent!): Your involvement is essential in supporting your child’s growth. You are your child’s expert!
  • ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder): A complex neurological and developmental condition that can affect a person’s communication, social skills, and behavior.
  • ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis): A structured approach to teaching skills and modifying behaviors.
  • Baseline: A starting point used to measure progress.
  • Prompt: A cue or guidance to help a child complete a task. Prompts can include physical prompts, verbal prompts, or gestural prompts.
  • Reinforcer: A reward used to encourage desired behaviors.
  • Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA): An evaluation process where therapists objectively define the behavior, gather information, develop a hypothesis about the cause, and create an intervention plan to change the behavior.
  • Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA): A Board Certified Behavior Analyst is a graduate-level certification in behavior analysis. Professionals certified at the BCBA level are independent practitioners who provide behavior-analytic services.
  • Registered Behavior Technician (RBT): The Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) is a paraprofessional certified in behavior analysis. RBTs assist in delivering behavior-analytic services and practice under the direction and close supervision of the BCBA supervisor.

now accepting new clients

1

our clients

We work with children and adolescents ages 0-21 years diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

2

we accept medicaid

We’re proud to serve clients with Health First Colorado coverage. Please contact us to inquire about other insurance carriers we accept or alternative payment methods.

3

locations

We currently serve Denver and the surrounding areas. Services are provided both in-person and via telehealth for your family’s convenience.

unlock your child’s full potential by contacting us today

720-441-2871