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Get Started!

WHAT IS ABA Therapy?

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is the study of behaviors and environmental factors and how together they create outcomes. The goal of ABA therapy is to increase the positive interactions that a child has in a multitude of environments with caregivers, family, and peers. The approaches and methods used to reach this goal are evidence-based and performed by highly trained Behavior Technicians and Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs).

Is ABA Therapy RIGHT for my child?

Every child who experiences behavioral hurdles is different. However, ABA therapy is the only scientifically-proven method for treating Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)  and improving behavior/environment outcomes. ABA therapy is a safe and highly beneficial  treatment to consider once your child has been diagnosed. As treatment progresses, the length and quantity of sessions may decrease and even eventually taper completely off!

ABA SERVICES WE OFFER

At It Takes A Village, we offer quality, compassionate, and sustainable services to help your child acquire the skills they need to live a happy and productive life. Every' child diagnosed with ASD or a behavioral divergence has unique needs and the treatment plan we create for them will reflect that.

In-Home Services

In-home ABA services are conducted at time intervals that are convenient for the child and the family. The number of sessions per week will depend on your insurance and availability.

Who are in-home ABA services for?

In-home ABA services are for EVERYONE! At It Takes A Village, we take on clients between the ages of 2 and 18 years old.

What are the benefits of in-home ABA services?

  • Being in the environment where the child is most comfortable
  • Ability to schedule sessions around organic everyday activities and we come to you!
  • Parent and family training focus is optimal in-home
Little girl snuggling with her cat
Behavior Therapist at in-home ABA therapy session
Grandparents playing with their grandchild in the park

Parent & Family Training

Parent training is vital to progress in ABA therapy. The goal of ABA therapy is to have successful experiences not only in-session but OUTSIDE of sessions as well. In order to achieve this, Parent and family participation is necessary because it truly does take a village!

Who are Parent and family training services for?

Parent participation and training is required when we work with your child. We encourage any and all adults who care for your child to participate as well. We also encourage the involvement of siblings, younger family, and pets when it is safe and appropriate.

What are the benefits of Parent and family training?

  • Everyone in the child's life becomes knowledgeable on how to help move progress along
  • Increased productivity OUTSIDE of sessions
  • Home-life culture improves naturally with the understanding of what is happening with your child and knowing that you have the skills to help your child

IEP Collaboration

For children who are also attending schools where they are on an Individualized Education Program (IEP), we collaborate directly with you and your child's educators to create, monitor, and adjust that program.

Who are IEP collaboration services for?

Any child with a diagnosis who is of school age will benefit from our team collaborating on their IEP.

What are the benefits of IEP Collaboration services?

  • All participants in your child's growth are working together
  • Creates a fluid transition from home to school and vice versa
  • School is an excellent (if not THE BEST) place to build positive socialization skills and behaviors
BCBA participating in IEP collaboration
Mom sending her son off to school
Little boy working with a Speech Pathologist
Grandparents playing with their grandchild in the park

BCBA & Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) Collaboration

It Takes A Village will make attempts to collaborate and communicate with speech pathologists to further help your child meet their expressive and receptive language skills.

Who are BCBA & SLP collaboration services for?

For children that are receiving SLP services, the analyst assigned to your child’s case will collaborate directly with the SLP professional to increase the acquisition of receptive and expressive language skills.

What are the benefits of BCBA & SLP collaboration?

  • SLP & ABA professionals can work together to enhance treatment outcomes
  • Discuss innovative teaching procedures within the scope of practice of each professional
  • Both professionals can work together to support communication and social skills

READY To Get Started?

Contact Us today to inquire about insurance, where we provide services, and how you can get started!

METHODS WE USE & STAND BY

Decades of applied behavioral analysis and science have created and backed up, by data, valuable methods to help your child. We stand by the methods that science has given us and we utilize them in treatment plans where they are appropriate; not every method is used in every treatment plan.

Discrete Trial Training

Discrete Trial Teaching (DTT)

Breaking down a skill into smaller, more manageable subsets.

Example of DTT

Natural Environment Teaching (NET)

Utilizing items of familiarity, like favorite toys, to acquire skills and reach behavior goals.

Example of NET

Modeling

Physically demonstrating the desired behavior or skillset.

Example of Modeling

Token Boards

A visual that increases the child’s motivation to complete tasks.

Example of a Token Board

Behavior Shaping

Gradually teaching a new skill by teaching the smaller steps first.

Example of Behavior Shaping

Prompt-Fading

Decreases dependency on a prompt.

Example of Prompt-Fading

Task Analysis

Breaks down complex tasks into smaller steps for concept retention.

Example of Task Analysis

Teaching Mands

Teaches appropriate communication of wants and needs.

Example of Mand Training

Behavior Contracts

Written agreement outlining behavior and tasks for a pre-determined length of time.

Example of a Behavior Contract
Discrete Trial Training

Discrete Trial Training (DTT)

Definition:

Breaking down a skill into smaller, more manageable subsets.

Example:

  • Child is instructed to point to red, “show me the color red”
  • Child points to color red (with appropriate prompt level)
  • Praised or rewarded after pointing to correct color

Natural Environment Training (NET)

Definition:

Using the child’s natural environment to teach new skills, such as during playtime, dinnertime, and/or family time.

Example:

  • Child is learning prepositions: under, on-top-of, inside, outside
  • Child is told to put their favorite toy car INSIDE the box, then OUTSIDE the box

Modeling

Definition:

Demonstrating the desired behavior either in-person or through a video or recording.

Example:

A Behavior Therapist is working with a child on appropriate social behaviors when first meeting another person. The Behavior Therapist will shake hands with Mom while the child watches. The child must then imitate the behavior.

Token Board Reinforcement

Definition:

Token boards are a visually stimulated ‘gameboard’ that tracks accomplishments; much like the quintessential chore board. After completing a predetermined amount of actions, the child will receive a reward.

Example:

A child has a token board for 5 tokens and receives a token for every correct response or action. After earning 5 tokens, the child will then engage in an activity of their choice for a predetermined amount of time. This is a great tool to increase motivation!

Behavior Shaping

Definition:

Breaking behavior down into smaller, gradual steps, with reinforcement at each step.

Example:

  • First, teach the child to take one step
  • Then, teach the child to take a few steps
  • Finally, teach the child to run

Prompt Fading

Definition:

Decreasing the level of assistance, or prompting, that a child needs to complete a behavior or task. Prompts can be verbal, visual, auditory, physical, etc. The goal is to reduce prompting and have the child produce the correct action with the appropriate prompt.

Example:

  • A child that is strengthening their fine motor skills is learning how to write their name with a pencil, but with less physical guidance,
  • therefore the therapist MOVES FROM hand-over-hand TO partially holding their hand to increase independence in this skill

Task Analysis

Definition:

Task Analysis breaks down more complex skills into smaller steps that cumulate into acquiring a new skill.

Example:

A Behavior Therapist is working with a child on hygiene, specifically brushing their teeth. The therapist will break the skill down into the following steps:
  • Pick up the toothbrush
  • Turn on the water faucet
  • Rinse the toothbrush
  • Turn off the water faucet
  • Pick up the toothpaste tube
  • Remove the cap from the toothpaste tube
  • Place a dab of toothpaste on the toothbrush bristles
  • Put the cap back on the toothpaste
  • Gently put the bristles against teeth and scrub
  • Spit the toothpaste in the sink
  • Rinse mouth with water
  • Spit water in sink

Mand Training

Definition:

Teaching a child to communicate their wants and needs in an appropriate manner. Mand, meaning request, is not always verbal as some children may be non-verbal.

Example:

Goals range from non-vital such as asking for a toy to very important requests such as communicating when cold or hungry.

Behavior Contracts

Definition:

A written agreement between the child, parent, and/or therapist that outlines the expected behaviors for a specific amount of time. These are best used with older children. The contract outlines rewards for following through with rules and tasks. This is a great way to teach responsibility and self-monitoring!

Example:

  • The child must finish their homework, then take out the trash, and go to bed when told to do so for two consecutive weeks without “stalling” behaviors
  • If the child sticks to the contract, they will then be granted a greater reward (is taken to the fair, favorite restaurant, etc.)