What is ABA?

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) / Autism Therapy is an evidence-based treatment approach that is designed to increase more appropriate behaviors, decrease negative behaviors, and improve independence across every aspect of childhood development. ABA helps children strengthen foundational skills in their development.

This in turn helps to progress with improved independence for greater successes throughout childhood and into adulthood, as they develop and evolve in relationships with others. It is a data-driven therapy practice that utilizes positive behavioral interventions to reinforce desired behaviors, exemplifying good interactions to get more good interactions.

Our Board Certified Behavior Analysts constantly measure outcomes, work closely with families to coach and train parents on programs that work, and customize programs to address each child’s needs, while advancing them quickly as they surpass each goal.

Who benefits from ABA?

Truly, all children benefit from the principles of ABA, because when done well, it is a loving and positive approach to teach and reinforce good behavior. However, private insurance plans will cover ABA therapy for children of all ages who have a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and/or Autism related disorder.

These children greatly benefit from the purposeful and intensive individualized treatment plan when enrolled in ABA therapy. At a young age, children who receive early, intensive behavior therapy make the fastest progress, as they are learning foundational skills, rather than learning a new and different way to do an already learned skill (as is sometimes the case with older children, regardless of diagnosis).

Why Do Children at Chicago Pediatric Therapy & Wellness Center Make More Gains Faster?

We are a multi-disciplinary center with skillful and experienced professionals. All of our clinicians have years of pediatric experience BEFORE joining our team. These professionals continue to constantly receive trainings and jump into our system of cross collaboration between disciplines so that each clinician is approaching the WHOLE CHILD.

This principle extends to our behavior therapy team. All of our clinicians are trained in a play-based, naturalistic model, so that “traditional” ABA methods of table work are transformed into interactive, movement based, playful games in which the lines between learning and fun are blurred.

At Chicago Pediatric Therapy & Wellness Center, we understand that when a child is having fun, engaged and interactive, they are at their maximal capacity to learn.

We operate each and every day with this foundational principle in order to meet children where they are at and bring them with us to the highest possible standards of achievement. Simply put, we are experts at seeing each child’s full potential and drawing that out.

In doing so, each family receives an individualized treatment plan tailored specifically to their needs and addressing priorities that the caregivers want to focus on. Our BCBA’s develop this by first conducting an evaluation which includes parent interview, observations at home, school or at the Center. review of all prior medical history documentation, family questionnaires and individualized skill assessments through standardized testing, all which lead to a comprehensive treatment plan.

Your Behavior Therapy team will implement this plan with continuous support and coaching from the BCBA, all while staying in constant communication with you. We strongly believe in parent education, coaching and training with all of our therapies, including ABA.

This helps to promote generalization of skills that children are acquiring because after all, what is the point of acquiring a skill with their therapist if they refuse to do it with their parents?

To further assist with this generalization, our therapy sessions occur across different domains such as at the Center, in your home, in their school (when permitted), in our social groups, in our therapeutic preschool and in the community.

THIS multifaceted approach is why children and families come to Chicago Pediatric Therapy & Wellness Center to maximize their potential. Read on to learn more about the principles of ABA or Autism Therapy.

ABA Therapy Addresses the Following:

  • Autism Disorders (ASD)
  • Behavior Assessment
  • Parent Training
  • Communication Building – both augmentative and verbal communication
  • Relationship Building with peers and family members
  • Play Skills and Pretend Play
  • Sleeping and Bed-time Routines
  • Transitions, both in and out of your home
  • Potty-Training – at any age
  • Picky Eating
  • Activities of Daily Living
  • Self Help Skills
  • Social Skills Facilitation
  • School Readiness Tasks
  • Family Coaching sessions, both with and without your child present

Our Teaching Strategies Include:

  • Verbal Behavior
  • Natural Environment Training
  • Discreet Trial Training
  • Derived Relational Responding
  • Reinforcement
  • Prompting / Fading
  • Chaining and Shaping
  • Errorless Teaching Procedures
  • Planned Ignoring
  • Direct Instruction
  • Incidental Teaching
  • Preference Based Teaching
  • Modeling
  • Differential Reinforcement
  • Environment and Activity Modification
  • Premack Principle

Blogs

At Chicago Pediatric Therapy we offer numerous resources to help parents and their children. We have several blogs readily available that give parents tips, tricks, facts and milestones. Check out a couple of our most popular ABA/Autism blogs.

Questions?

Have more questions? Call us to meet with our BCBAs prior to scheduling an assessment so that we can clarify your questions and talk more about our unique program for ABA / Autism Therapy services. All ABA is NOT created equal! We would appreciate the opportunity to show you why we stand out!

You can contact our office at 773-687-9241 or email us at info@cptwc.com to schedule an appointment.