Ukrainian Village ABA Therapy for Children With Autism

ABA therapy can benefit your child even without an autism diagnosis. ABA can help children with learning disabilities or behavioral issues, and often, therapists will provide ABA interventions to children without a formal diagnosis. However, it is recommended that you speak to your pediatrician and pursue a diagnosis, as it might make things easier with your insurance and individualized treatment. 

We welcome children from infancy and tailor care to each growth stage. At CPTWC, families can access ABA, speech, occupational, and physical therapy, feeding support, and social work under one roof. For toddlers 18 months and up, our sister program, Chicago Therapeutic Children’s Academy, offers a nurturing, therapy-rich preschool environment.

If your child has ongoing challenges with communication, social play, following directions, coping with big feelings, daily routines, or behaviors that interfere with learning or safety, an ABA evaluation can help.

Quick signs to look for:

• Skills are not improving despite practice
• Challenging moments are frequent or hard to predict
• Progress stalls across home, school, and community

Simple next steps:

• Talk with your pediatrician or school team
• Schedule a screening with a BCBA
• Bring a few real-life examples and your top goals, so any plan fits your child and family

Short answer: often yes, but it depends on your plan.

• Illinois-regulated plans must cover autism diagnosis and treatment (including ABA) for children under 21.
• Illinois Medicaid now covers ABA; many families qualify based on income or disability category.
• Self-funded employer plans are not bound by state mandates, so benefits vary by employer; check your Summary Plan Description.

Quick next step: share your insurance card with CPTWC. We’ll verify ABA benefits, authorizations, and any costs before you start, so you know exactly what’s covered at our Ukrainian Village location.

It depends on your child’s goals and needs, but most families spend 10–15 hours/week on focused support or 25–40 hours/week on more intensive programs. A BCBA sets the exact time after an evaluation.

What guides the number: 

• Current skills in communication, play, self-care, and learning
• Safety or behavior concerns that affect daily life
• How many settings we’re targeting (home, school, community)
• Your family’s schedule and what’s realistic to sustain

A good rule of thumb is to start with the recommended hours, review progress every 6–8 weeks, and adjust up or down so therapy stays effective and manageable.

ABA helps many children on the spectrum, and the fit depends on goals, teaching style, and how well the plan is individualized and supported at home and school.

What gets better results

• Clear, meaningful goals (communication, daily living, safety)
• Teaching that’s play-based, affirming, and at your child’s pace
• Enough hours to practice and consistent family coaching
• Regular data reviews with adjustments every 6–8 weeks

If progress stalls

• Revisit goals, reduce or raise hours, or change teaching strategies
• Add or coordinate with speech/OT, or try targeted alternatives, such as naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions
• Prioritize your child’s well-being: skills should grow without causing distress

Effectiveness is individualized. A short trial with clear measures can show if ABA is the right fit for your child.

Your involvement is essential, and we’ll invite you from day one. ABA works best when we’re a team. We’ll equip you with doable tools and celebrate progress together.

We set clear goals, track simple data every session, show you quick graphs, and adjust the plan together every few weeks. Using your input, we also ensure skills appear at home and school.

Chicago Pediatric Therapy & Wellness Center offers: 

• Whole-child care in one place: ABA alongside speech, OT, PT, feeding, and social work: so goals line up and progress sticks.
• Warm, child-led approach: Playful sessions at your child’s pace, emphasizing connection and confidence.
• Family coaching that fits real life: Tiny, doable strategies for mealtimes, play, errands, and bedtime.
• Clear, shared progress: Simple graphs and plain-English updates every few weeks so we adjust together.
• Flexible settings: Clinic near Ukrainian Village, home, school, and community options when helpful.
• Smoother start: Quick intake, thorough evaluation, and scheduling that aims to begin within weeks, not months.
• Insurance made easier: We verify benefits, secure authorizations, and file claims so you can focus on your child.

While waitlists are common, we act with urgency. Once your consultation, benefits check, and assessment are complete, we can typically begin therapy in just a few weeks.

Our clinic is easy to reach from Ukrainian Village, Lincoln Park, Bucktown, Wicker Park, and Logan Square. We also offer flexible, personalized therapy at home and at school.

Our care goes further. Beyond ABA, we include:

• Speech Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Physical Therapy
• Social Work Services
• Feeding Therapy & Lactation Consulting
• Preschool readiness programs

For kids who need various therapies, we create one roadmap so ABA, speech, OT, and PT work together.