What is ABA therapy?
Applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy is a scientific and evidence-based approach that helps people with autism learn and develop skills to improve and manage their behaviors. This methodology shows particular effectiveness as an early intervention for kids with autism. ABA therapy lets kids acquire skills they will use for the rest of their lives. Through ABA therapy, children with autism can learn to communicate and interact with others as they develop skills that help them become more independent, making them more self-sufficient and prepared for the world.
With a primary focus on meeting children where they are and delivering services in a natural setting, our ABA program aims to enhance the likelihood of skill generalization beyond the after-school program. What sets our Kidsborough team apart is that how we deliver socially significant, clinically appropriate ABA services within our after-school program. This innovative approach not only enhances inclusion opportunities but also supports children in learning adaptive skills and reducing interfering behaviors alongside their school community friends.
Our ABA sessions feature:
Individualized Curriculum
individualized treatment plans adjusted through ongoing staff supervision and (re)assessment
Peer Socialization
1-4 neurodivergent peers present per session, plus over 90% neurotypical peers on average
Natural Environment Teaching (NET)
Combining 1-on-1 instruction with authentic classroom experiences to help generalize skill acquisition
Students We Serve
We currently serve clients with an ASD severity level of either Level 1 – Requiring support or Level 2 – Requiring substantial support. These children have some foundational skills in the areas such as social communication, social language, and social interaction. Clients require more peer models present to generalize skills that have been taught in a less stimulating environment than their community setting. In addition, we target lower level maladaptive behaviors with replacement skills for these problem behaviors, as well as restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interest, or activities that are interfering with accessing their community. Some maladaptive behaviors that we have worked to decrease within our ABA program have not been addressed in the past since the opportunity to be with their neurotypical peer group in a less restrictive setting was not available.
Expanded Opportunities For Generalization
We also offer further opportunities for expanded generalization during vacation weeks and summer programs. These programs can be located at different sites, have novel staff leading the program, and novel peers to work on skill generalization. Over this past year, clients have had tremendous success during these weeks, both using the skills taught at the afterschool program in these differing environments and demonstrating decreased maladaptive behaviors.
Bridging Home And Community ABA Services
We work to bridge the gap between community-based ABA and home through required ongoing parent training. As part of our program, our BCBAs consult about our curriculum and behavior goals through our parent training model and assist with coordination of care with other providers. If home needs increase to the level of requiring home-based ABA, then we refer out to a provider that offers that service. Typically, we also receive referrals for clients that have transitioned out of home-based ABA services, but require more individualized ABA therapy to access community-based services. We recognize that skills targeted in the home setting only do not always generalize to less restrictive environments such as our community-based program.