Evidence-Based
ABA is grounded in decades of peer-reviewed scientific research and remains the most widely studied and validated approach for supporting individuals with autism. Its methods have been refined through continuous data collection and analysis, ensuring that interventions are both effective and individualized. As a result, ABA is recognized by the U.S. Surgeon General, the CDC, and major medical organizations as the gold standard for autism intervention.
Functional Skills
This is the “applied” aspect of ABA. It means that the behaviors we teach or shape are important and can cause a significant improvement in the individuals or their families lives.
Custom Programs
Every treatment plan we create is personalized, built around your child’s unique needs. While some programs use standardized assessments as a one-size-fits-all curriculum, we see that as the equivalent of “teaching to the test.” This approach often prioritizes checking boxes and memorization over building real, lasting skills.
Instead, we use tools like the VB-MAPP to measure progress not to dictate what we teach.
Data-Driven
As a science, a core principle of Applied Behavior Analysis is data-driven decision making. We collect and analyze data throughout each session to objectively measure progress and determine whether current strategies are effective.
Positive Reinforcement
Reinforcement is the primary building block of Applied Behavior Analysis. It refers to the process of increasing the likelihood that a behavior will occur again by following it with a meaningful consequence. ABA focuses on identifying what motivates each learner and using those reinforcers strategically to teach new skills, strengthen desired behaviors, and create lasting change. Effective reinforcement is individualized, immediate, and consistently tied to the behavior we want to encourage.
Generalization and Maintenance
Generalization
When a new skill is taught, the goal is for the child to use it not just during therapy, but in real life, at home, in the community, with family members, and with peers. This is called generalization. A skill isn't truly mastered until it works across different people, settings, and situations. ABA programs are designed to promote generalization from the start so that learning carries over into everyday routines.
Maintenance
Maintenance means the child continues to use a skill over time, even after direct teaching stops. Some children pick up skills quickly but may forget them if there isn’t follow-up. ABA includes strategies like fading prompts, spreading out practice, and checking back in on mastered goals. The focus is on long-term use, not just short-term success.