Experience the Quality Standard of ABA Therapy from Our Outstanding Team!

Choosing the Right ABA Therapy Center: A Checklist for Families

AGENCY COMPARISON CHECKLIST

Use this guide to help evaluate and select the ABA Therapy Center that best meets the needs of your child and family.

Professional psychologist working with family in office

General Considerations

  • Live Observation Access: Does the center allow you to watch therapy sessions in real-time? This transparency is key to understanding how therapy is implemented.
  • Trauma-Informed Care: If your child has experienced trauma, does the center create a personalized care plan to address these needs and ensure a safe environment for healing?
  • Safety Training: Does the center use QBS (Quality Behavioral Solutions) Safety Training to handle any escalated behaviors that may arise?
  • Emergency Procedures: Does the center have clear emergency protocols, including regular fire drills, safety drills, and a comprehensive safety plan for children and staff?

Therapist Qualifications & Training

  • Technician Qualifications: 1. First Aid/CPR certification 2. Background checks and drug screenings 3. A focused full-time training period for technicians before they are allowed to work with children?
Preschool children learning shapes

Therapy & Environment

  • Individualized Therapy: Does the center offer a balance of structured 1:1 therapy with opportunities for group learning to help your child develop social skills?
  • Fun, Inviting Environment: Does the center’s therapy environment feel welcoming and fun, rather than clinical, to encourage positive learning?
  • Parent-BCBA Collaboration: Does the center offer regular meetings with the child’s BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) to discuss: 1. Managing behavior at home 2. Implementing routines that ease daily challenges 3. Fostering functional communication between you and your child?
  • Emergency Procedures: Does the center have clear emergency protocols, including regular fire drills, safety drills, and a comprehensive safety plan for children and staff?
Teacher with Children at the Nurcery

Parental Support

  • Parent Resources: Does the center offer resources or workshops for parents to help them navigate their child’s therapy and progress?
  • Insurance Coverage: Is the center in-network with insurance providers, and does it ensure that your child’s full therapy hours (e.g., 40 hours per week) are met, even if therapy technicians are in limited supply?
  • Collaboration with Other Therapists: Does the center allow integration with other therapy services (e.g., speech or occupational therapy) for a more holistic approach to treatment?
Happy little boy with pronunciation and language difficulties during speech therapy session with young female doctor

Unique Features to Consider

  • Community Outings: Does the center incorporate real-world experiences, like outings to parks, museums, or other community spaces, for applied learning and social skill development?
  • Location and Access: Is the center easily accessible, with ample parking and a convenient location near major roads or highways?
  • Response Times: Does the center offer efficient communication with fast responses

Additional Considerations

  • Caseload Size: Does the center’s BCBA supervisor maintain a manageable caseload (e.g., no more than 12 children) to ensure focused, individualized attention for your child? Larger caseloads can reduce the quality of supervision and care.
  • Age Range of Children Served: Does the center work with children of all ages, from 18 months to 18 years, or is there an age cutoff?
  • Therapist Consistency: Does the center rotate therapists regularly to ensure your child interacts with various caregivers? Consistency in this area is vital for building skills in different social contexts.
  • Multiple Therapy Options: Does the center offer flexible therapy options such as in-center, in-home, or school-based shadowing to best meet your child’s needs?

*Why Choose Beyond The Spectrum ABA Therapy (BTS)?

Kind mother helping her son doing homework in kitchen

At BTS, we specialize in offering individualized ABA therapy to children across a wide range of needs and ages. Our approach is centered around creating a compassionate, fun, and supportive environment for learning, while working closely with families and other professionals. Our goal is to ensure your child’s progress in therapy is sustained and meaningful both in and outside the center.

Beyond The Spectrum ABA Therapy (BTS) offers personalized ABA therapy for children with Autism, combined with comprehensive parent training. Our approach is focused on helping children build self-regulation, independence, and a positive self-image, all within a fun and engaging environment. We are dedicated to teaching functional skills that empower our clients to grow into confident, capable adults who thrive in mainstream society.

For more information, visit www.BeyondTheSpectrumABA.com or call 404-590-7368.