ABA Therapy is one of the most recommended forms of therapy for a child with autism. I interviewed Kelley Prince, Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and asked her several questions about ABA Therapy. Here are the questions and answers:
1. Can you introduce yourself to my readers and explain what ABA therapy is?
My name is Kelley Prince. I am a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and the President of Behavioral Consulting of Tampa Bay, Inc. (http://www.bcotb.com). I graduated from the University of South Florida with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis. I have been working with children with autism and related disorders for more than 11 years. Currently, I have 2 clinic locations in the Tampa Bay area that provide clinic-based, school-based and home-based behavior intervention programs for children with special needs, or for children who engage in problem behavior.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the science of human behavior. It involves applying behavioral principles and techniques to improve socially significant behavior. ABA therapy is two-fold: interventions are used to increase behaviors that are not occurring at an appropriate rate (i.e. the individual has a skill deficit) or interventions are used to decrease behavior that is occurring too frequently (i.e. problem behavior.) ABA therapy is the only therapy with more than 30 years of research and statistics proving it’s effectiveness for children diagnosed on the autism spectrum as well as, as an intervention for a variety of populations and behaviors.
2. What can parents do if ABA therapy is not available where they live?
If ABA therapy is not available to a family in their area, they may contact an out-of-town Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) who can provide consultation, assessments, and staff training on a limited or perhaps monthly basis. Most families in this situation contact their local university to find students who are interested in receiving ABA training and who are available to work directly with their child under the supervision of a BCBA. The number of students needed depends on the number of therapy hours the child receives each week. Once students are secured, the BCBA comes to the home for 3-4 days and completes an initial assessment of the child, develops program goals and trains the private therapists. The BCBA then provides supervision and consults with the family and therapists on a weekly basis via phone calls, emails, and videos. Face-to-face consultations occur on a limited basis and involve observing the therapists implementing the program goals and instituting changes to the goals based on the child’s performance. Additional staff training may also take place depending on new goals as they are developed.
3. What about the cost of providing ABA therapy for your child? Do you know of any grants available to parents to help cover the cost?
The overall cost of ABA therapy is dependant on the total number of hours per week the child receives the therapy. The average rate of therapy is between $40.00 and $60.00 an hour, and depending on a child’s individual needs, many are enrolled for 10 to 40 hours of therapy each week. There may also be additional costs for services provided by the therapy supervisor, or BCBA. The child’s initial assessment, the development of a child’s specific program goals as well as the monthly supervision of the therapists may be a separate, initial or on-going charge that can range from $60-$150 an hour depending on the BCBA’s experience level. Always check with the BCBA or clinic to verify any additional expenses and what they entail.
In the Tampa Bay area, funding sources such as the ASO Grant are available to offset the costs of ABA therapy. Otherwise, if a family resides in Florida, and the child is in the Medicaid Waiver program, behavioral services are, in fact, covered.
Additionally, the “Window of Opportunity Act” was passed last year by Florida Governor Charlie Crist and requires insurance companies (within the state of Florida) to cover up to $36,000 of ABA therapy for every child who has received a diagnosis on the Autism Spectrum Disorder including ASD, PDD, and Asperger’s. There are limitations and stipulations to this legislation, but it has already helped several families in our area receive ABA therapy, who otherwise may not have been able to afford such treatment, at no out-of-pocket cost to them.
4. Is there a cut-off age for ABA therapy? Is there an age that introducing ABA therapy with an autistic child will not be helpful?
There is not a cut-off age for ABA therapy as it helps individuals of all ages, including older adults. However, for the most effective therapy, early intervention is key. I recommend children in need of ABA therapy begin services before the age of 5 to have the best possible outcome.
5. How would a parent go about finding a qualified provider of ABA therapy services?
A parent looking for a qualified provider of ABA therapy services should ask other parents who have children with autism as well as their pediatricians, neurologists or other therapy providers such as speech or occupational therapists. If parents do not have access to other parents or professionals who are familiar with local BCBA’s, their best bet would be to search online using the Behavior Analyst Certification Board Registry at www.bacb.com.
6. Can parents be trained to provide this therapy if there is no one in their area to hire? If so, what would that involve?
Parents can be trained to provide this therapy and even if the child is presently receiving services, it may be a good idea to help supplement the child’s time at home. However, if a provider is not located within a family’s particular area, the parent should contact a qualified BCBA to discuss home therapy. The BCBA will need to travel to the home to conduct a thorough assessment and analysis of the child, create program goals suited to the child’s needs and then provide the parent training – similar to the process of a BCBA training private therapists. (See response in question 2 above)
