ABA therapy questions, answered

ABA stands for applied behavior analysis. It's a therapy that helps children with autism learn everyday skills, such as asking for what they want, playing with others, following routines, dressing and toilet training, and it helps reduce behaviors that get in the way, like tantrums or hurting themselves. Skills are broken into small steps, practiced many times, and rewarded with praise, play or a favorite activity, so learning feels positive. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) designs your child's plan and a behavior technician (BT/RBT) works with your child one-on-one.

ABA is one of the most studied treatments for autism. The CDC lists behavioral approaches such as ABA among the treatments for autism spectrum disorder, and every child's goals and progress are measured during therapy so the plan can be adjusted. Results differ from child to child, so your BCBA reviews progress with you regularly.

At Little Haven, sessions happen in your home. Your child's behavior technician brings activities and works with your child through play and daily routines like snack time, getting dressed or cleaning up. Each session follows the goals in your child's treatment plan, and the BT records progress so the BCBA can see what's working.

It depends on your child. Common goals include communication (words, signs, pictures or a device), playing and taking turns, following directions, waiting, self-care like toileting, dressing and eating, safety skills, handling changes in routine, and reducing tantrums, aggression or self-injury. You help choose the goals.

The BCBA recommends a number of hours per week after the assessment, based on your child's needs and goals, and your insurance plan approves the hours. We plan the schedule around your family's time.

Children can start as soon as they have an autism diagnosis; many start as toddlers. NJ FamilyCare covers ABA for members under 21, so school-age children and teens can get ABA too.

Insurance plans usually require an autism diagnosis before they cover ABA. If your child doesn't have one yet, apply anyway: we'll explain how to get a diagnosis in New Jersey and be ready to start when the report comes in. See our guide How to get an autism diagnosis in New Jersey.

A BT, or behavior technician, is the person who works with your child one-on-one during ABA sessions. The BT teaches the skills in your child's treatment plan through play and daily routines, keeps track of progress, and follows the plan written by the BCBA. At Little Haven, BTs work with your child in your home.

An RBT is a Registered Behavior Technician: a behavior technician certified by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB). To become an RBT, a person must complete 40 hours of training, pass a competency assessment and a certification exam, and pass a background check. RBTs work under the supervision of a BCBA.

A BCBA is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, a master's-level clinician certified by the BACB. The BCBA assesses your child, writes the treatment plan, sets the goals and weekly hours, supervises the BT/RBT, trains you as a parent, and updates the plan as your child grows. Every Little Haven treatment plan is written and supervised by a BCBA.

The BCBA is the clinician who designs and oversees your child's therapy. The BT or RBT is the person who spends the most time with your child, carrying out that plan session by session. An RBT is a BT who has earned the RBT certification.

Yes. When your insurance approves the assessment, we send you your BCBA's name and phone number, and before therapy starts we send you your BT's name and phone number, so you can call or text them directly.

Yes. A parent or another adult caregiver needs to be home during in-home sessions. Being nearby also lets you see the strategies your child is learning.

Parent training is time with your child's BCBA to learn the strategies used in therapy, so you can use them during the rest of the week: at meals, bedtime, outings and with siblings. It's part of your child's plan and it makes a big difference.

Yes. NJ FamilyCare (New Jersey Medicaid) covers ABA therapy for members from birth up to age 21 who have an autism diagnosis. Your child's health plan approves an assessment and then the treatment plan; we handle that paperwork for you. Read more: Does NJ FamilyCare cover ABA therapy?

For most families, no. NJ FamilyCare A and B have no copays at all. NJ FamilyCare C and D have small copays for some services, like $5 for certain doctor visits, but the plan handbooks we've checked don't list a copay for ABA or autism services. Before therapy starts, we check your child's exact plan for free and tell you if anything applies, so there are no surprises.

We accept NJ FamilyCare / Medicaid through Horizon NJ Health, Aetna Better Health of New Jersey, Fidelis Care and Wellpoint, and EmblemHealth / GHI (NYC PPO). Have a different plan? Call us at 201-361-6331 and we'll tell you honestly whether we can help.

Yes. We accept EmblemHealth / GHI (NYC PPO), which many New York City employees and their families living in New Jersey have. We check your benefits for free before you start.

Send us a picture of the front and back of your child's insurance card, through the apply form on our website or by text to 201-361-6331. We check your coverage for free and call you back, usually within one business day.

Tell us about both. We'll ask which one is primary, and we bill them in the right order. When a child has private insurance and NJ FamilyCare, the private plan is usually billed first.

No. We request the approvals from your plan, send the assessment and treatment plan, and follow up until they're approved. You share the diagnosis report and insurance card and sign the intake forms.

Apply online in about a minute at mylittlehaven.org, no account needed, or call or text 201-361-6331. We call you back, usually within one business day, check your insurance for free, and walk you through each step. See What happens after you apply.

Your name and phone number, your child's first name, and if you have them, the autism diagnosis report and a picture of the insurance card. No diagnosis yet? Apply anyway, and we'll help.

We provide in-home ABA therapy for families across New Jersey. Our office is at 451 South 15th Street, Suite B1, Newark, NJ 07103. Call us to confirm we have a therapist near your town.

It depends mostly on how fast your insurance approves the assessment and the treatment plan, and on your family's schedule. We have openings now, and we keep you updated at every step.

Sí. Hablamos español. Our team can help your family in English or Spanish, on the phone and in the parent portal. Preguntas frecuentes en español.

Yes. Your child's information is protected health information under HIPAA. We use it only to provide care, work with your insurance and run our services. Read our privacy policy.

Through your parent portal at mylittlehaven.org/parent, where you can upload documents, sign forms, see your child's progress and message our team, and by phone or text with your BCBA.