4 Things To Look For When Choosing an ABA Provider

One of the most common questions we hear parents ask is “how do I choose the right ABA provider?” With so many providers available, and so many different approaches to therapy, choosing the right provider can be daunting. 

ABA providers will spend anywhere from 5-40 hours a week with your child, often times in their most formative years and in very personal environments (school, home, etc.), so don’t be afraid to be ‘picky’ when it comes to picking a provider. 

Below are the top 4 things to look for when selecting an ABA provider for your family:

1) Staff & Credentials

In many states, there is no additional state licensure or regulatory body for behavior analysts and/or autism providers. Due to this, parents need to be upfront with providers in asking for credentials. Every reputable provider should have these handy or visible on their website. 

As a parent or caregiver requesting service, we recommend that you look for the following:

• BCBA Credentials provided by the BACB (Behavior Analyst Certification Board). Parents can further verify their credentials by visiting the BACB Registry directly here

• A Master’s degree in a related field: psychology, education, autism, etc., for those overseeing programming

• Clinical program being run by someone with at least 10+ years of experience

• References

• Staff training, policies, and credentials. Providers should provide this to you in via a client services agreement or client handbook

• Structure of services that includes consistent BCBA supervision and oversight

2) Type of Services Provided

ABA can be provided in many different settings. Three of the most common settings are in-home, school, and in-clinic. Due to the cost of clinics, and differing clinical philosophies, many providers only offer in-home services.

There are advantages and disadvantages to all three types of services, so it is important to consider all of them. Whether or not a home or center-based program is appropriate may depend upon your family situation, child’s age, treatment goals, progress in one setting vs. another, comfort level with services in your house, etc. Providers who offer all three types of services give you the flexibility and opportunity to change or combine locations if one is not working as well as the other. For this article, we will cover some of the advantages and disadvantages of in-home and in-clinic services.

Home Based Services - Things to Think About:

In-home services are often recommended for children who tend to display their most problematic behavior while inside their own home. Some children progress substantially while receiving services in-center, but upon returning home they regress back to their problem behaviors. 

The home is the natural environment for young children, especially those under 5, so receiving some portion of therapy in-home is often times recommended (but remember with ABA there is no one-size fits all solution, so it’s best to follow the recommendations of your BCBA).

Some additional things to consider:

• Transition from home-based therapy to school may offer challenges as one cannot simulate the school demands in a home program as well as in a center program

• They will also not have ‘back-up’, or someone else on staff to help if things go wrong or an accident occurs

• Privacy for the family; having people in your home and accessing your home every day

• In-home services provides you with the ability to supervise sessions

• Staff tend to get burned out quicker as they’re not around their peers as frequently. Turnover may be higher than in-clinic.

• Home-based therapy is not covered by all insurance sources (though as of 2021 the majority of carriers do allow for in-home). Be sure to check with your carrier prior to starting services

Center Based Services - Things to Think About:

Center based services are not right for everyone, mainly due to some of the advantages listed above as it pertains to in-home services. However they offer many advantages in their own right. 

Primarily they allow for the following:

• Ability for child to receive services outside the comfort of their own home; many children will not display challenging behaviors in their home, but do so once leaving their home

• Supervision of front-line staff: BCBAs and management tend to be onsite and can offer additional support when needed

• Greater privacy for the family

• Enhanced ability to rotate staff

• Ability to socially interact with other kids through group therapy

What’s right for you and your family will be recommended by the BCBA upon completing an assessment. Providers who offer both services may look to blend the two together, allowing your child to receive therapy in both settings.

3) Clinical Approach

There are several styles of ABA and they can look very different. The variations in ABA tend to be regional and often begin at the university level. Therapy sessions can range from very structured and repetitive (Discrete Trial Training), to very play-based (Natural Environment Training  or Pivotal Response Treatment). Different styles are better suited for different learners.

Two elements of therapy that every provider should offer are supervision and parent training. All reputable ABA providers will require parent input and parent involvement in sessions. As someone seeking therapy for their child, this should be one of your first questions. Generally, parent training is mandated by insurance and required on a monthly basis. However, providers should be aiming to schedule time with you every week or every other week. This is to ensure that when services end you are fully equipped to help your child continue to make progress. 

4) Approachability & Support

ABA providers are going to be working with your child anywhere from 5 to 40 hours a week. Having a provider that is easy to work with will make your life easier, and ultimately result in better outcomes for your child. While ABA providers aren’t available around the clock, it’s important that you find a provider who is willing to take phone calls and provide support outside of billable therapy sessions. Additionally, it’s critical that your provider shows a willingness to not only work with you and your child, but also anyone else who may interact with your child on a frequent basis. This includes pediatricians, school teachers, and other types of therapists your child might be seeing (occupational, speech, etc.).