What is ABA?

Applied Behavior Analysis

ABA methods have been supported by hundreds of scientific studies spanning the past five decades and have been found to be effective by numerous agencies and organizations, such as the:

• U.S. Surgeon General

• American Academy of Pediatrics

• National Autism Center

ABA is a scientific approach for:

• Researching the relationship between behaviors and the environment;

• Designing methods to change behavior (based on this research);

• Applying these methods to improve behaviors that are important in people’s lives;

At Behavior Frontiers, our ABA treatment programs focus on applying behavior methods to help improve the behaviors, as well as the overall quality of life, of individuals with autism and other special needs.

In general, ABA involves rewarding individuals for appropriate behavior and not rewarding their problem behaviors. Parents, teachers, classroom aides, therapists, and others can learn how to use these practical ABA methods to help change individuals' lives for the better.

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Explained

ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) is a science-based approach to understanding how children learn and helping them build meaningful skills. The focus is on teaching new behaviors (like communication, play, and daily living skills) while reducing challenging behaviors that may sometimes get in the way of learning and connection.

And at some point on your journey with autism, ABA therapy has likely been recommended to you. Maybe a pediatrician or fellow parent mentioned it in passing, or perhaps you’ve researched it on your own. With your curiosity piqued and questions swimming in your mind, you may be wondering: 

Is ABA therapy right for my child? 

It’s normal to have questions if you’re new to ABA. The terminology and process can feel foreign and overwhelming. That’s why we created this guide (just for you) to take your first steps in deciding if ABA therapy is a good fit for your child. 

The Science Behind ABA Therapy

ABA isn't new, and it isn't experimental. It's backed by more than five decades of scientific research and is recognized as the most extensively researched approach for autism care. Major organizations have endorsed ABA, including: 

• U.S. Surgeon General

• American Academy of Pediatrics

• National Autism Center

How ABA Understands Behavior

ABA is all about understanding why behaviors happen. Every behavior (whether it's a tantrum, a smile, or a request for help) happens for a reason. ABA helps us figure out that reason so we can help your child find new ways to express their needs and thrive. 

We use something called the ABC model:

• Antecedent: What happens before the behavior

• Behavior: What the child does

• Consequence: What happens after (does it encourage or discourage the behavior?)

For example, a child who falls on the floor crying when told "no" is communicating something to us. Once we understand their pattern and the “why” behind it, we can help them build a new skill or teach a replacement behavior. For example, we might teach this child to express their feelings in a different way, or ask for something else they’d enjoy. 

Positive Reinforcement

This is exactly why ABA focuses on rewarding and celebrating helpful behaviors. At Behavior Frontiers, we focus on building on your child's strengths while teaching, rewarding, and recognizing your child for every small win. When a child experiences success and joy, they're motivated to keep learning.

Together, our team of BCBAs and expert behavior technicians will work closely with you and your child, giving them the tools to find new ways to communicate their needs and succeed. Then, we’ll also equip you with a solid plan to feel confident in navigating challenging behaviors at home.

What Does ABA Therapy Actually Look Like?

Where ABA Happens

ABA therapy can take place in several settings, depending on your child's age and needs:

• Center-Based ABA (Behavior Frontiers' primary early intervention model for children under 6): Our state-of-the-art centers provide a safe, fun, and engaging setting to inspire your child to soak up new information with 1:1 support and with peers. Children have access to a wide variety of learning materials and equipment, as well as groups of other children to promote friendships and community.

• In-Home ABA (available for children and young adults up to age 25): We come to you! Learning in the home setting may be the most comfortable for your child. One-on-one support happens in familiar surroundings during daily routines, and family members can easily participate.

• School-Based and Community-Based ABA: We can accompany your child as a 1:1 aide during the school day or help make trips to the grocery store, dentist office, or park more successful by incorporating community outings into your child's program.

What Happens in a Session

ABA therapy is engaging, playful, and tailored to your child's interests. 

We are on an ongoing quest to learn what makes your child light up. Time and time again, learning happens through play, not force.

Big goals (like speaking in sentences or playing cooperatively with peers) are broken down into smaller, more achievable steps. Each step is celebrated, and progress builds over time. Because our clinicians collect data live during every session (not after) our proprietary electronic clinical outcomes platform gives us real-time insights we can act on immediately, keeping every session focused, tailored, and as effective as possible for your child.

Every session is thoughtfully designed to keep your child engaged and growing. Dedicated 1:1 play-based therapy time is at the heart of each day, with fun activities woven throughout, from gym time to support motor development, to circle time to build social skills, arts and crafts to spark creativity, and music to make learning feel like play.

And reinforcement is woven into every session. High fives, praise, and favorite activities are all part of it.

What Skills Does ABA Therapy Teach?

ABA addresses a wide range of skills:

• Communication: Functional communication, requesting, labeling, verbal, and non-verbal language

• Social Skills: Eye contact, turn-taking, playing with peers, understanding social cues

• Daily Living: Self-care like dressing, brushing teeth, toileting, and mealtime skills

• Play and Leisure: Pretend play, engaging with toys, exploring interests

• Learning and School Readiness: Following instructions, sitting and attending, transitions, and pre-academic behavioral skills that help a child feel confident in a school setting

• Behavioral and Emotional Regulation: Managing big feelings, coping with transitions

Tailored Programs: Finding the Right Fit for Your Child

Behavior Frontiers offers programs tailored to different age groups:

• Early Intervention Programs (0-3 years): Typically full-day, center-based programs designed to build the foundational skills your child needs to grow and thrive, from crawling and walking, to talking, listening, eating, and playing.

• Comprehensive Programs (3-8 years): A comprehensive ABA program teaches new skills such as communication, socialization, play, self-care, cognition, and executive functioning, while turning challenging behaviors into learning opportunities.

• Focused Programs (8-25 years): A focused ABA program targets meaningful, functional skills, including social communication, self-care, safety, and independent leisure skills — to help your child navigate everyday life with greater confidence.

• Parent Consult Programs: Family involvement is at the heart of everything we do. Our parent consult programs equip you with the tools and strategies to extend the support throughout your child's daily routine — at home, at school, and everywhere in between.

How Is ABA Personalized for Each Child?

Your child is unique, and their therapy plan should be too. It all starts with a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA), or a process that helps us understand what makes your child light up and tick. This includes what motivates them, what challenges them, and what they're ready to work toward.

From there, we work closely with your family to design a plan built around your child's goals, strengths, and interests; not a one-size-fits-all template. Behavior Frontiers' treatment curriculum includes over 1,000 lessons spanning a variety of developmental areas, giving us the flexibility to meet your child exactly where they are and build from there.

And as your child grows, so does their plan. Our proprietary PrioraCare™ platform tracks every session, every goal, and every milestone in real time, allowing our clinicians to adjust quickly and keeping you informed every step of the way. You're never left wondering if ABA therapy is working or not.

Starting Your ABA Journey with Confidence

ABA therapy is a science-backed, personalized approach to helping children with autism build skills and thrive. We’re not here to change who your child is. We’re here to give them the tools to communicate, connect, and grow. Every child deserves a plan as unique as they are, and every parent deserves a team in their corner. 

Ready to take the next step? Consult with a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) to assess your child’s behavioral needs and get started with ABA therapy.

Landmark Studies on Behavior Intervention

The following are summaries of important research studies on early intensive behavioral intervention. These scientific studies are highlighted because they have been identified repeatedly as being the most rigorous and well-executed studies of their kind to document significant findings.