What do they do during ABA therapy?

During ABA therapy, a therapist works with your child on goals from a written plan, breaks each skill into small steps and rewards every real try.

It starts with an assessment. A BCBA watches your child, talks with you and writes specific, measurable goals, and you help pick them. After that, sessions mix play with short stretches of focused practice: asking for a toy, taking turns, following a direction, moving from one activity to the next. The therapist takes data the whole time. The BCBA reads that data and changes the plan when progress stalls. In a clinic, children often start one-on-one and join small groups later. A good team also accepts a no from your child.