What Is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)?
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is an evidence-based approach to understanding how people learn and how behavior is influenced by the environment. ABA uses individualized teaching strategies to help children develop meaningful skills that improve independence, communication, social relationships, emotional regulation, and everyday functioning.
At LEAPS, every treatment plan is personalized to meet each child’s unique strengths, needs, interests, and goals. We believe therapy should be engaging, compassionate, and family-centered while helping children build the skills they need to thrive at home, in school, and within their communities.
Depending on your child’s needs, treatment may incorporate a variety of evidence-based approaches, including:
Functional Communication Training (FCT)
Natural Environment Teaching (NET)
Discrete Trial Training (DTT)
Play-based and child-led learning opportunities
Positive Behavior Support
Skill-Based Teaching
Reinforcement and motivation strategies
Prompting and systematic teaching procedures
Generalization of skills across people and environments
Our goal is not simply to reduce challenging behaviors—it is to help children develop the communication, coping, social, and adaptive skills that allow them to participate more successfully in everyday life.
What Can You Expect?
After your child receives an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis, your pediatrician, specialist, or healthcare provider may refer your child for ABA services.
Once LEAPS receives your referral, our Intake Team will guide you through each step of the process.
Comprehensive Assessment
Your child will meet with a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) or Licensed Assistant Behavior Analyst (LABA), who will:
Learn about your child’s strengths, interests, and developmental history
Discuss your family’s goals and priorities
Observe your child’s communication, play, social interaction, and learning skills
Conduct a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) when clinically appropriate
Identify skill deficits and behavioral challenges
Develop individualized treatment recommendations
Following the assessment, your clinician will create a personalized treatment plan outlining measurable goals, recommended treatment intensity, and evidence-based intervention strategies.
The Importance of Family Involvement
Parents and caregivers are among the most important members of the treatment team.
Research consistently demonstrates that children make the greatest progress when families actively participate in therapy and practice new skills outside of treatment sessions.
Throughout your child’s program, you’ll receive coaching, education, and practical strategies to help promote learning and generalize skills across home, school, and community environments.
At LEAPS, we believe therapy is most successful when families and clinicians work together as partners.
Common Areas of Treatment
Every treatment plan is individualized; however, ABA therapy often focuses on helping children develop skills in the following areas:
Communication
Requesting wants and needs
Functional communication
Asking for help or a break
Following directions
Conversation skills
Expressive and receptive language
Social & Emotional Development
Building relationships with peers
Cooperative play
Emotional awareness
Emotional regulation
Coping strategies
Perspective taking
Social problem-solving
Adaptive & Daily Living Skills
Toilet training
Dressing and personal hygiene
Feeding and mealtime skills
Independent play
Following routines
Safety awareness
Household independence
Learning & School Readiness
Attention and focus
Following classroom routines
Learning readiness
Task completion
Transitioning between activities
Early academic readiness
Positive Behavior Support
When challenging behaviors interfere with learning or daily life, ABA focuses on understanding why those behaviors occur and teaching safer, more effective replacement skills.
Intervention may address behaviors such as:
Aggression
Self-injurious behavior
Property destruction
Elopement
Noncompliance
Severe tantrums
Unsafe behaviors
Our approach emphasizes prevention, skill building, environmental supports, and positive reinforcement rather than punishment.
Our Commitment
At LEAPS, we are committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based, family-centered care that empowers children to reach their fullest potential.
We celebrate every child’s unique strengths while helping them build the skills needed for greater confidence, independence, and success in everyday life.
As educator Jane D. Hull wisely said:
“At the end of the day, the most overwhelming key to a child’s success is the positive involvement of parents.”
We couldn’t agree more.