As one of the most powerful, evidence-based treatments for Autism, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy positively impacts the lives of children and families dealing with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Whether to choose a clinic-based therapy setting or an in-home ABA program depends on your child’s age, developmental needs, and therapy goals. Your ABA professional can help you determine the approach that may work best for your child.
If in-home sessions are the way forward for your child, you may be seeking clarifications on a number of aspects. How does it work? What to expect during the sessions? What kind of space or materials do you need to organize? What is your responsibility during and after the sessions? Read on to learn how to prep for your child’s in-home ABA therapy in Dallas TX.
Make Your Home Environment Ready for in-Home ABA Therapy
Although every ABA clinic may have specific requirements, here are some generic pointers related to in-home ABA therapy.
- Understand the Dynamics: Typically, each session will be a mix of play therapyalong with direct instruction, adaptive skills, parent training, and plenty of short breaks. Your ABA professionals may decide to use just one area of the home or spread out the sessions with the child in different parts of the house.
- Know the Infrastructure Arrangements: With in-home ABA sessions, your home becomes the workplace for your child’s therapists. This means, you may have to allow use of your driveway, let them put up visuals on your walls, store additional materials that they may use repeatedly, provide space for plugging in a laptop or tablet, and so on.
- Manage Your Stress and Anxieties: Do not worry about keeping your home in an immaculate condition or offering food or drinks to the therapists. Remember, the ABA team focuses on your child’s curriculum, and will not be judging or critiquing your housekeeping, entertaining or decorating skills.
- Prevent Interruptions and Distractions: Set clear boundaries for family members during the ABA session. Regulate the play time and play areas for other siblings when your child is attending in-home therapy.
- Participate in the Sessions as Advised: While avoiding interruptions is important, you should feel free to quietly observe the sessions or join the sessions based on the therapists’ advice.
- Address your Concerns: If you have any questions or concerns about the ABA therapy techniques or interventions, or any other issues with the in-home sessions, address them early with your ABA service provider.
- Ensure your Child is ‘Therapy-Ready’: Maximize each session by ensuring that your child is ‘therapy-ready’. This involves managing your child’s routine, such as meal times, sleep time, diaper changes etc.to ensure that they do not overlap or interrupt the session.
- Be Available during Therapy: Even though you may not need to be part of every therapy session, remain available for any spontaneous parenting tips or techniques that the therapist incorporates during the session. Try not to use therapy time to run errands. Avoid treating your child’s therapists as babysitters.
Expert In-Home ABA Therapy in Dallas, TX and Surrounding Areas
At Behavior Pioneers, we offer clinic-based ABA therapy through our centers in Carrolton and Richardson, TX, along with in-home ABA therapy throughout Dallas and Fort Worth, TX. Our qualified and experienced Board-Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and Registered Behavior Therapists (RBT)often work with parents who are new to the challenges of Autism. We take the time to familiarize parents and caregivers with the nuances of in-home ABA therapy and ensure that all parties involved are aware of their roles and responsibilities. Our goal is to use ABA-based techniques and play therapy for autism in Richardson to bring about meaningful and long-lasting changes in the lives of children with ASD.
If you are looking for in-home ABA therapy in and around Dallas, TX, or play therapy for Autism in Richardson, TX, speak to the ABA professionals at Behavior Pioneers. Call us at 877-725-8397 to book a free consultation or contact us online.
