What is ABA Therapy?

ABA Therapy is a supportive and evidence-based treatment that helps individuals with autism learn valuable skills to help improve the quality of their lives. Through the science of learning and individualized strategies, ABA empowers autistic individuals to communicate better, build social interactions, and navigate daily activities, making life brighter and more fulfilling for them and their families.

What Does ABA Therapy Look Like for Different Age Groups?

ABA therapy is highly personalized and evolves with the individual, adapting to their age, developmental stage, and unique needs. Here’s how ABA therapy can look across different age groups:

Toddlers (Ages 2-3)

Focus: Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI) to establish foundational skills and remove learning barriers that contributed to the autism diagnosis.

What It Looks Like:

Communication: Encouraging the first words, gestures like pointing, or using picture cards to express needs.
Play Skills: Learning how to play with toys, engage in simple pretend play, or imitate actions like clapping hands.
Learning Barriers: Learning how to focus attention, follow instructions, and respond to social cues.

ABA Format: For little ones, ABA therapy is all about play. These sessions are play-based, short, and frequent, with significant caregiver involvement and coaching to reinforce learning at home.

Preschoolers (Ages 3-5)

Focus: Expanding social interaction and readiness for structured learning.

What It Looks Like:

Social Skills: Learning to take turns, share toys, and join group activities like circle time.
Communication: Building vocabulary, forming simple sentences, and starting to understand and respond to social cues like smiling.
Daily Living: Beginning to dress independently, use the toilet, and follow simple daily routines.

ABA Format: A mix of structured activities and play, often in both one-on-one and small group settings, focusing on school readiness and peer interaction.

School-Aged Children (Ages 6-12)

Focus: Supporting academic success, social skills, and adaptive behaviors.

What It Looks Like:

Academic Skills: Enhancing focus in the classroom, following instructions, completing assignments, and participating in group projects.
Social Interaction: Learning to make friends, understand social rules, and navigate playground interactions.
Behavior Management: Addressing behaviors like anxiety or meltdowns that might interfere with learning or socializing.
Daily Living: Developing more independence in personal care, like getting dressed, preparing simple snacks, and managing a morning routine.

ABA Format: Therapy may occur at home, in school, or community settings, blending one-on-one sessions with group activities to practice skills in real-life situations.

Adolescents & Young Adults(Ages 13-18+)

Focus: Preparing for independence and adult life, with an emphasis on social relationships, recreation, meaningful employment and emotional regulation.

What It Looks Like:

Life Skills: Learning to manage time, cook meals, do laundry, and be as independent as possible.
Vocational Skills: Receiving job coaching, understanding workplace expectations, and developing communication and problem-solving skills for work.
Social Skills: Navigating complex social scenarios, such as peer pressure, dating, and maintaining friendships.
Recreational Activities: Exploring recreational activities and being independent around them.
Emotional Regulation: Developing coping strategies for stress, managing social anxiety, and recognizing and expressing complex emotions appropriately.

ABA Format: Sessions may include one-on-one therapy, group activities, and community-based learning, with real-life applications of recreational and vocational opportunities. As more skills are taught, there is a switch to focus on practical skills in real-world settings with a strong emphasis on independence.

ABA therapy is dynamic and adapts to meet the evolving needs of individuals with autism, providing them with the tools and confidence to succeed at every stage of life.

What is ABA Therapy?

What Does ABA Therapy Look Like for Different Age Groups?

Toddlers (Ages 2-3)

Preschoolers (Ages 3-5)

School-Aged Children (Ages 6-12)

Adolescents & Young Adults(Ages 13-18+)

We Tailor Our Program To Your Child's Needs

Learn more with an intake screening, at no charge to you.

North Shore Center

Madison Center