If your child has been diagnosed with autism, it’s important to know that they aren’t alone. Autism now affects one in 68 children, and if your child has already been diagnosed, you’re taking a great step in supporting your child by seeking autism therapy.
Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA therapy, has been used to develop children suffering from autism since the 1960s. It is a wonderful, all-encompassing tool that helps your child learn to communicate, improve motor skills, and attain a sense of normalcy in both their life and yours. Finding a great autism center that will work with your child on an individual basis and take a personal stake in their development is crucial to their growth. Here are three important things to look for when searching for ABA therapy for your child:
Full insurance coverage
If you’re worried about whether you can afford ABA therapy, don’t fret. Find an autism center that offers full coverage through your insurance for all ABA services rendered to your child. As of 2015, 32 of the 50 U.S. states have laws that require health insurers to cover ABA therapy. As the treatments used in ABA continue to advance, the cost that you incur continues to decrease. States that take the initiative to cover your child’s care are helping the country take a giant leap forward to end autism once and for all.
One-on-one therapy
No two children are alike, and a great autism center knows this. Your child needs to develop a bond with their caretaker to build a foundation on which they can continue to grow. In most autism centers that offer ABA, the therapist spends 20 to 40 hours per week working one-on-one with a child. By receiving therapy in a close-knit and familiar setting, your child will be praised and encouraged every step of the way.
Development of social skills
While one-on-one therapy is a huge part of your child’s development, it should also be noted that taking part in group activities is also extremely important. A great autism center will assess your child to see how much social interaction they can handle, thus tailoring a plan that is best suited for them. By engaging in group activities, an autistic child learns basic social cues and nuances that will transfer into everyday life. It’s important to seek communication and occupational therapy for your child as well as many autistic children suffer in both aspects.
Find an experienced autism center that will offer all of these great things and more. Investing in your child’s future by seeking ABA therapy is one of the most important things you can do as the parent of an autistic child. Once you find a trustworthy, qualified team of experts to care for your child, the rest will fall into place.
