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ABA THERAPY FOR AUTISM APPLIES THE PRINCIPLES OF LEARNING TO TEACH SOCIALLY SIGNIFICANT BEHAVIORS IN A SAFE CLINIC ENVIRONMENT. IT IS PROVEN TO BE AN EFFECTIVE TREATMENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM
Applied behavior analysis therapy, or ABA therapy, is an evidence-based treatment for children with autism and used to address individual needs in the areas of cognitive, behavioral, social, and executive functioning. ABA therapy, or applied behavioral analysis, is recommended as the best practice treatment for individuals with autism by both the US Surgeon General and by the American Psychological Association. ABA Therapy is often provided in a clinic setting where behavior skills, outcomes, and success rates are shown to be the highest.
Every child presents signs differently. Autism can affect different areas of development and present in many different ways. Westside offers an Autism Screening Quiz. Please note that it is only meant as a quick screener for parents to validate if any behavioral program can help and is not a formal assessment or diagnosis.
After taking the autism screening, if you think you and your child’s needs could benefit from a more formal diagnostic evaluation, Westside Children’s Therapy also offers autism testing, diagnostics, and treatment support. A reliable autism diagnosis and behaviors & skills analysis for a potentially autistic child can happen as early as the age of 2.
At Westside, all of your child’s treatment programs focus on needs analysis, treatment goals, and the acquisition of skills that enable children and young adults to live more independent and fulfilling lives. The behaviors and actions that are taught include:
As therapists, we bring the joy and do our best to keep our learners happy, relaxed, and engaged at all times. We follow the child’s lead and do not restrict their freedom, and we learn by listening to the child.
We want to empower our learners and teach through empathy. We let the child know, “I see you, I hear you, and I am here for you.” We depend on safe and “televisable” therapy- anyone watching a session should be happy and comfortable with what they see.
Westside believes that there is no one program for every child, but individualized programming for every child. We treat the whole child, focusing on their unique needs and interests. We listen to families to adapt our treatment to best fit their circumstances.
We believe that children learn best through play and engaging interactions with peers and therapists. The child’s motivation drives the session, and the therapist gets creative with fun learning opportunities
Westside primarily serves children and adolescents between the ages of 2-18 in its ABA therapy program. All learners receiving ABA therapy have a formal diagnosis of autism or related disorder.
Research shows that Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI) is one of the most effective strategies for improving the language, social, and adaptive deficits associated with autism. Whenever possible, it is critical for children to begin autism services by ages 3 or 4. In addition, we can prevent challenging behavior from developing in the future by teaching skills early on.
While many of the learners in the ABA therapy program may have similar goals, each one has their own individualized program specific to their needs. The clinic’s BCBA will create the program for your child from an evaluation that determines strengths and the areas of difficulty. This will also help you learn when to stop ABA therapy as it is not meant to be a lifelong commitment.
ABA therapy can have long hours each week, but the BCBA will determine the plan that is right for your child. We never want to over serve or under serve the amount of hours a child actually needs. Because data is collected regularly, your child’s therapist will be able to adjust the plan accordingly.
Enjoyable ABA clinic settings
At Westside, we have clinics that make therapy fun and inviting. Sometimes a child may not even realize they are doing therapy. That is just one reason why we value the importance of in-clinic therapy. Conducting therapy in-home has its benefits such as: easy access, a familiar setting for the child, and at-home behaviors can be directly worked on. However, conducting therapy in a clinic vs. at home can result in quicker and more long-lasting results. A child in a clinic has access to more materials, therapists and socialization with other children.
Multidisciplinary Approach to ABA
Westside clinics also allow for children to receive multiple therapies under the same roof if they need it. If a child needs to combine occupational, physical, speech, feeding or counseling to their program, that is possible. It also allows for collaboration among therapists.
Focus on Skill Acquisition
At Westside, we focus on providing your child with skills to replace the challenging behaviors, rather than just trying to eliminate them. Without skill acquisition, a child may be more likely to return to the behaviors that impeded their development.
Parent Portal
At Westside, you will never feel out of the loop of your child’s therapy sessions. In addition to regular parent meetings, the parent portal will allow you to:
During sessions, Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) are responsible for implementing the treatment plan and collecting data to track progress. BCBAs analyze the learner’s data, make modifications to programs as necessary, and provide regular feedback and support to RBTs. BCBAs also provide support to caregivers through weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly collaboration meetings.
Westside also offers three therapeutic programs to give learners with autism an extra resource to reach their maximum potential. These programs are in addition to each learner’s regularly-scheduled ABA therapy.
IGNITE is a preschool-like program and is for children with autism typically aged 2-6. It is a program to develop fundamental skills to be successful in a school environment.
RISE is a kindergarten-like ABA program for children with autism typically aged 5-8. It is used to prepare children for the skills required to be successful in emotional, social, and educational situations.
**IGNITE and RISE are run at the same time, except children in RISE may be working on more advanced skills.
FOCUS is for advanced children typically aged 9+ that attend school during the day, but need a little extra support. This program is for learners with autism that are looking to strengthen age-appropriate social skills, build emotional regulation, and develop better community awareness.
There are many reasons parents throughout the Chicago suburbs trust and recommend Westside for ABA therapy. From low staff turnover to having over 1,000+ pediatricians referring to us for services, Westside Children’s Therapy is the best choice for autistic children. Above all, is our parents’ feedback.
Every parent is sent a survey at the beginning, middle, and end of their therapy services. It asks: “On a scale of 1-10, how likely are you to refer Westside to your friends and family.”
Here is what parents say:
Average Beginning Score: 9.71/10
Average Middle Score: 9.83/10
Average End Score: 9.89/10
This is exactly why Westside is deemed the best.
Westside uses proprietary software to measure demand and seasonality to predict hiring needs. We do our best to minimize waitlists.
Accordingly, we try to hire before waitlists develop. This reduces how long it takes for new families to start. In addition, flexibility of therapy schedule and location decreases wait times.
That said, it is common that we have to request authorization from your insurance company. That part of the process is out of our control and can add at least several weeks of wait time.
While cost varies by insurance plan, number of therapy hours, and other factors, the average cost in Illinois if you are using insurance is $1,500 to $3,000 per year. Read our ABA Therapy Costs page to get a full breakdown.
Yes! This is where Westside is different. We don’t exist to maximize profit like many of the private-equity backed ABA companies (this is a trend in ABA right now). Such investors require a financial return paid for by you. Westside does not play that game.
Instead, we dedicate resources to making care more affordable. For example, every year the Westside Foundation provides support to families with children with special needs that are struggling economically. You can apply quarterly.
We work with a wide variety of insurance companies and HMO networks. We are always expanding our insurance network – click here to view the list of our currently accepted insurance companies.
The frequency of behavioral therapy depends on: (1) Your availability and preferences, (2) Our clinical analysis and recommendation, and (3) Approval from your insurance.
Our rule of thumb is that we need to have enough therapy to make meaningful outcomes AND remember that these kids are kids. We have to balance clinical treatment recommendations with what works for the parent, family, and the child. We are not hard-liners about this, and instead, take a more balanced needs approach that is accommodating of each family’s unique needs.
We also teach parents to carry over the treatment plans at home. Then, when a child graduates, families can continue providing the support.
We locate our ABA centers near you! We have over 25 locations across the Chicagoland area, including clinics in Rockford and DeKalb.
If you take a look at our ABA Centers, you will see why kids are excited to run through our doors when they arrive for therapy.
If you are interested, submit an inquiry below. Our Intake Team will call to help you determine a plan moving forward. If you are still unsure, you can call us anytime at (815) 469-1500 for more information.