CBC Education Inc. - Floortime / ABA program

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a therapy rooted in the science of learning and behavior. Using principles of ABA, children and adults can learn to improve their communication skills, social skills, and daily living skills while also addressing problematic or challenging behaviors. The primary goal of ABA therapy is to teach helpful skills that promote independence and reduce harmful behaviors. Here's our complete guide to everything you need to know about ABA therapy.

It's a big decision to make for your family! Applied behavior analysis (ABA) seeks to improve communication skills, introduce productive habits, and reduce harmful behaviors. Watch out for ABA providers who look to "cure" autism.

High quality ABA therapy does exist where the goal is not to “fix” children, make them appear “less autistic”, or change who they are. The goal is to help people learn all that they can so they can live to their potential while embracing their unique, individual personality traits. Here's our complete guide to start and end ABA therapy.

ABA is usually covered by insurance if you have an autism diagnosis. Autism is typically the only diagnosis insurance will authorize for ABA services since its benefits have been researched extensively.

Always check with your specific insurance plan to confirm that ABA is covered for your child’s diagnoses and that the provider you are seeking care at is in-network. Here's our complete guide to everything you need to know about ABA therapy.

“Early Intervention” might be the provider’s way of describing services that they provide to babies or young children. However, it might also indicate that the provider is a vendor for your state’s publicly funded program. This means the services with this provider might be covered by your state! 

The first step in accessing these free services from your state is to get an evaluation. The evaluation will help the state determine what services your child qualifies for, if any. You can find your state’s local EI program by clicking here.

When you contact your local center, say “I have concerns about my child’s development and I would like to have my child evaluated to find out if they are eligible for early intervention services.” They will ask screening questions and arrange for an evaluation, which is provided for free.

It has become more common! While some families try DIR/Floortime on its own, it can be done in combination with other therapies, such as occupational therapy, speech therapy, and applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy. Many families enjoy incorporating exercises from DIR/Floortime with other therapies. Many therapists and providers like to include DIR/Floortime’s play and child-led approach into their practices.

DIR/Floortime has some research to support its effectiveness, though this is limited. In a 2019 study, researchers published positive outcomes as a result of DIR/Floortime, including increased joint attention and initiation of activities.

DIR/Floortime is currently considered to be an experimental treatment. As of the 2015 publishing of the National Standards Project on evidence-based treatments, DIR/Floortime was listed under the “unestablished level of evidence” category. While Floortime can benefit some children, more research is needed to establish efficacy. Our expert recommends Affect Autism to learn more about the research behind DIR/Floortime.