Applied Behavior Analysis

Breaking down Autism’s behavioral barriers to improve learning and development

At RUSH Kids Pediatric Therapy, we bring years of expertise to our work with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

ASD can interfere with a child’s learning, social and communication skills. More and more, parents are looking to applied behavior analysis — or ABA services — as part of treatment for ASD.

Our ABA program can help you understand and address your child’s behavior, and how it may be influenced by his/her environment. This could be physical or social environments
But let’s first answer a top-of-mind question: What is ABA and how does it work?

ABA is therapy focused on behavior, specifically, modifying poor or unhealthy behavior to encourage good behavior. It uses reinforcement, or reward, for positive behavior. In a physical environment, for example, a desired behavior (brushing teeth) results in introducing something positive into the setting (a favorite toy).

In a social setting, good behavior (not interrupting a conversation) can be met with praising the child in front of another adult.

The goal of ABA is that, over time, the likelihood of desired behavior increases consistently.

ABA can also address gaps between your child’s current level of functioning and that of typical peer groups. Understanding this better can help address developmental challenges in the way your child acts and communicates.

Our highly trained therapists will chart out and use a custom plan for working with your child. This plan will target development skills to work toward while in our center, at home and in school or community-based settings. This part of our work with your child is very beneficial. It gives us a chance to get to know them, their likes/dislikes, strengths and weaknesses before starting treatment.

The RUSH Kids ABA program is based on scientifically valid techniques. We don’t just practice treatment, we use evidence-based research as our model for therapy geared to increasing skills such as:

• Expressive/receptive language
• Toilet training
• Feeding/food acceptance
• Self-help
• Play and leisure
• Social
• Pre-academic/academic
• Ready-to-learn behaviors