Question 1

How do I get started?

Accepted Answer

Fill out the online intake questionnaire found on "Contact Us" page
Note: Submitting the intake does not obligate you to use ABA LC services.
Review Process
Your intake application will be reviewed within three business days.
You will be notified if a Program Manager is available in your area.
Book an Intake Meeting
If a match is found, you will be contacted by a Program Manager to book a free intake meeting 
Discuss Program and Fees
During the meeting, programs and associated fees will be discussed based on the best fit for your child.
*All submitted information is kept strictly confidential.

Question 2

What is ABA therapy?

Accepted Answer

Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is a research-based, scientific method that began with the work of B.F. Skinner. The science measures observable behavior.  It looks at what occurs before a behaviour (antecedent) and what happens after a behaviour (consequence). In addition, the methods of ABA are applied by breaking down skills into simple steps and teaching each step in succession. Skills are taught with the use of prompting or cuing to assist learning. A correct response is followed by positive reinforcement which increases the likelihood that a behaviour or response will occur more often in the future.

ABA based intervention is validated for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), but is also applicable to children with other developmental disabilities. It is a set of principles and guidelines upon which educational programs are based and should not be used synonymously with a specific program. An ABA program targets specific developmental areas such as:

Attending skills
Imitative skills
Fine motor and gross motor skills
Language skills
Functional skills/self-help skills
Social skills
Toileting skills
Problem behaviours

Other names encountered within the field of ABA are: Verbal Behavior (VB), Discrete Trial Teaching (DTT), Natural Environment Teaching (NET), Pivotal Response Teaching (PRT) and Fluency-based instruction. Each use a specific method of instruction and are all are based on the principles of ABA.

Question 3

What is a Behavioural Consultant?

Accepted Answer

In behavioral applications to autism treatment, Behavior Consultant usually refers to the person who designs and manages the intervention program. Currently there is no regulatory body, so anyone can call themselves a “Behavior Consultant”. The Behavior Analyst Certification Board offers voluntary certification for Behavior Analysts at the Bachelors and Masters/PhD levels.

A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) will have (at minimum) a masters level education including 5 graduate-level behavior analytic courses, approved supervised or mentored experience, and pass a standardized examination. While the type of graduate degree is not specified, many BCBAs will have graduate degrees in Behavior Analysis, Psychology, or Special Education.

A Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) will have (at minimum) a Bachelors degree including required behavior analytic course work, approved supervised or mentored experience, and pass a standardized examination. NOTE: It is strongly recommended that BCABAs work under the supervision of a BCBA.

Question 4

What is Board Certification?

Accepted Answer

The Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) is a non-profit organization that offers international certification for behavior analysts, including the BCBA (master’s or doctoral level) and BCaBA (bachelor’s level) credentials. To learn more visit www.bacb.com.
All Program Managers and Supervisors at ABA Learning Centre are board certified. Student Program Supervisors are completing coursework and supervised fieldwork toward certification.

Question 5

What is the number of recommended hours of intervention per week?

Accepted Answer

Currently, we do not have adequate research to answer this question on a student-by-student basis. However, the literature tends to support intensive behavioral intervention (i.e. 20-40 hrs per week). In addition, certain learner characteristics need to be considered. For example, learners who are 2 yrs old and those who are 5 yrs old will have differences in the number of hours per week that they can successfully handle.

Early and intensive intervention is key; however, we encourage quality over quantity.  
In addition, it is important to note that we aim to empower parents to engage in “waking hours therapy.” This means equipping families with therapeutic tools and strategies to provide purposeful teaching in everyday activities and family routines. This maximizes their child’s learning opportunities outside of behaviour intervention sessions.

Question 6

Who are the behaviour interventionists (BIs)?

Accepted Answer

BIs are the individuals who work directly with your child on a frequent basis implementing programs, lesson plans, and behavior procedures as designed by the Program Manager. The BIs are trained and supervised on an on-going basis by the Program Manager. They should possess a minimum qualification of a grade 12 diploma and have a strong interest in working with children. They must have a criminal record check (CRC). Their rates will vary based on their training, experience, skills and responsibilities.

Question 7

I need a behaviour consultant. Do you have availability?

Accepted Answer

For children under 6, we can provide program management teams that can consist of a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA), a Board Certified Assistant Behaviour Analyst (BCaBA), and/or a Student Program Supervisor. A Student Program Supervisor is an individual who is currently completing their  Masters and accruing fieldwork supervision. They are individuals with multiple years of experience providing direct support to autistic children and are furthering their studies to become Board Certified.  
 
For school-aged children, we can provide offsite or onsite consultation by a BCBA, BCaBA, or a Student Program Supervisor.  
 
We do our best to connect you with a Behaviour Consultant that services your area; however, this is based largely on their current availability.

Question 8

How long is your waiting list?

Accepted Answer

We strive to provide timely, fair service, but “first-come, first-served” is not always possible. Each child and family are unique, and we aim to build a team that fits your child’s needs, goals, temperament, family dynamic, and budget. Wait times depend on staff availability in your area and their caseload capacity.

Question 9

Do you use a strict Lovaas approach?

Accepted Answer

No, we do not. Our intervention is contemporary applied behavior analysis (ABA) based on Skinner’s Analysis of Verbal Behaviour. Children do not learn when they are unhappy, bored or stressed. It is our job to make sure that your child is motivated to try new and difficult tasks. We take into consideration their current interests and strengths when planning their learning activities. We want to make their learning fun!

Question 10

What is ABLLS-R, VB-MAPP, or ESDM assessment?

Accepted Answer

The ABLLS-R is the Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills- Revised, VB-MAPP is the Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program and ESDM is the Early Screening Denver Model. All are curriculum guides, and skills tracking system for children diagnosed with autism and other developmental disabilities.  These assessments provide the opportunity to investigate many skills necessary for a unique child to communicate with others and to gain new functional skills for independence and academic learning. The appropriate assessment tool is chosen based on the individual learner’s current skills, age and any barriers that may be interfering with learning. Skills for the following areas are investigated:  Referencing, Joint Attention, Cooperation and Reinforcer Effectiveness; Basic Language skills; Social skills; Academic; Self-Help and Motor Skills.

Question 11

How long does it take to conduct an assessment for program planning?

Accepted Answer

Assessments typically take two to three sessions, each about two hours, but may vary based on the child’s engagement and skill level. The Program Manager/Supervisor evaluates skills such as referencing, joint attention, language, learning, academics, and motor abilities. Parents and caregivers are interviewed to provide insights on self-help skills, strengths, and priorities. When appropriate, social skills are assessed at the child’s preschool or school through observation of peer interaction and response to instruction.

Question 12

How much will my program cost? What is the average cost of a program?

Accepted Answer

Once again, your program will be an individualized treatment plan for your child. We do not use a ‘one size fits all’ approach. We are sensitive to the fact that many parents are limited to their child’s Autism Funding for services and we can work within the funding amounts to provide a quality program for your child. Your Program Management team will propose monthly contracted hours of support after conducting your child’s initial assessment.

Question 13

How does your fee structure work?

Accepted Answer

If you are enrolled in a home-based program, our team at ABA Learning Centre will work with you to schedule sessions that suit both your availability and that of your Program Manager or Supervisor. Their hourly rates range from $105 to $160, based on qualifications and experience.
We try to assign team members within your area to reduce travel time. If you are over 30 km from our Richmond office or the PM/PS’s home, there may be a travel fee. However, attending team meetings at our Richmond office helps avoid these extra charges.
For centre-based programs, services are billed at a flat monthly rate, depending on the program. Our priority is to keep program management costs as low as possible so we can focus on providing more one-on-one therapy time, while maintaining high-quality support.

Question 14

Does ABA Learning Centre provide Behaviour Interventionists?

Accepted Answer

ABA Learning Centre only provides Behaviour Interventionists (BIs) for our centre based programs. At this time, we do not provide BIs on home teams. However, your Program Management team can aid in the process of hiring private BIs upon request (e.g., helping parents post ads on community bulletin boards, college and university bulletin boards, or internet job postings such as Indeed and Craigslist, screen potential applicants). This service can be included in their monthly contracted hours.

Question 15

Does your organization have a set-up fee?

Accepted Answer

ABA Learning Centre charges a set-up fee for most programs with the exception of our social skills groups. The fee amount depends on your child’s age and the program they’re joining. After you submit your intake application, you will be invited to a free intake meeting where all program fees will be explained. Set-up fees are fully covered by Autism Funding.

Question 16

Do you provide autism assessment for adults?

Accepted Answer

Yes we do!  At our clinic, we are experienced in assessing autism in adults, including those who identify as high-functioning or who may have spent years consciously or unconsciously masking their traits. Our assessments are designed to account for this. We use a range of empirically validated tools tailored for adults, including specific measures that help identify camouflaging behaviours. We also use gold-standard diagnostic instruments, such as structured interviews and observational tools, to build a comprehensive picture of each individual’s strengths, challenges, and lived experiences.

We also understand that many women and gender-diverse individuals may present differently than traditional diagnostic models have historically recognized, particularly due to the use of masking or camouflaging strategies.

Frequently asked questions