What Is Applied Behavior Analysis?
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is an evidence-based practice often used to treat individuals facing developmental delays and maladaptive behaviors. Utilizing ABA techniques, therapists create and implement individualized behavior plans to teach skills necessary for daily functioning and independence, as well as to decrease negative behavior.
How We Utilize Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Techniques
- Conduct assessments and determine treatment plans
- Increase language and communication
- Expand social skills and interest
- Teach adaptive living skills, such as toileting
- Treat self-stimulatory behavior
- Decrease negative behaviors like aggression
- Foster coping skills and emotional regulation
- …and much more!
For Individuals
Applied Behavior Analysis
We provide Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to children, adolescents, and adults to foster skill acquisition and reduce maladaptive behavior, with the ultimate goal of overall increased functionality and independence.
Who Benefits?
Well, technically…anyone can benefit from ABA! Though traditionally used for individuals diagnosed with ASD, Down Syndrome, ADHD, and other developmental delays, ABA can and has been utilized in the treatment of a wide array of issues, including addictions.
Our Intake Process
Our intake process timelines vary depending on location, insurance, and staff availability, and can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.
Our intake process starts once we make contact with interested individuals and decide that ABA therapy is right for them.
After this, we gather paperwork from clients or qualified caregivers. This includes a referral and documentation from the client’s Primary Care Physician.
Once we have the required paperwork, we will make a request to the insurance to complete an initial assessment.
Once we have approval from the insurance, we will complete the assessment and make another request for the units required to complete the suggested weekly schedule of services.
How It Begins: Assessments
ABA starts with an initial assessment of a person’s skill repertoire and behavioral needs. Though the assessment is composed of several sections, the overall assessment is typically called a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA). During the FBA, we get to know you, whether you are the person being treated, a family member, or another caregiver. We not only spend time finding out about the specific individual being assessed and their needs, but also the needs of their family or other caregivers.
During assessments, we first find out information from you, then we determine solutions together.
Skill Acquisition
First, we find out: Skills the individual is lacking, which skills are strengths, and which skills are top priority.
Then, we determine: How best to teach these skills, based on our experience with behavior, and your experience as an individual with needs, a family member, or caregiver.
Behavior Reduction
First, we find out: What negative behaviors the individual exhibits, as well as the most likely function — or purpose — of these behaviors.
Then, we determine: The most appropriate methods to decrease the behavior. Once again, this is based on both our experience AND yours.
The Primary Components of ABA Treatment
- 1. Behavior Reduction — Decreasing negative behaviors
- 2. Skill Acquisition — Increasing Positive Behaviors
- 3. Data Collection — Ongoing Assessment and Analysis
Behavior Reduction
For reducing negative behaviors such as aggression, self-injury, elopement (i.e., running away), tantruming, stereotypy, or any other behavior of concern, we create a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP). This is where we determine both preventive and intervention strategies for each behavior based on their function and the history of the individual exhibiting the behavior.
Skill Acquisition
Humans are required to utilize so many skills in order function independently on a daily basis. From speaking to other people, listening to them, and understanding social cues, to keeping up hygiene by showering and brushing, to keeping track of time, schedules, and appointments, life is tricky. Utilizing ABA methods, we teach these skills that foster independence in every day life.
Data Collection
Data-taking is vital to ensuring that both Treatment Plans and Behavior Intervention Plans remain detailed, comprehensive, and most importantly effective. We constantly take data on treatment targets, behavioral occurrences, and other important variables to ensure the most up-to-date and effective treatment for each individual.
Where Does Treatment Take Place?
At OGBC, we focus on treatment in homes, school, and community settings where those being served frequent. This allows us to involve family, educators, and other caregivers in treatment and growth, while also enabling those being served to generalize newly learned skills and behaviors across different places and situations.
We offer treatment in-home, at schools & community institutions, and also in our ABA clinic centers in Louisville, CO and Florence, CO.
Insurance (The Nitty Gritty)
Fortunately, because ABA has been proven so effective for treatment of behaviors in individuals with developmental delays, many insurance carrier plans cover most or all of ABA treatment. We are contracted with the majority of insurance carriers, including Medicaid, Anthem/BCBS, United, and Cigna. If you are covered by an insurance carrier with whom we are not credentialed, we can typically hammer out a single-case agreement with that carrier for specific clients.
Insurance Providers We Accept:
- CO Medicaid
- Anthem/BCBS
- Cigna/Evernorth
- Kaiser/Beacon
- Carelon
- Optum/United
For Schools & Institutions
Your Program, Your Terms
When it comes to aiding schools, childcare centers, and other community institutions — whether it be our Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) working directly with students you serve who have behavioral needs, or training your staff on effective, up-to-date Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) methods — we mold our programing to suit your specific needs.
We will work to contract with you on a yearly, monthly, daily, or service-by-service, need-by-need basis.
Staff Training
We are available to train your staff as frequently as needed and desired. We offer several specific subjects on the topic of behavior management to train on for you to choose from, and the frequency, format, and focus are all up to you.
RBT Credentialing of Your Staff
For parents and caregivers of special needs children, a school with RBTs on staff can be attractive and comforting. As BCBAs, we are qualified to credential your employees to become RBTs, and can provide the necessary amount of supervision for them to maintain their credentialing. This is much more affordable than having a full-time BCBA on staff, as we can come as little or as much as needed.
Direct Student Treatment
If you are interested in more direct services, we offer a wide variety of services to students at schools and centers. These include:
- Working with students one-on-one
- Conducting Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs)
- Creating treatment plans for skill acquisition
- Creating behavior intervention plans for decreasing maladaptive behavior
- Parent and Caregiver Training