FAQ

Answer: In most jurisdictions, including California, receiving ABA services typically necessitates a formal diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This is generally because insurance companies and governing agencies mandate an ASD diagnosis to validate that the specialized treatment offered in ABA is suitable for the child.

That said, ABA isn’t exclusively for those diagnosed with autism. Its methodologies can be beneficial for a variety of behavioral and developmental challenges. Some providers, including Sacramento ABA Therapy, may offer services to children displaying other behavioral difficulties, although this is contingent on local laws and the clinic’s discretion.

If your child shows symptoms akin to autism but hasn’t been diagnosed, it’s advisable to consult a qualified healthcare provider to discuss diagnostic options.

Answer: Autism diagnosis can be rendered by a diverse set of qualified healthcare practitioners in Sacramento, CA, which may include developmental pediatricians, child psychologists, pediatric neurologists, and child psychiatrists skilled in assessing developmental issues in kids.

Given the intricacy involved in diagnosing ASD, we often recommend that parents opt for a multidisciplinary team that can provide an exhaustive, well-rounded evaluation. There are numerous healthcare facilities in California, where you can access such specialized services.

If you’re uncertain about your child’s symptoms, consult a healthcare provider who can direct you toward the right specialists for a comprehensive evaluation.

Answer: ABA therapy has garnered widespread recognition for its effectiveness in addressing ASD. Offered at highly-regarded clinics, including Sacramento ABA Therapy, this approach tailors treatment plans to the individual, focusing on specific skill and behavior development.

The adaptability of ABA to meet each child’s unique needs and to involve family members is one of its core strengths. Extensive research backs the efficacy of ABA in improving vital skills such as communication, social interaction, and learning. We’re committed to delivering therapy that honors the uniqueness of each child, thereby achieving the most favorable outcomes.

Answer: The team working with your child consists of a collaborative set of trained professionals, all dedicated to encouraging your child’s developmental milestones. Key players are Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), who conceive and manage the therapy program.

Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) are also pivotal in the team, actively carrying out the customized plans alongside your child. These RBTs work under the guidance of BCBAs to ensure effective program delivery and modifications when needed.

As a parent or caregiver, your role is invaluable. We offer training to ensure you can extend the therapy’s impact into everyday life at home. Sacramento ABA Therapy prides itself on its commitment to effective teamwork and the excellent outcomes this produces for your child.

In Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), ABA Therapists and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) play vital but distinct roles. ABA Therapists, often considered akin to paraprofessionals, typically implement behavior intervention plans directly with clients.

They don’t design these plans but are essential in carrying them out. RBTs are similar, but they have a certification that requires them to complete a training course and pass a competency exam. Both ABA Therapists and RBTs work under the supervision of a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), who has advanced qualifications and is responsible for designing and overseeing the ABA program. The BCBA evaluates clients, creates intervention plans, and reviews data to modify these plans as needed.

At Sacramento ABA Therapy, our RBTs are highly skilled and trained professionals explicitly focusing on autism. They utilize evidence-based ABA techniques to improve a range of skills, including social, communication, and academic skills. These dedicated therapists make a profound difference in the lives of families with ASD.

Answer: Our Sacramento clinic is continuously growing and often seeks dedicated professionals to join our team, including Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs).

BCBAs are critical in creating individualized treatment plans for each child and overseeing the overall therapeutic approach. RBTs work directly with children under the supervision of BCBAs, implementing treatment plans and engaging with children in one-on-one therapy.

We offer competitive compensation and benefits, comprehensive training programs, and a supportive work environment. We believe in professional development and often provide opportunities for further learning and advancement.

It’s a rewarding experience to be part of a team that makes a difference in the lives of children with ASD and their families. We invite interested professionals to explore our career page or contact our human resources department.

Answer: Early intervention is essential in ABA therapy, and it’s often recommended to start as soon as a child is diagnosed with ASD. ABA therapy can be effective for individuals across all age groups, but research shows that starting therapy at a younger age can lead to more significant improvements.

Our Sacramento autism treatment center welcomes children as young as 18 months, but it’s never too late to start. ABA therapy is a highly personalized process.

Regardless of the age at which therapy begins, our team of professionals will design a treatment plan tailored to your child’s unique strengths and challenges, ensuring optimal progress and growth. Feel free to contact us to discuss the best time for your child to start Applied Behavior Analysis therapy.

Answer: Starting ABA therapy for your child involves a few simple steps. Initially, you’ll need a formal ASD diagnosis from a qualified medical professional. Insurance companies typically require this diagnosis for coverage of ABA services.

Once you have this diagnosis, you can reach out to our clinic. Our intake staff will be there to help you every step of the way, starting with an initial consultation to discuss your child’s needs. We’ll assist you with the insurance approval process and then conduct a comprehensive assessment of your child.

This will help us to develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your child’s unique abilities and needs. We aim to ensure that every child we serve receives the best care to improve their quality of life in California and beyond!

Answer: The number of weekly hours of ABA therapy needed can vary significantly from child to child. It’s determined by the individual needs of the child, the goals established in the treatment plan, and the recommendations of the supervising BCBA.

We understand the unique nature of each child’s needs. Your BCBA will evaluate your child’s skills and challenges and create a comprehensive treatment plan. The recommended hours could range from 10 to 40 hours per week, depending on the required intensity.

Our team will work closely with you to ensure the therapy schedule fits your family’s routine while optimizing the benefits for your child.

Answer: Our Sacramento center is equipped and staffed to cater to a wide age range of children. We typically work with children from 18 months through to adolescence. Our highly skilled team of therapists and BCBAs are experienced in providing effective, personalized ABA therapy tailored to the developmental needs of each age group. Whether your child is a toddler just starting to display signs of ASD or an older child needing refining social or behavioral skills, we are prepared and eager to provide the necessary support to help your child thrive.

Answer: We understand the challenge of balancing your child’s therapy needs with their school schedule. At our Sacramento clinic, we strive to offer flexible scheduling preferences that will accommodate your child’s schooling commitments.

We have after-school hours and weekend appointments available, enabling your child to receive their needed ABA therapy outside of school hours. Our commitment is to provide quality care that works with your family’s schedule, ensuring your child’s therapy sessions are as convenient and beneficial as possible.

Answer: We believe in the importance of consistency for effective therapy. This is why we assign a dedicated therapist to work with your child throughout their therapy journey.

The assigned therapist will gain a deep understanding of your child’s unique needs, progress, and challenges, which leads to more personalized and effective therapy. This consistent relationship allows for tailored strategies and approaches, building trust and rapport between the therapist and your child.

Our team at Sacramento ABA Therapy is committed to your child’s progress and well-being.

Answer: ABA therapy can significantly benefit your child by improving their social, academic, and communication skills while decreasing maladaptive behaviors. Each child’s ABA therapy plan is unique and designed to suit their individual needs.

Through consistent and structured sessions, your child can learn how to handle daily life challenges, improve social interactions, and develop better coping mechanisms. We aim to help your child gain independence and enhance their quality of life.

Our therapists work closely with families, offering guidance to support progress at home, making our ABA therapy a comprehensive and family-inclusive approach.

Answer: ABA therapy is often highly complementary to both speech and occupational therapy. Our comprehensive approach to care enables us to integrate these different services seamlessly, ensuring that your child receives a well-rounded therapeutic experience.

Our ABA therapists work hand in hand with speech and occupational therapists to reinforce skills learned across different therapeutic settings. We aim to help your child generalize these skills in various contexts and settings by applying consistent strategies and techniques.

This collaboration promotes faster and more durable learning, encouraging your child’s overall development and well-being.

Answer: ABA therapy can play a significant role in helping your child develop speech. ABA therapy uses principles of learning and behavior to enhance several skills, including verbal communication.

Our trained therapists can work with your child to develop verbal and non-verbal communication skills. Although predicting future speech capability varies greatly from child to child and depends on many factors, ABA therapy can help maximize your child’s potential.

Our mission is to equip your child with the necessary skills for effective communication, whether through speech or alternative communication methods.

Answer: ABA services have a strong track record of enhancing social interaction skills in children with ASD. The ABA therapists here are experts at simplifying complex social tasks into smaller, teachable components.

Through a combination of personalized strategies and consistent practice, your child can learn fundamental social skills such as making eye contact, sharing, taking turns, and understanding others’ emotions. Our ultimate goal is to improve your child’s ability to form meaningful relationships and confidently navigate social situations.

Answer: The coverage for ABA therapy primarily depends on your insurance policy in Sacramento. Many insurance companies in California recognize the importance of ABA therapy for autism and provide coverage for these services. Coverage may be more or less extensive depending on many ways from one policy to another.

Reach out to your insurance provider to review the specifics of your plan’s coverage for ABA therapy. Additionally, our clinic’s insurance coordinator is well-versed in working with various insurance providers.

We encourage you to connect with them to help understand your plan’s coverage for ABA services. Our team is here to make the process as smooth as possible.

Answer: While many insurance providers can cover ABA therapy, there might be additional costs not covered by insurance. These could include costs related to initial assessments, materials used during treatment, or travel fees if the services are provided at home or in the community.

We strive to keep you informed about all potential costs upfront. We recommend speaking with our administrative team or your insurance provider to understand what expenses you can anticipate. We are dedicated to helping you navigate these financial aspects, ensuring the focus remains on the growth and development of your child.

In California, state-regulated insurance plans are mandated to provide comprehensive coverage for autism-related treatments, as per the autism insurance bill SB 946, enacted in 2011 and effective from July 1, 2012. This law applies to individual, fully insured large group, and fully insured small group plans.

Under the legislation, covered services include behavioral health treatments such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). The law defines “behavioral health treatment” as professional services and evidence-based treatment programs to develop or restore an individual’s functioning to the maximum extent possible.

Such treatments must be prescribed by a licensed physician and delivered by qualified autism service providers, professionals, or paraprofessionals. Notably, the state does not impose any caps on ABA coverage.

California has various laws and regulations that pertain to individuals with autism and their families. These laws can range from educational mandates to health care provisions:

• Insurance Coverage: Assembly Bill 88, known as the Mental Health Parity Act, ensures that insurance policies provide coverage for the diagnosis and medically necessary treatment of autism spectrum disorders. Enacted in 1999, this law marks a significant step in making healthcare accessible for individuals with autism.

• Early Start Program: The Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act governs California’s Early Start Program, designed to provide early intervention services for young children with disabilities. This program was established in 1980 under Assembly Bill 846.

• Special Education Services: California Education Code sections relevant to special education align with federal guidelines to offer individualized educational plans (IEPs) and services for students with autism. Originating from Assembly Bill 2581 in 1977, these provisions align with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which was last reauthorized in 2004.

• Regional Centers: The Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act also created Regional Centers, which offer services and support to individuals with developmental disabilities, including ASD. This law was enacted in 1969 (Welfare and Institutions Code, Section 4500 et seq.).

• Vocational Rehabilitation Services: Designed to provide employment assistance and training to adults with disabilities, these services are governed by California’s Rehabilitation Act of 1978 (Welfare and Institutions Code, Division 10.5).

• In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS): Providing domestic and personal care assistance, IHSS helps people with disabilities live safely at home. The laws establishing IHSS (Welfare and Institutions Code Sections 12300–12309) have been in place since the 1970s, with amendments over time.

• Respite Care: Welfare and Institutions Code governs respite care services, which offer temporary relief to families caring for individuals with disabilities. Sections 4685 and 4690 were established for in-home and out-of-home services, respectively, and have been revised multiple times since their inception.

• Self-Determination Program: This program empowers individuals with autism and their families to have more control over the services they receive. Established by Senate Bill 468 in 2013, this is one of the newer legal provisions to enhance autonomy for individuals with developmental disabilities.

The Sacramento Autistic Spectrum and Special Needs Alliance, a nonprofit organization based in Sacramento, California, is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with autism and other special needs. With a focus on advocacy, education, and support, SASSNA offers a comprehensive range of services aimed at both individuals and their families.

They provide essential resources like counseling, crisis intervention, and information dissemination and also work closely with schools and other institutions to foster a more inclusive environment for special needs individuals.

2-1-1 Sacramento is a crucial resource for residents in the Sacramento area, offering a free and confidential information and referral service accessible 24/7.

Located in Sacramento, this service is also accessible to individuals with disabilities. Operated by trained specialists who use a comprehensive database of over 2,400 nonprofit and public agency programs, 2-1-1 Sacramento provides personalized guidance to each caller.

Services range from children’s services, housing information, and financial assistance to senior services, employment and training, food programs, and health care services. The 2-1-1 database covers community services in Sacramento and El Dorado counties and is readily available online at www.beehivesacramento.org.

Families for Early Autism Treatment (FEAT) is a nonprofit organization in the Sacramento area dedicated to supporting families affected by autism spectrum disorders.

The organization emphasizes the importance of early intervention and provides resources, networking opportunities, and information to help families access appropriate and effective treatments for their children. By collaborating with professionals and educators, FEAT strives to advance evidence-based practices in autism treatment and education.

They offer various services, from workshops, conferences, and advocacy initiatives to financial support for families in need.

Northern California Preparatory School’s specialized program for students with autism spectrum disorders strikes a thoughtful balance between academic achievement and social development.

The structured learning environment, with smaller class sizes and two educators per room, mitigates sensory overload while maximizing academic guidance. Various visual teaching methods and note-taking strategies are deployed to facilitate cognitive engagement. The school’s concrete behavioral regimen provides clear guidelines for social conduct, setting up a predictable environment that significantly aids in behavioral growth.

Moreover, students benefit from a weekly Social Skills Group, offering a safe space to address social challenges alongside peers and behavioral experts.

Founded in 1975, Aldar Academy is a private, nonprofit educational institution serving students aged 4-22 with severe learning, emotional, and behavioral challenges. Accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and certified by the California State Department of Education, Aldar offers customized educational plans through Individual Educational Programs (IEP) for publicly and privately placed students.

The academy has garnered multiple commendations from the California State Department of Education, confirming its reputation as one of the top Non-Public Schools in Northern California. Central to its approach is a behavior management system created by a cross-disciplinary team of educators and mental health professionals. This system guides students toward appropriate conduct through clearly outlined behavioral criteria, regular feedback, individualized mental health support, social skills training, and a structured reward and consequence system.

Sierra School of Sacramento is a specialized, non-public educational institution catering to students from kindergarten through 12th grade, ages 5-22.

The school employs a multifaceted approach to education, incorporating distinct models like the Functional Communication Support Model and the Intensive Behavioral Needs Model to address the varied needs of students, including those with significant autism and developmental delays.

By integrating data-based interventions and aligning with district curriculums, the school creates a robust educational experience tailored to each student’s academic level, determined through a multi-tiered hierarchy. One of the cornerstone elements of Sierra School is its comprehensive Behavior Management System, designed to fulfill all IEP, LRE, and IDEA requirements. This system uses a blend of safety protocols, positive reinforcement, mutual respect, and therapeutic approaches, fortified by data-driven strategies, to create a safe, nurturing, and structured learning environment.

For those in Sacramento looking for adult autism assessments and diagnoses, Majestic Psychological Services provides a comprehensive, individualized approach.

Led by Clinical Psychologist Cassie Majestic, the practice has evolved since 2012 to focus on the psychological assessment of neurodevelopmental differences like Autism and ADHD for all age groups. The evaluation process is conducted in three main parts: an interview to discuss your history, structured psychological testing, and a feedback session to discuss the diagnosis and recommendations.

Diagnosis may involve additional observations or consultations with other professionals for a more thorough understanding. You’ll also be able to ask follow-up questions to ensure clarity on the evaluation outcome. The practice is contracted with Kaiser Permanente and local Regional Centers, and they strive for transparency and education throughout the diagnostic process. A full report is generally provided within two weeks of the feedback session.

Bridges of the Mind Psychological Services is another reliable option to consider. Serving the Sacramento-Roseville Metro Area and the Lake Tahoe Area, they offer ASD evaluations for children, teens, and adults with no waitlist.

Both in-person and online assessments are available, and each evaluation is custom-tailored to the individual. These comprehensive assessments are designed to better understand your unique social, emotional, and sensory styles, helping you in various aspects of your life, including education, employment, and interpersonal relationships.

Backed by a team of skilled psychologists, the services are part of their mission to support individuals with learning and developmental challenges throughout their lifespan, providing critical insights and pathways for tailored interventions.

While Healthy Mind Sacramento does offer services for autistic adults, it’s worth noting that they are currently only bringing in new patients aged 6-21 for autism assessments due to overwhelming demand.

Although they do work with autistic adults whose social differences are impacting their functioning in a neurotypical world, their primary focus is on younger individuals. Their comprehensive services include both autism assessment and therapy. Skilled clinicians at Healthy Mind Sacramento are knowledgeable in diagnostic challenges, particularly among girls and women.

Their assessments aim to identify key traits associated with autism, such as deficits in social-emotional reciprocity and restricted or repetitive behavior patterns, and differentiate them from other conditions like social anxiety or ADHD.

A wide array of therapy options is also available, focusing on emotional regulation, social cues, and transitioning to independent living.

October 21, Sacramento Walk
Time: 9 AM – 12 PM
Location: Hughes Stadium, 3835 Freeport Blvd, Sacramento, CA
Details: A walk event focused on autism awareness. More information can be found on AllEvents.in.

September 17, ExplorAbility at Sacramento Children’s Museum
Time: 10 AM – 12 PM
Location: Sacramento Children’s Museum, 2701 Prospect Park Dr, Rancho Cordova, CA
Details: An early-morning program specifically designed for children on the autism spectrum between ages 3 to 5. Limited to 20 participants per session. More dates available, please visit the website.

Sacramento4Kids Special Needs Events
Details: A comprehensive website to check for Sacramento’s current and upcoming special needs events.