Autism
Our autism support services are customized to build skills for independence, enhance communication, and encourage positive social interaction.
Unlock Bright Future
Early interventions in autism can create lifelong positive changes. The right support at the right time empowers individuals to reach their full potential.
What is Autism?
Autism Spectrum Disorder is a complex developmental condition characterized by persistent challenges in social interaction, communication, and by restricted or repetitive patterns of thought or behavior. One of the most important things you can do as a parent or caregiver is to learn the early signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and become familiar with the typical developmental milestones that your child should be reaching.
Children with autism will have symptoms from a very young age, beginning before the age of three. Some children with ASD show signs of future problems within the first few months of life. Other children appear to develop normally until 18–24 months, then either stop gaining new skills or lose some of the skills that they have already developed. While every child develops differently, we also know that early treatment improves outcomes, often dramatically.
Progressive Option Support Services continues to support communities by offering behavioral health services to children with autism. We are committed to serving the family as a unit to help each child reach their full potential. Our services are based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis.
Autism Speaks
Websites like: AutismSpeaks.org and MyAutism.org help parents/caregivers identify possible “red flags” that may indicate your child is at risk for an autism spectrum disorder. If your child exhibits any of the following, please don’t delay in asking for an evaluation: Avoidance of eye contact
Unlock Limitless Growth
ABA services lay the foundation for meaningful development. With tailored support, individuals can build essential skills & thrive in life.
What is ABA Therapy?
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a science which involves the application of the principles of behavior (i.e., reinforcement, motivation, extinction, stimulus control, conditioned reinforcement, and schedules of reinforcement) to build socially significant behavior in real world, every day settings in order to improve the lives of our children and their families. ABA involves defining target behaviors, recording data on those behaviors, and analyzing the data to make changes to treatments that are not effective. The field of ABA is well-established with a large supporting body of scientific research and standards for evidence-based practice.
Intake
To begin ABA therapy with POSS, the parents/caregivers must provide documentation of diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), provide a prescription from a medical doctor for ABA treatment and provide proof of insurance. Our services begin with an intake with a member of our administrative team. This is a time when the family may discuss primary areas of concern and determine if ABA can meet those needs. During this process, our team will determine eligibility for services and navigate the insurance process. The family will be asked to fill out an enrollment form.
Assessment
The next step is to assess your child’s skill level which is necessary to guide the development of an individualized treatment plan. The functional behavior assessment will be conducted by one of POSS’ licensed Board-Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA®) and will include the use of various assessment tools. Typically, assessments are conducted in the home setting.
Reports and Treatment Planning
Once the assessment has been conducted, the POSS BCBA will evaluate the data collected to guide the development of a treatment plan. Our BCBA will develop a report of the assessment findings as well as a specific treatment plan. A preliminary treatment meeting will be scheduled with the family and the treatment team in order to review the assessment results, proposed service type(s), treatment plan goals and objectives, recommended duration and length of treatment, and discharge plan. Authorization periods usually last for 6 months. A progress report and an updated treatment plan will be composed for each authorization period.
Service Delivery
At POSS, the BCBA will also have regular meetings to provide parent training and treatment planning. A trained therapist will come to your home each week and provide home-based ABA therapy for your child using techniques such as discrete trial instruction, verbal behavior, fluency-based instruction, and incidental teaching.
Our Process
Evaluating behaviors using direct and indirect assessment techniques
Creating personalized goals and strategies
Providing consistent, goal-driven ABA therapy
Discover Clearer Paths
ADOS-2 testing offers accurate insights for early diagnosis, guiding personalized support and lifelong growth.
Wondering if It Might Be Autism?
Take our quick and easy screener to better understand your symptoms and get helpful insights. It’s completely free and only takes a few minutes.
How will I know if my child meets criteria for Autism?
The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2) is a semi-structured, standardized assessment of communication, social interaction, play/imaginative use of materials, and restricted and repetitive behaviors for individuals who have been referred because of possible autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The ADOS-2 is a revision of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, which has been referred to as the “gold standard” observational assessment for diagnosing ASD. Children as young as 12-months, regardless of verbal ability, can be assessed using the ADOS-2.
Who makes the diagnosis?
The ADOS-2 can be administered with other assessment measures by a developmental pediatrician, a pediatric neurologist, or licensed psychologist trained to administer this assessment for the purpose of diagnosis. The assessment results may qualify your child for in-home ABA therapy.
Why is an ASD diagnosis necessary?
By obtaining an accurate diagnosis, individuals and families can begin to access appropriate intervention services, obtain individualized behavioral and educational programs, and determine patterns of strengths and weaknesses at the child’s current developmental level. Determining an accurate diagnosis is a first step for a clinician in defining a treatment plan for a child. In short, children with autism spectrum disorder cannot begin to receive ABA therapy without first being diagnosed. No medical referral is necessary. POSS offers comprehensive evaluation reports at lower out-of-pocket costs with significantly shorter wait-list times than those at major hospitals/medical facilities
