My World ABA provides comprehensive autism services for children with autism in Springfield, MO, with offices in Joplin and Ozark. We see children ages 18 months to 21 years old. Our goal is to foster growth so that every child we see has a chance to reach their full potential while incorporating kindness into everything we do when it comes to ABA therapy.
You might have reached out to our office after a diagnosis from your child’s pediatrician. When we have an initial consultation, we will answer any questions you may have. Read more about these 13 questions to ask your child’s ABA therapist.
What are your qualifications and background?
Qualified autism therapists typically have advanced training and education. You want to find a clinic that is qualified to help children with autism grow and flourish using accepted therapy practices.
The owners of My World ABA, Mike and Amanda, are both board-certified behavior analysts (BCBAs). These professionals have a graduate-level certification with specific training to supervise and oversee board-certified assistant behavior analysts and registered behavior technicians (RBTs).
All of our therapists are registered behavior technicians. They must pass an exam from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board to earn this certification. Many people with an RBT certification go on to become board-certified behavior analysts as their full-time career.
These certifications are specific to ABA therapy. Other types of autism therapy may have different qualifying backgrounds. Just because a therapist has a background in certain fields when working with children, that doesn’t mean they are qualified for ABA therapy. There are also other types of autism therapy aside from ABA. Our staff is fully qualified to implement ABA therapy.
Everyone here is highly skilled with strong observational, communication, and problem-solving techniques.
What is your therapy approach?
Not all autism therapies are the same. You want to find a clinic that meets your child’s needs and, of course, is great with kids!
ABA therapy relies on a systemic approach to help children with autism excel. We believe in treating everyone with kindness and compassion. We also understand that every child grows at their own pace. All of our staff will treat your child with respect, kindness, empathy, and compassion.
We require parent training in ABA techniques because we believe some of the best learning and growing happens at home. We’ll give you the tools you need to help your child thrive.
How often will you see my child?
Typical appointments are once per week or every two weeks, depending on your child’s assessment and age. Every child is different. An ABA therapy session typically lasts 2 to 3 hours, but it could be shorter at 1 to 1.5 hours if that is better for your child. Longer sessions will have breaks to prevent fatigue.
In general, older children will have shorter ABA therapy sessions. Preschool-age children usually have the longest sessions because preparing them at an early age is crucial for long-term success. School-age children generally need shorter or fewer ABA therapy sessions.
What are your hours?
Autism therapy in Springfield can have hours before, during, and after school. You want to find an autism therapist who works with your schedule.
We take appointments during these hours on most weekdays:
- 8 a.m. to noon
- 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.
- 4:30 to 7 p.m.
What are your staff’s qualifications?
This is important because you want to make sure the therapists have the correct qualifications to help your child with autism. All of our therapists are registered behavior technicians (RBTs). Other specialized staffers, like our administrative team, have training on how to work with children with autism.
What are your autism assessments like?
An autism assessment is a comprehensive evaluation process designed to understand your child’s developmental, behavioral, and communication patterns. The assessment often begins when we interview you, as the parents or caregivers, by providing insights into your child’s history, behaviors, and any concerns you may have.
Our staff will use standardized tools and checklists to evaluate your child’s social skills, communication abilities, and sensory sensitivities during the initial assessment. This might include structured play activities or observational assessments, where we observe how your child interacts with others and engages with their environment.
We might also seek input from teachers and your child’s pediatrician to gain other insights and a well-rounded view of the child’s behavior across different settings. The entire process usually takes a few hours and may be conducted over multiple sessions to ensure a thorough understanding of your child’s needs. We’ll use the assessment to develop a tailored therapy plan.
How do you track progress?
ABA therapy tracks progress in a very systematic way. Every child learns at their own pace. Our therapists will introduce a situation using play therapy, such as using building blocks, coloring, or playing a game. Suppose the goal of this play session is learning how to share toys. The therapist might introduce a social story after playing the game by reading a book about sharing toys.
An ABA therapist notes specific behaviors during the session, such as how many times a child initiated behaviors, how a child responded to social prompts or questions from the therapist, and how many instances there were of taking turns during the game. The therapist will count how many times these behaviors occurred.
Using this rubric, we can track progress versus stated goals. For example, one goal is to improve behavior initiation by 50% over four weeks. Let’s say your child initiates seven actions in the first session. By the end of four weeks, we would hope to see that number reach 10 or 11 as a sign of steady growth.
What techniques do you use in therapy sessions?
We use play therapy as a primary means of teaching children with autism the skills they need to succeed. The premise is simple. Children learn best by having fun, and playing is a means to have fun. Games and activities teach social skills, communication, and emotional regulation.
Our staff may integrate several concepts into play therapy to help your child grow:
Natural language acquisition (NLA) focuses on teaching language and communication in a naturalistic setting, encouraging the child to use language during spontaneous play and interactions rather than in structured drills.
Social stories are short narratives that help children understand social situations and appropriate responses. They provide clear and simple explanations of social norms, enhancing social understanding and reducing anxiety in social contexts. We’ll typically read an age-appropriate book with your child to help with this.
Modeling occurs when therapists demonstrate desired behaviors or skills, allowing your child to observe and imitate. This technique is effective for teaching social interactions, communication, and daily living skills.
Visual aids, such as picture schedules, social scripts, or visual cues, can help children understand routines, expectations, and tasks. These supports cater to visual learners and can reduce anxiety.
Sensory integration techniques introduce sensory items into play to help them regulate emotions. Since many children with autism have sensory sensitivities, incorporating sensory activities (like using fidget toys, weighted blankets, or sensory bins) can help them regulate their emotions and focus better during therapy.
Functional communication training (FCT) teaches children to use alternative methods of communication, like sign language or communication devices, to express their needs, reducing frustration and challenging behaviors.
How do you reinforce behaviors?
We always use positive reinforcement strategies to encourage desired actions and skills in your child. When a child exhibits a target behavior, such as sharing a toy or following a direction, we provide immediate rewards, such as verbal praise, tokens, or preferred activities. Immediate recognition creates a strong association between the behavior and the positive outcome with the goal of encouraging more of that same behavior.
In some cases, we may employ a system of reinforcement schedules where we scale back the amount of positive reinforcement given. Your child’s ABA therapist might start with continuous reinforcement, offering rewards every time your child demonstrates the desired behavior.
As your child becomes more consistent, our therapist could transition to intermittent reinforcement, rewarding the behavior on a variable schedule. This approach helps maintain the behavior over time, as children learn that they may receive rewards unpredictably.
Do you collaborate with other professionals?
Autism therapy never occurs just at the clinic site. We will work with your child’s pediatrician, teacher, and school counselor to help develop a comprehensive plan to help your child succeed in areas outside of home and our clinic.
How do you deal with setbacks?
ABA therapy is systematic in that when a setback arises, we can identify potential causes and then adjust the therapy plan. For instance, we may notice that your child struggles with a previously mastered skill or displays challenging behaviors. The therapist reviews data collected during sessions. This helps pinpoint specific triggers, whether they involve environmental factors, communication difficulties, or changes in routine.
After identifying the underlying issues, the therapist adjusts the intervention plan to better support your child. This might include modifying the reinforcement strategies, simplifying tasks, or introducing new teaching methods tailored to the child’s current needs.
It’s also vitally important that we communicate with parents if there are any setbacks or changes at home. These can help form a better understanding of your child’s needs.
What are the costs?
We work with many health insurance providers, including Medicaid, Cigna, Aetna, UMR, and others. Insurance providers take the stress out of payment plans. Insurance may cover a co-pay, but it’s likely that you will have some out-of-pocket costs. We can work with you to have a payment plan if needed.
How often do I meet with you to discuss my child’s progress?
We can meet with you whenever needed. Your child’s therapist can give you a quick summary of progress at the end of each appointment. For long-term planning, we can discuss your child’s progress once a month and let you know how they’ve progressed.
Talk to Us About Autism Therapy in Springfield, MO
Our staff is happy to help with autism therapy in Springfield, Missouri, and surrounding areas. To learn more about our services or answer additional questions, contact us through our website or call (417) 818-5784 today. We have offices in Springfield, Ozark, and Joplin, Missouri.
