Submitted by: Stephanie Martinez
Working in this field, you get to work with some wonderful children, but most don’t realize we also get to meet some pretty amazing parents! Starting as a Behavioral Therapist several years ago, I was able to become familiar with what ABA is all about. And now as the Administrative Manager, I get to explain to parents firsthand the amazing progress and milestones I have seen so many cases accomplish throughout the years. Parents call us for answers, and I do my best to answer their questions to the best of my knowledge. To answer the main question all of you have on your mind, I have written below the most common questions we get from parents.
I just received an autism diagnosis; what is the next step?
The next step is to come see what ABA is all about. Give us a call, schedule a walk-through, we can go over your insurance information and you can see what we do in person!
Do I stay with my child all day or drop him/her off?
This is a good question! Most children on the spectrum may already be receiving Speech or Occupational Therapies which are typically about 30 minutes long, so when you first begin ABA services you expect this therapy to be the same. But actually, ABA Therapy can range anywhere from 2 hours to 30 hours a week! After the initial assessment we can discuss what the BCBA recommends and go from there. So yes, you drop your child off!
Do you only see children on the Autism Spectrum?
Applied Behavior Analysis is the science of human behavior. By observing behaviors and determining their function, we can either increase or decrease that behavior with certain protocols we put in place. Behavior Analysts may work with any child or adult. We mainly see children on the autism spectrum because insurance companies are currently only covering those who are diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum. ABA Therapy is the only treatment recommended by the Surgeon General to benefit children on the autism spectrum.
Does my insurance cover ABA Therapy?
We accept most private insurances and Tricare. You may call your insurance company and ask them if your plan covers the “ABA Benefit” or “Autism Benefit”. Sometimes you need to call them several times to make sure you have the most accurate information, but feel free to give us a call and we can check on your insurance as well!
Are there any scholarships available for my child to receive ABA Therapy?
Another great question! Yes, if you qualify! There are currently two Florida Scholarships currently available that may benefit your child. One you may use towards ABA services, and the other one is only for private school tuition.
The Gardiner Scholarship (previously PLSA), are funds your child may receive as young as 3 years old! This scholarship allows you to split your reward amount between therapies, tuition, or any other services your child may need. You may use this towards ABA Therapy!
The McKay Scholarship is a scholarship used for *Private School tuition ONLY. *Reaching Milestones has an ABA Therapy Private School called Ascension Academy located in Florida.
You cannot be enrolled in a public school to receive either of these scholarships. The McKay Scholarship and the Gardiner Scholarship are given to families by the state of Florida to better serve families with special needs children who were not getting the help they needed in a public school setting.
There may be several grants out there available to you but we have been made aware of one in the past, the UHC grant. The United Healthcare Children’s Foundation gives out grants to special needs families who have private insurance but may still have copayments they need help with. This grant is only given once per family.
We hope this helps answer some of your questions, but feel free to give us a call today and we will be happy to answer any other questions you may have!