Frequently Asked Questions

ABA therapy is a trusted, evidence-based approach that helps children build meaningful skills in areas like communication, social interaction, and daily routines. It’s designed to meet your child where they are and help them take steps toward greater independence.

Learn how ABA therapy helps children with autism develop essential skills.

Every child’s goals are unique. Our therapists work closely with your family to focus on the areas most important to your child’s development, whether it’s communicating needs, interacting with peers, or mastering daily routines. Discover Our Approach to ABA Therapy.

Unlike other therapies, ABA is highly personalized and data-driven. It focuses on building positive behaviors through reinforcement, ensuring your child’s progress is measurable and meaningful.

While every child’s journey is different, many families see incredible progress with ABA therapy, including improved communication, reduced frustration, and greater independence. We’ll celebrate every milestone with you.

ABA is custom-tailored to each child. However, typical goals of ABA include building communication skills, developing social skills, supporting self-care skills (e.g., toileting), and addressing behavioral challenges. The therapy is provided 1:1 with a dedicated therapist paired with your child throughout the day to help them gain skills as quickly as possible.

Therapy sessions are carefully structured to balance learning and play. Activities focus on developing communication, social, and daily living skills while creating a positive and enjoyable experience for your child.

We use data-driven methods to track your child’s achievements. You’ll receive regular updates and be part of the process as we celebrate progress and set new goals.

Every child is different, but many families start to see meaningful improvements within a few months. Our team will keep you informed and involved every step of the way.

If challenges arise, our therapists are trained to adapt and provide extra support. We’ll work closely with your family to ensure therapy remains positive and effective.

When your child is ready, we’ll create a transition plan that ensures their continued success. This might include support in new environments or connecting you with additional resources.

Stride Autism Centers is here to support families like yours by providing specialized Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy for preschool children ages 2 to 6 with autism. We are committed to helping your child thrive through individualized care and evidence-based practices.

Learn more About Stride Autism Centers.

Understanding the steps involved in assessing your child's needs can help set expectations and ease any concerns.

Stride's licensed clinical psychologist leads our diagnostic assessment process, helping identify a child's strengths and weaknesses, including whether or not there might be grounds for an autism diagnosis.

We proudly serve families across Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota. You can find the nearest center by visiting our Locations page or contacting us directly. We’re here to make accessing care as easy as possible. Find your nearest location.

We provide full-day ABA therapy programs designed for children 2 to 6 years old. Our programs include one-on-one therapy, small group activities, and family support, all tailored to help your child learn and grow in a nurturing environment. Explore our ABA therapy programs.

We understand that this is a big decision, and we’re here to help. Explore our About Us page, check out our blog, or call us anytime. We’d love to answer your questions and provide the guidance you need. Contact us today.

We’re here to make the process as simple as possible. Contact us through our website or call the center closest to you. Our team will walk you through assessments, insurance details, and the next steps. Learn more about the Enrollment Process.

Stride Autism Centers is dedicated to serving children ages 2 to 6, a critical time for early intervention and skill development. If your child is within this age range, we’re ready to help.

If your child has autism or is showing developmental delays, ABA therapy could make a big difference. Reach out to us, and we’ll help assess your child’s unique needs and potential benefits.

Absolutely. Every child is different, and we take the time to create a therapy plan tailored specifically to your child’s strengths, challenges, and goals.

We know starting therapy can feel like a big step. Talk to your child about the fun and supportive environment they’ll experience, and share any comfort items or tips about your child’s preferences with our team. We’ll take care of the rest. Get Started Now.

Yes, we partner with many insurance providers to make therapy more accessible. Our team is here to help you navigate the process and understand your options.

Costs can vary, but most insurance plans cover ABA therapy when medically necessary. We’ll work with you to confirm coverage and help minimize out-of-pocket expenses.

We know financial concerns can be stressful. If insurance doesn’t cover therapy, we’ll explore other funding options or payment plans to ensure your child gets the care they need.

BCBAs oversee every child’s program, tracking progress and making adjustments as needed to ensure the best outcomes for your child.

Your child’s BCBA will be deeply involved in their therapy plan, regularly meeting with your child and team to review progress and refine strategies.

The BCBAs and RBTs at Stride are screened and hired to ensure alignment with our core values and trained to a stringent level of competency to ensure that our teams consistently support the best possible outcomes for all clients. Our team members demonstrate compassion for the families and individuals we serve and believe that learning best occurs when it is fun. We prioritize communication and an environment that meets families and clients where they are to ensure we can best support and individualize their experiences and outcomes.

Our team includes Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and experienced ABA therapists who are passionate about helping children and families. We’re proud to provide care you can trust. Want to learn more? Come Meet our Team.

Your involvement is key to your child’s success. We provide regular updates, training sessions, and opportunities to collaborate so you feel empowered to support your child at home.

We want you to feel like a partner in your child’s therapy journey. From sharing insights about your child to reinforcing skills at home, your role is invaluable.

Parents are always welcome to observe therapy, but they are not required to stay. Instead, Stride aims to connect with caregivers weekly to ensure their needs are being met. They check each child is making maximum progress and that gains made in the center are carried into the home environment.

While parents don’t need to be in every therapy session, collaborating closely with parents is critical to the success of ABA. Family engagement is a core component of any successful ABA program to support progress outside of scheduled therapy sessions.

While parents are not required to participate in their child’s therapy sessions, we must partner closely with parents to achieve optimal outcomes. As a result, Stride generally recommends one hour per week of parent support. In these meetings (often done virtually to best accommodate schedules), the Board Certified Behavior Analyst and caregivers meet to discuss the child’s progress, ensure progress made in the center is carried over into the home and community, and work on any goals the parent has.

ABA is the gold standard for treating autism and is the most widely studied and effective treatment available. ABA is recommended by major American medical associations and the US Surgeon General. CBT is generally not the best fit for preschool-aged children with autism, especially those with minimal communication skills.

Some children with autism have symptoms that can be supported by occupational therapy (OT), such as sensory sensitivities or gross motor challenges. Stride partners with local OT providers, as applicable, to ensure proper coordination of care. That said, ABA is typically the therapy that makes the biggest difference for children with autism.

Decades of clinical studies have shown that young children with autism who received intensive ABA therapy demonstrated:

1. Larger increases in IQ and adaptive functioning
2. Fewer challenging behaviors and social problems
3. Increased likelihood of fully joining regular education without assistance

ABA uses positive reinforcement to promote increases in desirable behaviors. As a result, we see its application across a wide range of uses. From school settings where teachers reinforce participation and task completion to marketing executives who develop loyalty programs, ABA is everywhere.

Research shows that the earlier we intervene and begin therapy, the better the outcomes. This makes intuitive sense as kids have greater plasticity in their behavior the younger they are.

As kids grow older, they develop compensatory habits that make it more difficult to teach new, positive skills. For these reasons and more, Stride specializes in supporting preschool-aged children (ages 2 to 6) with autism. Typically, the earliest someone can be diagnosed with autism is 18 months old. Beginning ABA shortly after that is optimal for families who want their children to realize their potential.

ABA can be helpful until therapy goals are met or if progress is not being made. Stride specializes in supporting preschool children ages 2 through 6 with the goal of making significant and meaningful progress that reduces the need for continued ABA post-Stride. For children who can benefit from continued ABA after the age of 6, Stride can provide a referral to other organizations that can provide care in-home or after school.