ABA Therapy in Chicago

Stride was born from a deeply personal desire to help people with autism. Our founder’s sister lives with Rett Syndrome, a severe autism-related disorder. Growing up together, he saw firsthand the critical role early intervention and personalized care play in creating opportunities for socialization and independence.

Stride’s intensive program for preschool-aged kids was carefully designed based on the latest research in autism therapy. We specialize in addressing the needs of preschool children because that’s where we can make the biggest difference. The sooner your child gets the help they need the better off they’ll be. By supporting them with intensive ABA at a young age, we have the best chance of laying a sound foundation for their future.

Our Chicago, South Loop Autism Program

Stride’s South Loop Program is structured as a full-day experience for kids ages 2 to 6. A typical day at Stride involves two types of approaches:

One-on-One Therapy

Your child receives multiple hours of personalized, focused attention. We have instruction spaces specifically designed to minimize distractions while your child works with their therapist.

During these sessions your child focuses on the uniquely tailored goals that will best support their needs, whether that’s improving their communication skills or self-care abilities, reducing problematic behaviors, or anything else the family, in conjunction with our team, has identified.

Group Activities

The biggest challenges presented by autism often come down to communication and socialization. At our centers, children have the opportunity to play and interact with other kids in a guided yet naturalistic setting. During activities, like art and free play, they get to learn during “teachable moments” as they’re having fun with peers.

Our centers have open space playground areas for group activity and we integrate circle time into the daily plan. Our goal is to build your child’s readiness for school and arm them with the tools and practice to develop relationships with peers.

Each day is highly customized to your child’s needs. However, to get a general sense of what a day at Stride in Chicago is like, a sample schedule is on Our Program page.

How Our ABA Therapists Can Help Your Child

Applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy has been widely studied and shown to be effective for individuals on the autism spectrum. ABA starts with a thorough evaluation of your child so we can best understand their specific needs. Then, we build a personalized program and implement it in our safe, fun and naturalistic setting. This will help your child develop the skill set to avoid behaviors which could make life more challenging and allow them to thrive academically and socially in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ABA Therapy?

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is a scientific approach to understanding behavior and how it is affected by the environment. At Stride Autism Centers, ABA therapy is used to help children with autism develop new skills, improve communication, and reduce challenging behaviors through individualized treatment plans that are both fun and effective.

How does Stride Autism Centers support social skills development?

Stride Autism Centers blends one-on-one therapy with group activities, which provides children with both individualized attention and opportunities to develop social skills in a structured setting.

Through play-based interactions and guided group activities, our therapists help children learn to communicate, share, take turns, and build relationships with their peers.

What are the benefits of center-based autism care?

Center-based autism care at Stride Autism Centers offers a structured, supportive environment where children can thrive. With access to experienced Board Certified Behavior Analysts and specialized therapy materials, our center-based approach enables consistent learning, peer interaction, and individualized attention tailored to each child’s unique needs. This combination helps prepare children for future success in school and other social environments.

How do I get started with Stride Autism Centers?

Getting started is easy! Simply fill out the contact form on our website or call us directly. Our team will guide you through the enrollment process, answer any questions, and schedule an initial consultation to better understand your child’s needs and discuss how our services can best support your family.

If you think our program might be right for your son or daughter, get started here.