Learn about ABA

ABA is an evidence-based, medically necessary service for individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and/or Down syndrome.

It’s focused on building communication, social, and daily living skills while reducing barriers to learning, including challenging and interfering behaviors.

Child-led ABA is a specialized form of Applied Behavior Analysis that transforms therapy by stepping into your child’s world. 

Instead of a rigid, adult-led structure, this method uses your child’s natural curiosity and motivations to guide therapeutic activities. 

It’s all about creating a positive and effective learning environment where your child feels comfortable and eager to participate.

By following your child’s cues, therapists can seamlessly integrate skill-building into activities they already love. 

This personalized approach helps make connections between learning and fun, fostering genuine growth.

At Rosie Behavior, we believe neurodiversity is a natural part of human diversity—not something to be fixed.

Rather than teaching children to appear neurotypical, we focus on building meaningful skills that increase independence, self-advocacy, and quality of life.

By partnering with families and honoring each child's values, interests, and sensory needs, we create individualized supports that help children thrive as their authentic selves.

Neurodiversity-Affirming Care includes:

• Connection over compliance

  • Modify the environment to be more supportive and accommodation before targeting a behavior

• All communication is valid

  • Gestures, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), sign language, gestalts/scripts/echololia are honored and equal to vocal verbal speech

• Inclusion of sensory regulation and understanding how it influences behaviors

• Incorporate interests

  • Learner’s preferences, opinions, and passions are centered when making treatment decisions

• Building self-advocacy in all treatment goals

• Assent* and assent withdrawal is respected

*Assent in ABA refers to the voluntary cooperation or agreement of the individual who is receiving therapy. Assent differs from consent.

Consent occurs when the parent or guardian of the child receiving services is informed about the services that will be provided and legally agrees to them.

Assent occurs when the child (who is not able to provide legal consent) shows that they voluntarily agree to participate in therapy. Assent withdrawal occurs when the child shows signs that they do not agree or want to participate in therapy.

Applied Behavior Analysis is not inherently harmful, as it is the science of how beings learn.

However, how treatment is implemented, in the past and even currently, can be harmful. 

Practices that force autistic children to conform to neurotypical standards through harsh, compliance-based methods leave a traumatic, lasting impact.

We believe the only way to move forward is to constantly do better.

We incorporate compassionate care into how treatment is conducted, disseminating information to caregivers, training the next generation of behavior analysts, mentoring current practitioners, and ultimately, honoring the autistic individuals we have the privilege to work with.

As with all therapies, there are benefits and risks with ABA therapy.  

Benefits

• Decrease in distressed behaviors

• Increase in expressive communication

• Increase in receptive communication

• Increase in independent living skills

• Increase in social skills

• Improved self-advocacy skills

• Increase community participation

Risks

• Increase in other or novel challenging behaviors

• Time commitment

• Intensity of services may be tiring

• Difficulties with generalizing skills across people, locations, and stimuli

• The use of home and personal materials in the home setting

Behavior analysis can involve placing demands and withholding reinforcement. The situations may be aversive at times for you or your child because of the demands that are in place or the behaviors your child may be demonstrating.

It is the intent to never cause harm in any way. 

ABA therapy has been proven to have many benefits. Behavior therapy often leads to more communicative relationships, increase in following safety instructions and other demands, self-care and adaptive living routines, problem-solving, and more stabilized emotional regulation.

First, we listen.

Second, we celebrate!

Self-advocacy is at the center of what we do at Rosie Behavior. A child’s “no” is an important communication skill that we want to encourage.

Our role is to invite, not force. We use curiosity, creativity, and play to re-engage when it feels right for the child, protecting both their autonomy and their sense of safety.

Learning happens when a child feels safe and in control. We believe every child has the right to “vote with their feet,” meaning they can opt out of an activity.

This tells the team that something is missing that would make the child feel more comfortable, or something is present that is distressing the learner.

With over a decade of experience, I can assure you that it doesn’t last forever. When the team is able to modify the environment, empower the learner, and teach from a place of joy, the child will choose to participate.

Gone are the days of working through problem behavior and negative emotional responses.