Start Your Journey With ABA Today
You're in the right place.
We know this journey can feel overwhelming at first.
Starting ABA therapy brings many emotions: hope, uncertainty, questions, and the desire to do what's best for your child.
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Whether you've just received a diagnosis, are exploring services for the first time, or transitioning from another provider, you're not alone. This page walks you step-by-step through what to expect.
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At ABA Today & Gateway4ABA, we partner with families to help children grow, learn, and thrive through compassionate, evidence-based care that is tailored to each child's needs.
Getting Started With ABA Today
A Step-by-Step Process
1
Connect With
Our Team
Your first step is as simple as reaching out. Below, you can complete our short online inquiry form, where we gather only the most essential information needed to understand how to best support you and your family.
After completing this form, you will be contacted by someone from ABA Today within 24 hours.
2
Prepare For Your
Intake Meeting
Once contacted by someone from ABA Today, you'll gather some required documentation so that our intake team will be able to best assist you.
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You'll need:
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A letter of Medical Neccessity
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Insurance card(s)
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School IEP (If applicable)
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Any recent assessments or doctor's notes
Meet
With Us
Next, you’ll meet with one of our clinicians (either in person at our Reston Center or virtually). This is a collaborative, family-driven conversation. In this meeting, we'll discuss your child's history, routines, challenges, and interests. We'll review any existing assessments and IEPs, and discuss ABA Today's approach more in-depth.
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We tailor our recommendations to your child, not the other way around.
3
4
Clinical & Educational Assessments
After intake, your child will complete comprehensive skill-based, functional, and educational assessments with one of our Board-Certified Behavioral Analysts (BCBAs), as well as our academic partners at ETC Phoenix School.
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These may include:
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Naturalistic observation
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Play-based skill assessment
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Parent/caregiver interview
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Functional behavior assessments
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Review of previous evaluations
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Standardized tools such as the VB-MAPP, AFLS, ABLLS-R, or Vineland-II
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Our goal is to understand your child’s learning style, communication skills, behavioral needs, and strengths so that we can design a program that is meaningful, effective, and the best course forward for your child.​
5
Individualized
Treatment Plan
Your child’s BCBA creates a personalized treatment plan based on assessment results.
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This plan includes:
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Communication goals
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Play and social skills
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Early learning or academic readiness
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Daily living and independence skills
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Behavior support strategies
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Group learning opportunities
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Family involvement recommendations
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How progress will be tracked and shared
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We review everything with you before therapy begins. If your child is enrolling in the ABA-Phoenix Program, we collaborate with ETC Phoenix School to aid you in that process, as well.
6
Scheduling &
Starting Services
Once your plan is approved, we create a therapy schedule that aligns best with your child's needs. In the first few sessions, your team will focus on building trust and connection. You'll receive regular updates, data summaries, and opportunities for parent coaching. Your BCBA will remain closely involved every step of the way.
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Our primary service model is center-based therapy, as it allows for consistent routines, a structured therapeutic environment, and access to multiple therapists and specialized settings​. Our center is designed to be a safe, joyful, and productive place where children can grow in every developmental area.
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In-home therapy may be considered in limited cases based on clinical need, but most families benefit from the structure and engagement that center-based therapy provides.
Funding & Insurance Guidance
ABA Today works with families case-by-case to explore funding options.
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We do not advertise broad in-network participation; instead, we guide families individually through:
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Out-of-network insurance benefits
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Documentation needed for reimbursement
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Superbills and authorization support
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Transparent cost conversations
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Clarifying what is realistic and appropriate
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We approach this with honesty, clarity, and respect for each family’s circumstances.
FAQs
Some Common Questions From New Families
What exactly is ABA Therapy?
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a science-based approach that helps children build meaningful skills—such as communication, social interaction, and daily living—while reducing behaviors that may get in the way of learning. ABA therapy breaks skills into small, achievable steps, using positive reinforcement and individualized teaching based on each child’s strengths and needs. At ABA Today and Gateway4ABA, ABA therapy means compassionate, structured support delivered by highly trained clinicians who partner closely with families. Our goal is simple: to help every child learn, grow, and thrive.
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What ages do you serve?
We generally provide services from ages 2 through early teens, all depending on individual needs.
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How long does intake take?
The intake process begins as soon as you complete your inquiry form, and is typically completed within 2-4 weeks, depending on assessment scheduling & insurance review.
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How many hours peer week will my child receive?
The hours your child will receive varies depending on clinical assessments. In general, a program is usually 20-35 hours/wk, but is sometimes more or less depending on the assessment needs.
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Do you offer school-day options?
We are proud to partner with ETC Phoenix School through our ABA-Phoenix Program, which allows families to obtain ABA therapy services as well as individualized academics throughout the week. Depending on current circumstances, we are able to provide support to your child in their current school-day setting. We are committed to working with your child in the environment that is most suitable to their needs.
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Do you offer in-home therapy?
Our primary, recommended model is center-based therapy. In-home options are only considered in special clinical circumstances, though we do our best to accommodate these situations where possible.​
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How soon can we start?
Availability for services can vary, but we aim to onboard our families efficiently and communicate timelines as clearly as possible. Families can expect to usually begin programs around 4-6 weeks after beginning the intake process.
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