Introduction: Taking the First Step Can Feel Overwhelming If your child has recently received an autism diagnosis, you’re probably hearing a lot about ABA therapy. Pediatricians, psychologists, schools, and other parents may all recommend it as part of your child’s treatment plan. While that recommendation can provide direction, it often creates a new set of […]
Introduction: Getting Answers During a Time Filled With Questions When parents first learn about ABA therapy, they often find themselves overwhelmed with information. Between medical evaluations, therapy recommendations, insurance paperwork, and online research, it can feel difficult to know where to start. As Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), we hear many of the same questions […]
Introduction: Why Visual Schedules Are So Powerful Many children with autism thrive when they know what to expect. Unexpected changes, unclear instructions, and transitions between activities can sometimes create stress, frustration, or challenging behaviors. ABA therapists, educators, and autism specialists frequently recommend visual schedules for this reason. A visual schedule uses pictures, symbols, words, or […]
Introduction: A Common Question Parents Ask After receiving an autism diagnosis, many parents begin researching treatment options and quickly encounter Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Along the way, they may also encounter conflicting opinions online. Some sources describe ABA as the “gold standard” for autism treatment, while others question its effectiveness or raise concerns about past […]
Introduction: Sometimes the Hardest Conversations Happen at Home Receiving an autism diagnosis for your child can bring a mix of emotions—relief, clarity, hope, uncertainty, and determination. While parents are often focused on understanding their child’s needs and finding the right support, they may quickly discover another challenge: helping family members understand the diagnosis as well. […]
Introduction: Waiting Doesn’t Mean Standing Still If you’re reading this while your child is on an ABA therapy waitlist, you are probably feeling a mix of emotions. You may feel hopeful because you’ve taken important steps toward getting support. You may feel frustrated because progress seems delayed. And you may feel worried that every day […]
Introduction: Success in Therapy Is Only the Beginning One of the most exciting moments for parents is seeing their child master a new skill during Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy. Maybe your child is requesting items independently, following directions more consistently, greeting others, or completing daily routines with less assistance. But then something unexpected happens. […]
Introduction: Understanding the Behavior Behind the Outburst Few experiences are more stressful for parents than watching their child become overwhelmed, upset, or inconsolable. Whether it happens at home, in a grocery store, at school, or during a family outing, intense emotional reactions can leave parents feeling confused and unsure of how to respond. One of […]
Introduction: Insurance Questions Should Be Answered Before Therapy Starts For many parents, receiving an autism diagnosis is followed by a long list of questions about treatment options, evaluations, and therapy services. But one question often rises to the top of the list: “Will my insurance cover ABA therapy?” The answer is often yes—but understanding exactly […]
Introduction: Communication Is More Than Spoken Words One of the most common concerns parents have after an autism diagnosis is whether their child will learn to communicate. For families of non-verbal or minimally verbal children, the inability to express needs, wants, feelings, and thoughts can create daily frustration for both the child and those around […]
Introduction: Choosing the Right Provider Is One of the Most Important Decisions You’ll Make After receiving an autism diagnosis, many parents immediately begin searching for ABA therapy services. What often comes as a surprise is just how many providers there are throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area—and how difficult it can be to determine which one […]
Autism therapy is one of the most important investments a family can make in their child’s future — but it can also be one of the most expensive. Between deductibles, co-pays, and services that aren’t fully covered by insurance, the cost of ABA therapy and related care adds up quickly. The good news: Texas families […]
Introduction: When Progress Starts Changing the Conversation Reaching a point where your child may be ready to reduce or exit Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is a meaningful milestone, even if it comes with uncertainty. For most families, ABA begins with a focus on building foundational skills—communication, behavior regulation, daily routines, and social development. Over […]
Introduction: It’s Never Too Late to Build Important Skills When many people think about ABA therapy, they picture young children receiving early intervention services. Because early intervention is often emphasized, some parents of older children and teenagers wonder whether ABA therapy can still be effective after age 12. The answer is yes. While the goals […]
Introduction: Your First Step Toward ABA Therapy For many parents, scheduling an ABA intake assessment is an exciting milestone. After navigating evaluations, diagnoses, insurance questions, and provider searches, you are finally moving closer to starting services for your child. At the same time, it’s completely normal to feel nervous or uncertain about what to expect. […]
Introduction: One of the Most Common Questions Parents Ask After receiving an autism diagnosis and beginning the ABA therapy process, many parents are surprised when they hear recommendations for therapy hours. Some children are recommended for a few hours each week, while others may receive recommendations for much more intensive services. Naturally, parents often wonder: […]
Introduction: Early Intervention Looks Different Than Many Parents Expect When parents first hear that their toddler may benefit from ABA therapy, they often picture a child sitting at a table completing structured lessons for hours at a time. In reality, ABA therapy for young children looks very different. For toddlers, therapy is designed to be […]
Introduction: Understanding Two Common Autism Therapies After receiving an autism diagnosis, many parents find themselves navigating a long list of recommended services. Two of the most common therapies are Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy and speech therapy. While both can play important roles in a child’s development, they serve different purposes and address different challenges. […]
Introduction: Understanding Two Common Autism Therapies After receiving an autism diagnosis, many parents find themselves navigating a long list of recommended services. Two of the most common therapies are Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy and speech therapy. While both can play important roles in a child’s development, they serve different purposes and address different challenges. […]
Introduction: Understanding Prior Authorization After receiving an autism diagnosis and finding an ABA provider, many Texas parents expect therapy to begin right away. Instead, they often encounter a new and unfamiliar term: prior authorization. Hearing that insurance approval is required before services can begin can feel frustrating, especially when you are eager to get your […]
Introduction: The Cost Question Every Parent Asks After receiving an autism diagnosis, many parents quickly learn that Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is one of the most effective and evidence-based treatments available. But for families without insurance coverage, another question often comes immediately afterward: How much will ABA therapy cost? The answer can feel overwhelming. […]
Introduction: Understanding the Cost of ABA Therapy After receiving an autism diagnosis, many parents quickly begin researching treatment options and soon discover that Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is considered the gold standard for helping children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) develop communication, social, behavioral, and daily living skills. But along with questions about treatment […]
Introduction: The Waiting Is the Hardest Part You have done everything right. You recognized the signs, sought an evaluation, received a diagnosis, and contacted ABA providers. And then you heard those words that no parent wants to hear: there is a waitlist. Depending on where you live and which providers serve your area, that waitlist […]
Introduction: Your Child Has Rights — and So Do You When your child receives an autism diagnosis, one of the most important — and most confusing — systems you will need to navigate is the special education system. At the center of that system is the Individualized Education Program, or IEP. For many parents, the […]
Introduction: First Impressions Matter The first ABA therapy session sets the tone for everything that follows. A child who feels safe, comfortable, and understood from the very beginning is far more likely to engage willingly in therapy, build a strong relationship with their therapist, and make meaningful progress over time. A child who feels anxious, […]
Introduction: Understanding Your Coverage Before Therapy Begins One of the first questions many parents ask after receiving an autism diagnosis is, “Will my insurance cover ABA therapy?” The good news is that Texas has some of the strongest autism insurance protections in the country. However, insurance coverage is rarely as simple as “yes” or “no.” […]
Introduction: The Parent Nobody Talks About There is a lot of conversation in the autism community about supporting children — about therapy hours, treatment goals, school accommodations, and developmental milestones. There is far less conversation about the people who make all of that possible: the parents. Specifically, the parents who wake up early to prepare […]
Introduction: Structure Is Not a Limitation — It Is a Gift For many children with autism, predictability is not just comforting — it is essential. The ability to anticipate what comes next reduces anxiety, frees up cognitive resources for learning, and creates the kind of regulated internal state in which new skills can actually be […]
Introduction: The School-Home Connection Is Everything One of the most powerful predictors of success in ABA therapy is consistency across environments. When the strategies your child’s therapist uses during sessions are also being used by their teacher during the school day, skills are reinforced across multiple settings and generalize far more quickly. But building that […]
Introduction: The Days After Diagnosis Receiving an autism diagnosis for your child can feel like the ground has shifted beneath your feet. For some families, the diagnosis brings a profound sense of relief — finally, an explanation for the challenges they have been navigating. For others, it brings grief, fear, or confusion. Often, it brings […]
Introduction: Autism Rarely Comes Alone One of the most important things families should understand about autism is that it rarely exists in isolation. Research consistently shows that the majority of autistic individuals have at least one co-occurring condition — a separate diagnosis that exists alongside autism and significantly affects how that person experiences the world. […]
Introduction: A Shift in How We Think About Autism Over the past decade, a significant shift has taken place in how many clinicians, researchers, and — most importantly — autistic people themselves think about autism. This shift moves away from viewing autism as a disorder to be fixed and toward viewing it as a natural […]
Introduction: The Gender Gap in Autism Diagnosis For decades, autism was considered primarily a condition affecting boys. The CDC continues to report that boys are diagnosed with autism at approximately 3.5 times the rate of girls. But researchers and clinicians increasingly recognize that this statistic may reflect a significant diagnostic blind spot rather than a […]
Introduction: Why Early Recognition Matters The single most powerful thing a parent can do to support a child with autism is to recognize the signs early and seek evaluation promptly. Research consistently shows that children who receive ABA therapy and other early intervention services before the age of 5 — and especially before age 3 […]
Introduction: A New Milestone in Autism Prevalence Data In 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released its latest autism prevalence report through the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network — and the findings captured national attention. According to the report, approximately 1 in 31 children in the United States is now […]
Introduction: The Credential Behind the Care If you have been researching ABA therapy for your child, you have probably encountered the acronym BCBA. It appears on provider websites, insurance documents, and clinical paperwork — but what does it actually mean, and why does it matter so much for your child’s care? The short answer is […]
Introduction: Why the Myths Persist Applied Behavior Analysis has been the subject of considerable debate in recent years, particularly within the autism community. Some of this debate is healthy and important — it has pushed the field to reflect on its history, evolve its practices, and center the voices of autistic people. But some of […]
Introduction: One Size Does Not Fit All Every child with autism is unique. The autism spectrum is extraordinarily broad, encompassing children with vastly different communication styles, sensory profiles, learning preferences, social strengths, and support needs. A treatment plan that works beautifully for one child may be completely wrong for another. This is why individualization is […]
Introduction: Setting Matters in ABA Therapy When a family begins the journey of ABA therapy, one of the first decisions they face is where therapy will take place. For many families, this choice feels overwhelming — and it is made more complicated by the fact that there is no universal right answer. The best setting […]
Introduction: Progress Is Not Always Linear One of the most common concerns parents share with us at Guidepost ABA is uncertainty about whether therapy is actually helping their child. It is a completely understandable question. ABA therapy requires a significant investment of time, energy, and emotion. You want to know it is paying off. The […]
Introduction: The Question Every Parent Asks When a clinician recommends Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy for your child, one of the first questions that naturally comes to mind is: what will my child actually be doing during these sessions? It is a completely valid concern. ABA therapy has sometimes been misrepresented in popular media, and […]
