Individuals with ASD would usually learn things in a particular order. A typically developing child might be able to anticipate enough to be able to skip steps. This is why it is of utmost importance to address any missing skills in an ABA program.

Some parents and professionals are concerned that ABA results in robotic behaviour. The apprehension exists because during the actual teaching of the skill, the response is automatic and certainly does not look natural. Due to learning difficulties, certain elements that are present in all learning must be greatly exaggerated. With proper teaching and follow-through, the generalization of the responses and behaviour become far more natural over time.

The purpose of an ABA program is not entirely to teach your child individual skills, but to teach him or her how to learn. In a successful program, your child’s brain changes, and he or she learns to learn in the style of his or her typically developing peers. As teaching progresses, the learning becomes more natural.

Whether you decide on home programming run by yourself, receive funding through the Ontario IBI Program for Preschoolers, or use a private ABA provider, you need the following:

• A recent psychological assessment to establish what needs to be taught (for example new skills and missing skills).
• An understanding of your child’s developmental age (even though your child may be able to multiply, he or she might be missing prerequisite skills like matching, so matching needs to be taught).
• The knowledge that your child may have to learn skills that are generally appropriate to a much-younger child; often, children with ASD have uneven development.
• The knowledge that proficiency in one particular area does not indicate your child’s skill level reaches that developmental age in general.

• A curriculum
• Staff (workers)
• Programs (including implementation), prior agreement of prompt levels to use for each program amongst all staff members and reinforcers
• Someone to write the programs (such as private ABA provider, Psychologist etc. – if you are not comfortable with doing this yourself)
• Program binder, data sheets, graphs to show progress
• Maintenance programs
• Staff meetings
• Office supplies
• Toys and therapy equipment
• Space and storage for materials and the programming itself
• Training for everyone involved, including you.
• Be aware that, depending on the number of ABA hours involved, there will be major adjustments to your family’s lifestyle, as your home may have a staff member or two present most of the time. It will also impact on your budget significantly.