Frequently Asked Questions

Your child’s therapy is delivered by a trained Behavior Technician, under the ongoing supervision of a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). The BCBA designs and oversees your child’s therapeutic programming, while the technician works directly with your child to carry out those individualized goals.

At the outset of treatment, the BCBA conducts an individualized assessment to determine the scope of each child’s needs. The BCBA analyzes the child’s overall needs across a variety of domains and, using that information, bases their recommendation on clinical best practices, insurance guidelines for medically necessary care, and each family’s priorities.

ABA therapy is a highly individualized approach that is widely recognized as an effective treatment for children with autism and other developmental needs. The data-driven nature of ABA, along with the practice of collaborating with parents and caregivers on their child’s care, makes ABA a particularly good choice for families who want to be involved in and receive frequent updates on their child’s therapeutic progress.  If your child needs support in building new skills, engages in challenging behavior, or learns best in structured and consistent environments, ABA is likely to be an effective approach to therapy.  

ABA centers provide individualized therapy tailored to your child’s needs. While many aspects of an ABA center may look very similar to a typical preschool setting, such as group activities like circle time, art, and play, every moment in an ABA center is guided by treatment goals designed to build specific skills. Staff work one-on-one with each child and are highly trained to capitalize on “teachable moments” throughout each child’s day. Because of our 1:1 ratio and highly trained staff, every transition, play activity, and interaction becomes an opportunity to learn and practice building new skills.

While some structured learning may take place at a table as needed, children in BBLC’s programs learn through play, exploration, group activities, and everyday routines. Skills are practiced across the day in natural settings, which helps children use the skills they are learning in real life.

Each child’s day is individualized, but generally includes a mix of structured teaching, play-based learning, group activities, and daily routines such as snack, art, and gross motor time. Skills are practiced in both structured and natural settings to promote independence and real-world application (Read More).

We make it easy to begin the process at BBLC. You can call 617-658-5611 (ext. 1), email info@bostonblc.org, or complete this link here. An intake specialist will contact you within 24–48 hours to discuss our services and learn more about your needs.

After speaking with our intake specialist, you will have the opportunity to speak with a director, either at the center or in the home-based region where services would take place. If you are interested in center-based services, you will also receive a tour.

We will check your insurance benefits to ensure coverage for ABA therapy, and then schedule an initial assessment with a BCBA. During this visit, we will learn more about your child, their strengths, and their needs, and conduct assessments of their skill level. The BCBA will complete a report, review it with you, and then we will work with your insurance company to obtain authorization for ongoing therapy.

In most cases, yes. Insurance companies require an autism diagnosis for ABA therapy to be a covered service. There are several diagnostic tools that a clinician may use, and some insurance carriers will only accept a diagnosis if a specific tool was used during the evaluation. You should contact your insurance company directly to learn more about any requirements they may have regarding documentation of a diagnosis.

Insurance companies in Massachusetts will be expanding ABA coverage for individuals diagnosed with Down Syndrome beginning on January 1, 2026. Please reach out to your insurance company directly to learn more about coverage for ABA therapy if your child has a diagnosis of Down Syndrome.