What to Expect During Your Child’s First 30 Days of ABA

First, take a deep breath and pause to recognize how amazing you are. For many families, getting their children services is a long and intimidating process, but you accomplished so much! You’re here, and you’re giving your child what they need to succeed. Amazing work! 

Beginning Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is a significant step for your child and your family. Whether you’ve just received a diagnosis, have been on a waitlist for months, or are transitioning from another provider, the first 30 days of ABA services can feel both exciting and overwhelming. 

This period is foundational because it sets the stage for your child’s long-term progress and for the partnership you’ll build with their support team, which may include the following people: 

Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA): This individual generally assesses your child, makes a treatment plan with goals and their planned approach to help your child obtain support.  BCBAs provide ongoing oversight for your child’s treatment team, which includes Behavior Technicians (BTs) and/or Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs), which are described below. Goals are based on your child’s strengths, needs, and what’s meaningful to your family. The BCBA will meet with you at least monthly to provide support for ongoing interventions at home and to determine if modifications to the treatment plan are necessary. To become a BCBA, a person needs a Master’s degree in a related field (Ex: Applied behavior analysis, psychology, special education) and 2,000 hours of supervised fieldwork. This process generally takes several years and is then followed by a rigorous 160-question Board Exam. So rest assured, your child is in great hands! 

Behavior Technician (BT) or Registered Behavior Technician (RBT): These individuals require a high-school diploma, 40 hours of focused training, a competency check by a BCBA, and a complex board exam. In order to maintain certification/registration, RBTs must receive ongoing supervision each month by the BCBA. All of our BTs become registered RBTs within 90 days of employment. This extra step helps ensure high standards and consistency in care. These individuals will work with your child daily by implementing the goals the BCBA put into the treatment plan. 

Speech Language Pathologist (SLP): These individuals may also work with your child depending on their needs surrounding language, communication, and even feeding and swallowing. If you are interested in this service, discuss this with the office manager or BCBA to get an assessment and start services. Speech support is generally provided for about 30 minutes to 2 hours per week, depending on your child’s needs. The SLP and BCBA check in with each other monthly to make sure your child’s goals stay aligned. 

Occupational Therapist (OT): These individuals may work with your child at a similar rate as SLPs - please request an evaluation if you are interested in these services. OTs support motor and sensory needs to maximize your child’s interactions with their environment. They also support daily living skills like brushing teeth, getting dressed, riding a bike, and using utensils - things that help your child be more independent at home and in the community. Similarly, OT providers coordinate care with SLPs and BCBAs to ensure generalization of services. 

Now that we know more about the team supporting your child, let’s check out what to expect: 

Step 1: Intake and Onboarding

Pre-Assessment Information: Before establishing a start date and following the tour of the center, we will ask you to fill out an intake packet, which delves into more details on your child’s strengths, areas your child might need extra support, medical history, background, etc. We ask that you read this information thoroughly before signing all documents.

Initial Assessment: Before starting services, a BCBA will meet with your child to complete an assessment. If you're also interested in speech or occupational therapy, we can schedule those evaluations as well. 

What to Expect: You can expect the initial assessment to take a few hours (generally 2 hours). During this time, the BCBA will meet with you to discuss your goals for your child, get to know your story, and determine your priorities for services. While the BCBA meets with you, the Lead RBT (RBT working to become a BCBA) may begin playing with your child and gently testing out some skills, writing down their observations, and establishing some rapport with your child. Some BCBAs may invite you to be present, while others may prefer to complete the assessment first and then share the findings with you. Let your BCBA know what you’re most comfortable with. 

Interview: The BCBA will run standardized assessments and may ask you to fill out some questionnaires via email. Generally, the assessments implemented will include the following:

• Skills-Based Assessments: VB-MAPP, ABLLS-R, AFLS, and/or Socially Savvy → direct observation assessment to evaluate verbal behavior, social skills, leisure skills, group skills, etc.

• Questionnaires: Vineland, SRS, PSI, and/or PDDBI → a questionnaire you may fill out or complete with the BCBA)

• Direct Observation and FBA: functional behavior assessment → direct observation and interview with family to determine if any behaviors like aggression, self-injury, etc., occur and why those behaviors may be happening

After the Assessment (Submitting to Insurance): Following the initial assessment, the BCBA has about two weeks to complete the treatment plan and send it to insurance. Between the assessment and submission, the BCBA will set up a meeting, phone call, or email to communicate the proposed goals and to receive a signature on the treatment plan. Many insurance companies vary in how long it takes them to review and approve these plans. There are some occasions where insurance denies our request, and our internal team will appeal any denials on your behalf to establish services. You can expect a call within about two weeks of the initial assessment to update you on this timeline. Please note that insurance-related delays can occasionally occur, but our team closely monitors the process and will keep you informed every step of the way. Once the treatment plan has been approved, a start date will be established. 

Step 2: Start of Treatment:

First Day: It’s normal for the first day to feel emotional. Your child is in good hands, and we’re here for you, too. You will be introduced to your child’s treatment team. Initially, your child’s treatment team (BTs/RBTs) will be small (1-2 providers) and may grow to 4-6 providers over time as needed. We like to pair several therapists with your child to help them generalize their skills across multiple people - this ultimately helps them when they transition into a school setting or another environment to be able to maintain those skills in new environments. You will bring your child’s lunch and snacks on their first day as well as a change of clothes, diapers, and anything else your child may need. If your child has a hard time separating from you, let us know; we’ll work with you to make the transition as smooth as possible.  Many office managers provide calls throughout the day to keep you updated on how your child is doing. We are also happy to send pictures and/or videos. During the first few weeks of services, most providers spend time building rapport with your child, getting to know their learning style, and establishing a communication system.

Step 3: Ongoing Services and Staying Involved

By the end of the first month: Generally within 30 days, the BCBA will have a grasp on your child’s learning style and will have made some progress on goals. At this time, they will set up recurring family guidance meetings. These meetings should occur once a month for an hour at a minimum, but can and should occur more frequently to ensure you and your family know how to best support your child at home and in the community. These meetings will often be in an office, reviewing graphs and videos, watching your child via our camera system, and discussing your current needs. Oftentimes, you will then shadow your child’s session and try implementing some of the strategies the treatment team has determined to be supportive of your child’s skills. Your participation makes a big difference in your child’s progress.

What If Things Don’t Go as Expected?

It's normal to encounter bumps during the first month of ABA therapy. Some common challenges include:

• Crying or resistance when starting with a new therapist

• Temporary increases in problem behaviors as your child adjusts to new expectations

• Slower-than-expected progress (especially if rapport-building takes longer)

• Overwhelm for caregivers learning new terminology and systems

These situations are typical and temporary. Communicate openly with your BCBA and trust that the team is working thoughtfully to make things better.

What Can You Do to Support the Process?

As a caregiver, your role is powerful. Here are some ways to help during the first 30 days:

1. Attend all meetings — Your insights matter and help shape the plan.

2. Ask questions — Don’t worry about not understanding everything right away.

3. Be honest — Share challenges at home so the team can support you holistically.

4. Be consistent — Follow through with strategies and routines as much as possible.

5. Celebrate small wins — Progress happens in tiny, meaningful steps.

6. Show yourself grace — This is a learning process for you, too!

Language to Expect in ABA

Here is a quick reference of common terms you might hear:

ABA Term	Meaning
Reinforcement	Anything that increases a behavior
Prompting	Helping your child complete a task correctly
Generalization	Applying a skill in new places or with new people
BIP	Behavior Intervention Plan
Pairing	Building a positive relationship with the therapist
Data Collection	Tracking behavior and skill progress systematically
Mand	A request (this can be vocal, a gesture, sign language, etc.
Function of Behavior	All behavior functions for a reason. The most commonly accepted functions of behavior are access to tangibles, escape from task demands, attention, and sensory.

If something doesn’t make sense, ask your team to explain it in plain language — they’re happy to help!

Final Thoughts

The first 30 days of ABA therapy are a time of learning, building relationships, and laying the foundation for progress. While the process may feel overwhelming at times, you're not alone. Your therapy team is there to support your child and your family.

Celebrate the small steps — the first time your child says “hi,” completes a task independently, or begins to connect with their therapist. These are the moments that build toward bigger change.

ABA is not a quick fix, but with consistency, compassion, and collaboration, your child can develop meaningful skills that improve their quality of life. You’re on a journey of growth, and this is just the beginning.

Your child is capable. You are capable. And we’re here to support you every step of the way.