🧠 AI Summary:

One of the most common things families tell us when they first reach out is that they had no idea how to begin — that the path from “my child might need ABA therapy” to “my child is sitting in their first session” felt long, complicated, and full of unknowns. This guide exists to remove all of that uncertainty. Whether you just received an autism diagnosis, you’re still waiting for one, or you’ve known for a while and are finally ready to take the next step — this is your complete, clear, step-by-step guide to getting started with ABA therapy at On Target ABA.

The First Step Is the Hardest

You’ve been thinking about it for a while. Maybe it started with a conversation with your pediatrician. Maybe it was something you read, a concern you’ve been carrying, or a recommendation from another parent who has been where you are.

You know ABA therapy might help your child. But you’re not sure where to begin.

What do you do first? Who do you call? What does the process look like? How long will it take? Will insurance cover it? What actually happens in a session?

These are the questions every family asks — and they are exactly the questions this guide is designed to answer.

At On Target ABA, we believe that getting your child the support they need should be as clear and straightforward as possible. So here it is: the complete, step-by-step guide to getting started with ABA therapy at On Target ABA, from your very first contact all the way through your child’s first session.

Step 1: Reach Out to Us

The very first step is the simplest one: contact us.

You don’t need a formal referral. You don’t need to have completed an evaluation first. You don’t need to have all the answers. You just need to reach out — and our team will help you navigate everything from there.

You can contact On Target ABA by:

• Phone — call us directly during business hours
• Website — fill out our contact form at ontargetaba.com
• Email — send us a message and someone will respond promptly
  
  

When you reach out, simply let us know that you’re interested in ABA therapy services for your child. Tell us their age, a little about your concerns, and your location (we serve families across Ohio and Utah). That’s enough to get started.

What happens next: Our intake team will reach out to you to schedule an initial conversation. This is not a commitment — it’s simply a chance for us to learn more about your child and your family, and for you to ask us anything you want to know about our services and approach.

Step 2: The Initial Conversation

In your first conversation with our intake team, we want to understand your family’s situation — and help you understand what On Target ABA can offer.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

About your child. We’ll ask about your child’s age, current diagnosis (if one exists), developmental history, and the specific challenges or goals that are bringing you to ABA therapy. There are no wrong answers here — we’re simply trying to understand where your child is right now.

About your family. We’ll ask about your schedule, your location, and whether you’re interested in center-based, home-based, school-based, or a combination of services. We’ll also ask about your family’s priorities — what matters most to you, what you’re hoping ABA therapy will help your child achieve.

About insurance and funding. We’ll ask about your insurance coverage so we can verify your benefits and let you know exactly what to expect in terms of coverage and any out-of-pocket costs. We accept most major insurance plans and Medicaid, and our team handles the insurance verification process on your behalf.

About your questions. This is your chance to ask us anything. About our approach, our team, our locations, what ABA therapy actually looks like — anything you want to know. We want you to feel fully informed before you make any decisions.

What happens next: If our services are a good fit for your family, we’ll move forward with scheduling your child’s evaluation.

Step 3: Insurance Verification

Before the evaluation is scheduled, our intake team will verify your insurance benefits.

We accept most major insurance plans and Medicaid in both Ohio and Utah. ABA therapy is covered by insurance law in most states — including Ohio and Utah — meaning that insurers are required to cover evidence-based autism therapy for children with an autism diagnosis.

Here’s what our insurance verification process involves:

• We contact your insurance provider directly to confirm your coverage for ABA therapy
• We identify any co-pays, deductibles, or prior authorization requirements
  
• We explain your benefits to you clearly — in plain language, not insurance jargon
  
• If prior authorization is required (which is common), we handle the authorization process on your behalf

What you’ll need to provide: Your insurance card information and your child’s autism diagnosis documentation (if one exists). If your child does not yet have a formal diagnosis, don’t stop here — read Step 4.

If you do not have insurance or your insurance doesn’t cover ABA: Our intake team can discuss alternative funding options, including Medicaid (which covers ABA therapy for eligible children) and self-pay arrangements. We are committed to helping families access services regardless of financial barriers where possible.

What happens next: Once benefits are verified and any necessary prior authorization is obtained, we’ll schedule your child’s evaluation.

Step 4: The Autism Evaluation (If Needed)

Most insurance companies require a formal autism diagnosis before authorizing ABA therapy services. If your child does not yet have a diagnosis, this step is where On Target ABA can make a significant difference.

On Target ABA offers on-site autism evaluations. This means you don’t need to wait months on a list at a hospital-based developmental clinic. You don’t need a referral chain. You can contact us directly, and we can schedule your child’s evaluation through our team.

Our evaluation process includes:

• A comprehensive review of your child’s developmental history
• Direct observation and interaction with your child using standardized autism assessment tools
• Parent interview about your child’s strengths, challenges, and developmental timeline
• Review of any existing records, reports, or evaluations
• A feedback session with the evaluating professional to discuss the findings
• A written evaluation report that documents the findings and, if applicable, the autism diagnosis

If an autism diagnosis is confirmed through our evaluation, the report serves as the documentation your insurance requires to authorize ABA therapy services — and we move directly to the next steps without delay.

If your child already has a diagnosis: Simply provide the existing evaluation report and we’ll use that for insurance authorization. You can skip directly to Step 5.

A note for families without a diagnosis who are concerned: You do not need to wait for a diagnosis to contact us. We can begin the evaluation process immediately, and your child can begin therapy as soon as authorization is obtained. Many families find that the path from first contact to first session is significantly shorter at On Target ABA than through hospital-based evaluation pathways — because we handle everything in-house.

Step 5: The Intake Assessment

Once your child’s diagnosis is confirmed and insurance authorization is obtained, the next step is the intake assessment — the comprehensive evaluation of your child’s current skills, strengths, and learning profile that forms the foundation of their ABA therapy program.

This is different from the autism diagnostic evaluation. The intake assessment is conducted by your child’s assigned BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) and is specifically focused on designing your child’s individualized treatment program.

The intake assessment typically includes:

Standardized skills assessment. Using validated assessment tools, your child’s BCBA evaluates their current level of skills across domains including communication and language, social interaction, play skills, daily living skills, cognitive skills, and motor skills. This gives us a precise, measurable baseline for every area we’ll be working on.

Direct observation. Your child’s BCBA observes your child directly — in structured and unstructured contexts — to understand their learning style, their motivators, their sensory profile, and the way they naturally engage with the world.

Parent interview. This is one of the most important parts of the intake assessment — and one that is often undervalued. You know your child better than anyone. Your observations about what your child loves, what frustrates them, what their hard days look like, what their best days look like, and what your family’s priorities are for therapy are essential inputs into program design.

Review of existing records. Any existing evaluations, IEPs, school reports, speech therapy progress notes, or other records are reviewed to build the fullest possible picture of your child.

What happens next: Based on the intake assessment, your child’s BCBA designs their individualized treatment program — including specific, measurable goals; the strategies and methods that will be used to address each goal; the intensity and schedule of services; and the family training component of the program.

Step 6: Your Child’s Individualized Treatment Program

Before your child’s first session begins, you’ll meet with your child’s BCBA to review and discuss their individualized treatment program.

This is an important meeting. Here’s what we’ll cover:

Your child’s goals. Your BCBA will walk you through the specific goals that have been identified for your child — organized by skill domain — and explain why each goal was chosen, what it will look like when it’s been achieved, and how progress will be measured. You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions, share your perspective on priorities, and request changes.

The methods we’ll use. Your BCBA will explain the specific ABA techniques and strategies that will be used to address your child’s goals — whether that’s Natural Environment Teaching, Discrete Trial Training, Functional Communication Training, or other approaches — and how they’ll be implemented.

Your child’s schedule. We’ll finalize the schedule of services — the frequency of sessions, the location (center, home, or school), and the therapist(s) who will be working with your child.

Family training. ABA therapy is most effective when families are full partners in the process. Your BCBA will explain what family training looks like in your child’s program — how we’ll teach you the strategies and approaches your child’s team is using, so you can apply them at home, at mealtimes, during bath time, on car rides, and in all the moments that therapy sessions can’t reach.

Your questions. As always — ask us anything. This is your program as much as it is your child’s.

Once the program is reviewed and you’re ready to begin, we’ll schedule your child’s first session.

Step 7: Your Child’s First Session

The first session has arrived. Here’s what to expect.

What the environment looks like. On Target ABA’s centers are designed to be welcoming, sensory-friendly, and full of materials and activities that children love. They are not clinical or sterile — they are designed to feel like a place where learning is fun and where children feel safe.

Who will be there. Your child’s primary therapist — their RBT (Registered Behavior Technician) — will be the person working directly with your child. At On Target ABA, every child has their own dedicated RBT — not shared between multiple children. Your child’s BCBA oversees the program, reviews data regularly, and adjusts the program as your child grows.

What will happen. The first session is focused on relationship-building. Your child’s RBT will spend time getting to know your child — learning what they love, how they play, what motivates them, and how they naturally engage with a new person and a new environment. Building trust and rapport is the foundation of everything else in ABA therapy. A child who trusts their therapist is a child who is ready to learn.

What it will look like. For most children — especially in the early sessions — ABA therapy looks like play. It looks like following the child’s lead, engaging with their interests, and embedding learning opportunities into activities that feel enjoyable and natural. It does not look like sitting at a table doing drills. It looks like two people playing together, with purpose.

Your role. During the first session, you may observe or you may step back — your child’s RBT will guide you on what works best for your child’s transition into the new environment. Some children settle in quickly when a parent is present; others do better when they have the space to engage with their new therapist without the pull of a familiar face. We’ll help you figure out what’s right for your child.

After the first session. Your child’s RBT and BCBA will share feedback with you about how the session went — what they observed, what your child engaged with, and what the next steps look like. This is the beginning of an ongoing communication rhythm that will keep you fully informed and actively involved in your child’s progress.

What Happens After the First Session: The Ongoing Partnership

Getting started is just the beginning. Here’s what your family can expect from On Target ABA on an ongoing basis.

Weekly sessions. Your child will attend sessions according to the schedule established in their treatment program. The frequency of sessions is based on your child’s individual needs and the intensity of services recommended by their BCBA.

Ongoing data collection. Every session, your child’s RBT collects data on their performance across their program goals. This data is reviewed by your BCBA regularly — typically weekly — and used to make decisions about when to adjust goals, introduce new targets, or change strategies.

Regular BCBA meetings. Your child’s BCBA will meet with you regularly to review progress, discuss your observations, and update the program as your child grows. These meetings are an important part of the partnership — we want to hear from you, not just report to you.

Family training. Throughout your child’s program, your BCBA and RBT will teach you the strategies they are using — not so that you become a therapist at home, but so that you can naturally reinforce and generalize your child’s skills in the hundreds of daily moments that happen outside of sessions.

Celebration of milestones. At On Target ABA, we celebrate progress loudly and often. First words, first independent tasks, first successful social interactions — these moments belong to your child and your family, and we feel that joy right alongside you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Getting Started

Q: How long does it take to get started from my first call?
The timeline varies depending on your insurance, whether your child needs an evaluation, and the scheduling availability in your area. Many families begin therapy within a few weeks of their first contact. We work as efficiently as possible to minimize the time between first contact and first session — because we know that every week matters.

Q: My child doesn’t have a diagnosis yet. Can I still contact you?
Absolutely. We can discuss your concerns, explain the evaluation process, and schedule an on-site autism evaluation. You do not need a prior diagnosis to reach out.

Q: What ages do you serve?
On Target ABA serves children ages 2 through 12.

Q: What locations do you serve?
We serve families across Ohio and Utah through center-based, home-based, and school-based services.

Q: How many hours of therapy will my child receive?
This depends entirely on your child’s individual needs and what your BCBA recommends based on the intake assessment. ABA therapy intensity is individualized — some children receive 10 hours per week, others receive 25 or more. Your BCBA will discuss the recommended intensity with you and explain the reasoning.

Q: What if I don’t like how things are going after we start?
Talk to us. Communication is the foundation of a successful ABA partnership. If you have concerns about the program, the therapist, the goals, or anything else — bring them to your BCBA. We are here to listen, adjust, and make sure your child is getting what they need.

Q: Can my child receive ABA therapy alongside speech therapy or occupational therapy?
Yes. ABA therapy is most effective as part of a comprehensive support plan. Many of the children we serve also receive speech therapy, occupational therapy, and school-based services. We coordinate with your child’s other providers to ensure that all services are aligned and working toward consistent goals.

You Are Not Alone in This

One of the most important things we want every family to know is this: you do not have to figure this out alone.

From the moment you reach out to us, you have a team. A team that knows your child’s name and their story. A team that reviews their data every week and asks what can we do better? A team that celebrates their wins with the same joy you feel — because the children we serve become part of our lives too.

The journey from first concern to first session can feel long and uncertain. We have tried, in this guide, to make it feel shorter and clearer. And we are here, every step of the way, to walk it with you.

Reach out. The first conversation is always free. And the mountains — whatever they look like for your family — are not too big for a team that is genuinely invested in moving them.

On Target ABA serves children ages 2–12 across Ohio and Utah with center-based, home-based, and school-based ABA therapy. We accept most major insurance plans and Medicaid and offer on-site autism evaluations.

→ Contact us today to take the first step
→ Read: From first concern to action — what to do when you suspect autism
→ Read: Does insurance cover ABA therapy? A complete guide for Ohio and Utah families
→ Read: What is ABA therapy? A complete guide for families
→ Read: When it comes to your child’s progress, we move mountains