Frameworks & Services
Read more about what ABA/IBI are and the assessment tools used to inform your child’s success and growth.
See below for specific information around each individual service!
Our Services
Each learner is special and unique; we pride ourselves on individualized supports and assessments. There are a number of different options that can be in combination with each other or packaged, depending on the services that are being sought.
Build
We start with a foundation to work from; gathering information about the learner, working with parents to develop specific goals and assessing core skills as the building blocks for skill maturation.
Teach
We tailor programs specific to the learner’s current repertoire and begin to teach fundamental skills that can create cohesive knowledge and understanding.
Grow
Learning is the driving force for individual success; we shape skills and plan for skill generalization across individuals and settings.
What is ABA?
Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA)
- A designated approach that uses the principles of learning to teach inclusive and meaningful social skills/behaviours to a learner
- ABA is a science-based treatment method, rooted in scientific research
- ABA is not exclusive to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), but can be used to address behaviours that are significantly impacting one’s growth and success in diverse areas of life
- Providing 1:1 therapy to learners utilizes the principles of ABA, by targeting specific strategies to focus on a number of different areas of development: communication, cognitive, play, imitation, fine motor and gross motor skills, personal independence (toileting, feeding, dressing), and social skills to name a few
What is IBI?
Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI)
- The goal of IBI is to design a well devised path for a learner to develop their rate of learning
- Learning can be defined as a momentous change in the child’s language, cognition and adaptive skills
- The matrix of IBI can be viewed as: Assessment, Programming, Therapy, and Results. It is accompanied by a thorough analysis of data taken over an extended period of time to better determine the client’s learning trajectory
- IBI uses the principles of ABA in both therapy and NET settings (controlled vs. natural) to enhance pre-academic learning, communication and social skills, as well as cognition
- IBI is intensive in nature, as per the name. It typically requires a minimum of 20 hours per week. Circumstances vary, dependent on client and family
Assessments
Functional Behavioural Assessments
Teaching adaptive and functional behaviours that replace challenging behaviours.
Preference Assessments
Determining an object, item and/or thing that is of high value to a learner; enticing them with an incentive to elicit specific responses/goals.
Skill-Based Assessments
Assessing a variety of domains to inform future targets for teaching.
- ABLLS-R (Assessment of Basic Learning and Language Skills Revised)
- VB-MAPP (Verbal Behaviour Milestones Assessment and Placement Program)
- PEAK (Promoting Emergence of Advanced Knowledge)
What does the Assessment/Service provide?
- Comprehensive assessments that can identify why challenging behaviours occur
- Provide individualized behaviour plans as well as programs/interventions that are customized to the learner’s interests, skills, and abilities
- Provides individualized treatments that factors in the learner’s interests and motivation; this helps build rapport, trust, and a positive setting to learn
- Increase self-care, functional skills and cognitive development
- Address socially significant behaviours that improve the learner’s quality of life; teaching appropriate behaviours and meaningful skills
- Provides evidence-based treatment approaches; designed to provide measurable outcomes for the learner
- Effective ABA/IBI learning strategies for all ages
- Ongoing family-parent training to teach behaviour management, methods of positive reinforcement, communication and case-specific targets
Communication
Teaching Functional Communication & Augmentative and Alternative Communication Skills
All communication devices and methods are tailored to the specific needs of the learner and are reviewed on an adjusted basis to ensure proper implementation and goal planning.
- PECS (Picture Exchange Communication Systems)
- Proloquo2go
- SGD (Speech Generating Device)
Home-based therapy is a structured approach to developing skills and goals in a familiar space for the learner. This would involve an Instructor Therapist coming into the client’s home to conduct 1:1 therapy.
- If families find that an alternative location would be best suited for the learner, other options can be arranged and discussed during the intake process
Community-based therapy is an integrated model of 1:1 or group therapy support for the learner to receive treatment and ascertain new skills in different contextual environments.
- This would involve external settings that include, but are not exclusive to daycares, schools (if applicable), public and community centres
The essence of a social group is to provide your child with a contextual environment to explore through communication, play and interaction with other peers. The group has a complimentary balance between structured and unstructured play, with a number of different activities weaved throughout each session. The group is designed to increase independence in social settings, focus on joint attention and appropriate behaviours, build on cooperative play, and target a variety of skills that are age appropriate.
During intake, the Clinical Supervisor will sit with parents to gather details about the learner and specific goals parents may have. A constructed plan and approach will be created on how these can be continually integrated into the group and built upon. Goals are constantly reviewed and adjusted as needed in order to provide viable skills that are transferable within and outside the group dynamic. An individualized support plan will be generated prior to the group starting to outline specific goals for achievement and a formal report will be given at the end of each group block.
**Groups will be contingent on numbers and compatibility between peers**
While 1:1 therapy is extremely important in the field of ABA, there isn’t always as much time, hours or finances that can be afforded to such means. We take this into consideration and want to offer all parents the tools, strategies and platforms to speak up and learn what they can do to empower their situation and see their child succeed. Parent Training is a personalized approach to shaping the learner’s needs within the family dynamic. It’s a time for parents to ask questions, acquire knowledge and learn how to provide hands-on learning for their child.
- Availability for weekly meetings or multiple meetings per week (reoccurring or sporadic)
- Access to 1 – 2 hours per parent training session
- Ongoing data collection and goal setting
- Sessions can be between parents and the Clinical Supervisor or the learner can be present as well
- Direct or Video options are available
Offering clinical supervision to pursing BCBA’s which align with the BACB requirements to write the certification exam.
- An action plan will be devised upon a formal contract being signed between the Supervisor and Supervisee
- Goal planning and success mapping will occur regularly or as needed to align with the Task List and Professional and Ethical Compliance Code
- Ongoing support through Master’s program
Providing ongoing supervision, feedback and training for active RBT’s.
