About ABA

ABA stands for applied behavior analysis. It’s a well-known, evidence-based, contemporary treatment for autism. Research supports its effectiveness, and insurance covers it in the United States. ABA can happen at home, in the community, at school, or in Learning Centers. It’s not just one type of treatment. Instead, ABA uses different methods to teach children the skills they need for school and daily life.

The ABA approach is a framework that adapts to individual needs. It emphasizes evidence-based practices while considering both the family’s needs and the clinician’s expertise.

How ABA Originated—and Evolved

Applied behavior analysis stems from a school of psychology known as behaviorism that originated in the early 20th century. Although ABA can be used for multiple purposes—to train and change behavior in athletes and affect consumer shopping patterns, for instance—in the mid-1960s, researchers started using ABA to teach language and other skills to children with autism. At this time, however, ABA involved long, intense hours of children sitting through multiple, repetitive drills to learn skills—an exhausting regimen that challenged even the most dedicated kids and families. 

ABA has evolved significantly since that time period, with research advancing therapeutic interventions and protocols—and transforming the overly rigid, structured approach from the early years into something far more child-centered and age-appropriate.