Frequently Asked Questions

“Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication.” AutismSpeaks.org

The list below is a partial list of signs to look for if you suspect your child might be on the autism spectrum.

• Your child is not making eye contact with you
• Your child does not respond to their name
• Your child does is not babbling or communicating with words
• Your child has an unusual attachment or interest in a toy(s) or object(s)
• Your child likes to view things with the side of their eye or at eye level
• Your child is lining up their toys instead of playing appropriately
• Your child is interested in parts of toys and not the toy as a whole

We urge you to reach out to your pediatrician to gain a better understanding of your child’s development and any deviations from what may be expected.

Up, Up & Away ABA Therapy understands that often times you will need to receive services in your home, at your child’s school or in your local community. Our goal is to work with you and your family to provide services at the location where you and your child require additional support and will receive the most benefits from participating in therapy. Our BCBA’s & RBTs provide services throughout Palm Beach County and Martin County including the below-mentioned areas.

Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Wellington, Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, Greenacres, Royal Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Riviera Beach, Palm Springs, North Palm Beach, Lantana, Palm Beach, Lake Clarke Shores, Loxahatchee, Atlantis, Haverhill, Magnolia Park, Tequesta, Palm Beach Gardens, North Palm Beach, Stuart, Limestone Creek, Hobe Sound, Port Salerno, Palm City

We are open to extending our range of service to additional areas and to contracting with additional school districts, regional centers, and insurance companies. Please contact our office at 561.758.4540 if you do not see your location listed above.

• ABA stands for Applied Behavior Analysis. In practice, ABA is the application of the principles of learning and behavior to change socially relevant behaviors.
• ABA uses systematic, evidence-based methods to improve behaviors.
• It is often a misconception that only individuals with challenging behaviors benefit from ABA. An ABA program is individualized to meet the needs of the client and can improve communication, cognitive, play, social, and adaptive skills.
• A basic tenet of any ABA program is that of reinforcement. This is the idea that we are going to use items or activities that a person likes to change their behavior.
• ABA encourages positive behaviors by teaching your child functional and appropriate ways to gain access to the items they want.
• All goals are tracked, measured, and analyzed in order to maximize your child’s results.

A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) is a masters of a doctoral-level clinician. They are responsible for designing and overseeing an ABA program but do not often implement the program themselves. A Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), is responsible for providing one-on-one services to the client under the direction of the BCBA. Up, Up & Away’s co-founder and clinical director, Dr. Jessica Weber is one of only Doctorate level BCBA’s. Dr. Weber not only trains the BCBA’s and RBTs but also oversees each and every case.

Prior to beginning services, we will complete an initial assessment to ensure we have a thorough understanding of your child’s unique strengths and weaknesses. The assessment will take about 5 – 6 hours to complete and will be split across 2 – 3 days. Part of the assessment will be spent interviewing parents and the other part will be directly interacting with your child. During the assessment it is important for us to see all the great skills your child has, as well as some of their challenging behaviors. This may mean that we need to observe your child in different settings, such as at home, school or in the community.

The first few therapy sessions should be fun and playful. Before we begin targeting your child’s therapy goals it is important for the child and therapist to establish a good relationship. This phase of therapy is often to referred to as pairing. The importance of pairing cannot be understated as it is this process that sets the foundation for the child to begin to trust and want to work for the therapist.

Following the pairing process, the therapist will begin to work on your child’s individual goals. Part of the therapy time may be spent at the table, playing on the floor or participating in adaptive skills (e.g., sitting for meals and washing hands). Throughout the session the therapist will use reinforcement to motivate and encourage your child to complete nonpreferred or new tasks. Reinforcement is a cornerstone principle of Applied Behavior Analysis and will be used as a way to teach and maintain new skills.

There may be times during an ABA session where your child will become upset or frustrated. The therapist will work with your child to teach them alternative behaviors to gain access to items they want or coping strategies to manage their frustration.

• ABA programs require the client to meet with the therapist several times per week. The number of hours of therapy will depend on a multitude of factors including, age, diagnosis, and behavioral profile.
• ABA is considered an Evidence-Based Intervention for children with ASD. The National Standards Project recommends that young children with ASD receive a minimum of 25 hours a week of “systematically planned and developmentally appropriate educational activity toward identified objectives.” While they do not specify that all hours need to be spent in ABA programming, other studies have suggested that 30 – 40 hours per week of ABA programming is ideal.
• ABA is not based on a one size fits all model. Each program is individualized to meet the child’s and family’s unique needs. It is important to be mindful of all variables that may impact a child’s therapy including, the schedules of other family members (both parents and siblings), the child’s nap and bedtime routines, and the ability to participate in a variety of setting to name a few.

It is essential that we work together, as a team, to ensure that your child is able to reach their full potential. As part of all of our ABA programs, you will receive training on the principles of ABA and how to apply these strategies with your child. Parent training may take the form of one-on-one meetings with the BCBA or in-person training and coaching with your child.

Although an ASD diagnosis is not required to receive ABA services from Up, Up & Away, with a diagnosis ABA may be covered by your insurance company.  The eligibility and coverage will vary depending on the benefits you have in place with your insurance provider. Up, Up & Away is in-network with all of the major insurance providers.

Our billing department is set up to handle all insurance needs from authorizations to ongoing claims and billing. It is important to keep in mind that insurance plans vary greatly by policy, so our team will start by checking your benefits to confirm coverage details and cost.

Here are the steps:

• Provide our billing team with your policy information (front and back of your insurance card)
• Our team will check your insurance benefits & eligibility
• We will then review your policy details with you and discuss any other options, if necessary
• Finally, we will request authorization from your insurance company for both the initial assessment and for ongoing services.

ABA is best known for its success in improving outcomes for individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), however, ABA strategies can be used to change a wide range of behaviors irrespective of diagnosis. Including but not limited to:

• Tantrums
• Biting
• Noncompliance
• Self-injurious behaviors
• Aggression
• Communication/Assertiveness Skills
• Property Destruction
• Stereotyped Behaviors
• Elopement

• Hundreds of studies have shown that ABA is the most effective form of autism therapy, and it is endorsed by the U.S. Surgeon General and the CDC.
• Proven, scientific therapy that is customized to your child’s individual needs.

• Co-founded by a doctorate level BCBA.
• Each therapist receives a comprehensive training program along with regular supervision, support, and ongoing training by our senior clinical staff.
• We realize that it can sometimes be overwhelming to figure out the next steps. Up, Up & Away is committed to supporting both you and your child through the process and assisting with every step along the way.
• Investing in advanced technology allows us to provide parents with real-time updates on their child’s progress. Parents receive daily notes from their child’s therapist, as well as access to their child’s graphs so they can be active participants in their child’s therapy, even when they are unable to attend a therapy session.
• Up, Up & Away believes in a fun, natural approach to ABA.