The assessment: what to expect
The assessment isn’t a test your child can pass or fail. It’s how your Board Certified Behavior Analyst gets to know your child — and your family — well enough to write a plan that actually fits.
- It usually takes 2–4 visits with a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, at home or wherever therapy will happen.
- Your child doesn’t need to “perform.” A normal day — even a hard one — tells us the most.
- You’ll read the goals and the plan before anything is sent to your insurer.
That’s really all you need. The rest is here whenever you want more.
Helpful to have ready (but don’t stress)
Pull together whatever you have. If you don’t have something, that’s fine — your Board Certified Behavior Analyst will work with what’s there.
- A diagnosis report or evaluation, if your child has one — or, in Colorado, the physician’s letter recommending ABA
- Any IEP, IFSP or school/daycare reports
- Reports from speech, occupational or other therapists
- A list of medicines, allergies and anything medical we should know
- Your child’s favorite things: snacks, toys, shows, songs, activities
- The parts of the day that are hardest right now
- Your top two or three hopes — “I wish my child could…”
- Questions you want to ask (write them down as you think of them)
What actually happens
- 1Talking with you
Caregiver interview
Your Board Certified Behavior Analyst asks about your child’s history, what a typical day looks like, what’s going well, what’s hard, and what matters most to you. This is the most important part — you’re the expert on your child.
- 2Watching and playing
Observation
Your Board Certified Behavior Analyst watches your child play and go through normal routines, and plays with them too. No preparation needed.
- 3Skills check
Structured skills assessment
Play-based activities that check communication, play, self-help, social and learning skills. We often use tools like the ABLLS-R or VB-MAPP.
- 4Everyday skills
Adaptive questionnaire
A standardized set of questions about everyday skills — like the Vineland-3 — that you answer with your Board Certified Behavior Analyst’s help.
- 5If needed
A closer look at hard behavior
If challenging behavior is a concern, your Board Certified Behavior Analyst looks at when it happens, what comes before and after, and what it might be doing for your child. That’s how we find a kinder, more effective way to help.
To get the most out of it
A hard day is useful
If your child melts down during the assessment, don’t apologize. It shows us exactly what we need to help with.
No need to tidy up
Your normal routines and your normal house are the most helpful thing to see.
Say what matters to you
If something your Board Certified Behavior Analyst suggests doesn’t fit your family, your culture or your priorities, say so. The goals are yours too.
From assessment to approved plan
- 1Writing
Your Board Certified Behavior Analyst writes the plan
It includes your child’s goals, how each will be taught, how hard moments will be handled, goals for family guidance, and the recommended hours.
- 2Reviewing
You read it together
Your Board Certified Behavior Analyst walks you through the plan in plain language. Ask questions, change what doesn’t fit, and sign when you’re comfortable.
- 3Approving
We send it to your insurer
We submit the plan and hours request for approval. This can take days to a few weeks, and we’ll tell you as soon as we hear.
- 4Starting
Scheduling and your technician
Once approved, we set your schedule and introduce your technician.
Call us — a real person will help.
Colorado (720) 432-8989 · Oklahoma (918) 764-8544 · North Carolina (336) 270-9453 · info@actaba.com