High-quality ABA therapy programs will require some level of parent or caregiver participation. The level of involvement will depend on the therapy team’s recommendations, the child’s skill level, and the location of therapy sessions. At Kyo, we believe involving parents and caregivers in the treatment process is integral to a child’s success. Because ABA therapy targets socially significant behaviors, it’s important for the whole family to provide information about what skills are needed and what behaviors impede everyday functioning. Teaching parents how to implement ABA strategies and respond to behaviors increases the likelihood that these skills are practiced outside of therapy sessions. This helps a child learn skills faster and generalize them across different people and environments. Research has shown that consistent parent involvement leads to significant increases in developmental skills that are maintained over time.
Parent participation can look very different on a case-by-case basis, but generally will include some elements of direct teaching of ABA principles or strategies, discussions with the care team about the child’s progress on specific goals, completion of standardized assessments or parent surveys, and observation of ABA therapy sessions.
