FAQ
Answers about autism, ABA therapy, and Circle Care Services
Insurance
Most ABA therapy is covered by insurance. Depending on your insurance plan, you might have a copay. Our intake team can help you get approvals for ABA from your insurance and they’ll let you know if there would be any out-of-pocket costs.
Most insurances do, but you might have a copay. The coverage and cost of therapy is different on each insurance plan, so reach out to learn what’s covered by yours.
Yes, but it can be costly. ABA therapy is successful when it’s steady and consistent — which is why insurance companies typically cover 8-35 hours per week. The hours add up quickly, so most parents avoid the out-of-pocket route. If you’d like to hear rates, please get in touch.
ABA Therapy
Parents play a lead role in ABA. Your child’s therapists will ask you what therapy goals are important to you, their BCBA will provide you with parent training sessions, and your involvement will solidify the skills that your child learns in therapy.
We do thorough background checks on every therapist and BCBA we hire. We employ dedicated therapists with great backgrounds and you can feel 100% confident trusting them with your child’s care.
We serve young children from 2-8 years old.
Yes! We provide therapy all year round, and our clinic programs are open throughout the summer. We also offer extended in-home hours over the summer.
Therapy is very flexible both in time and place. Your child can receive therapy at home after school or during the school day in their school. Reach out to hear more.
The biggest way is to help equip children for life. From toilet training to dressing to eating, ABA therapy helps parents and kids set and reach goals. ABA helps build skills in many areas, like academic skills, social skills, fine motor skills, speech skills, and daily living skills.
There are at least 2 therapists on every child’s ABA team: their BCBA and their BT.
The BCBA is a board-certified behavior analyst who creates a unique therapy plan for each child. They meet with parents to collaborate on the best way to support their child.
The BT is the behavior technician who works with the child every day. They implement the plan created by the BCBA and help the child build new skills, reach their goals, and understand how to act in different situations.
BCBAs and ABA therapists collaborate to provide individualized care for each child. They also teach parents how to help their children learn new skills like speaking, walking, eating, dressing, etc.
The BCBA is a board-certified behavior analyst who creates a unique therapy plan for each child. They meet with parents to collaborate on the best way to support their child.
The BT is the behavior technician who works with the child every day. They implement the plan created by the BCBA and help the child build new skills, reach their goals, and understand how to act in different situations.
BCBAs and ABA therapists collaborate to provide individualized care for each child. They also teach parents how to help their children learn new skills like speaking, walking, eating, dressing, etc.
Just reach out — use our contact form or call us at (877) 734-4536. Our intake team will reach out to you within 24 business hours to get you started
After you have an ASD diagnosis from your assessing doctor, contact us on this form or by calling the number at the top of this page. We’ll take care of the rest and will set up an assessment with a BCBA as soon as we verify your insurance eligibility. It typically takes 6-8 weeks until your child meets their provider for their first therapy session.
That depends on many factors like age, setting, and level of support needed. You will get a recommendation once your child is assessed by a BCBA. Many children receive 10-30 hours per week on average — but some need less and some as many as 40 hours per week. Sessions can be 1 hour or a few hours, depending on the frequency and your child’s needs.
Yes. An adult other than the treating specialists will need to be at home for the entire duration of all in-home sessions. If your child is receiving therapy in school or in the clinic, you do not need to be present during sessions.
We understand that life happens and sometimes, last minute schedules are inevitable. Let your therapy team know ASAP if you need to change any details regarding your scheduled sessions and we will work with you to reschedule. Frequent cancellations are subject to the natural consequences of inconsistency.
Our outstanding team of therapists is the secret to our continuous success. We fully vet, train, supervise and support these individuals at Circle Care to ensure that we deliver quality care to every family we meet.
Therapists start ABA therapy with a process called pairing. Pairing is when they get to know the child and build rapport. It can look like regular play, but it is an essential part of the therapy process. The key to ABA is building trust and friendship so that the child will work with the BT on expanding their skill set.
Then they teach skills in many ways, depending on how the child learns best. Some children will learn in a more focused setting, and some children learn better through play. Their therapist will incorporate learning goals into whichever way works for them.
Then they teach skills in many ways, depending on how the child learns best. Some children will learn in a more focused setting, and some children learn better through play. Their therapist will incorporate learning goals into whichever way works for them.
If your child has therapy in your home, you don’t need to be in the room, but you do need to be home. (Try to be available in case the therapist has a question.) If your child receives therapy in school or the clinic, you don’t need to stay.
Sure! The therapist can come with you to anywhere they can work with the child to build skills. If you’d like to have sessions somewhere other than the usual location, discuss it with your child’s therapist in advance.
Sure! Siblings are always welcome to watch. Some therapy activities are only for the child receiving therapy, but siblings are welcome to participate in other parts of the session. Ask your child’s therapist how their siblings can join in.
Yes, siblings can often join in for peer activities. (Peer activities in ABA are designed to help foster positive relationships and build social skills.) Ask your child’s therapist when and how they can participate.
The form gives us the information that is needed in order to receive services. We’re working on creating a Spanish version of the form. If you’re having a hard time filling it out, our intake reps can walk you through it. You can reach them at (877) 734-4536.
Your child’s RBT can help with any behaviors that you are working to encourage or discourage — including potty training. Your child’s BCBA can also offer you guidance and support on training your child.
Autism screening and diagnosis
We recommend getting a diagnosis as soon as possible. The earlier your child gets diagnosed, the sooner they can start services — and the earlier the intervention, the more it will help.
Your child will need a diagnosis of autism in order to get ABA therapy covered by insurance. If you aren’t sure how to get a diagnosis, reach out. We can refer you to a diagnostic specialist in your area
A developmental pediatrician, child psychologist, child psychiatrist, or pediatric neurologist can provide a diagnosis. We can connect you with a diagnostic specialist in your area or you can ask your doctor for a referral.
The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT-R) is made up of 20 questions about a child’s behavior. It’s a screening tool for children between 16 and 30 months. The assessment doesn’t equate to a diagnosis, but parents or caregivers can use it to determine if additional evaluation is necessary.
The Childhood Autism Spectrum Test (CAST) is a questionnaire that’s part of the autism screening process. It’s designed for parents or caregivers of children between 4 and 11 years old. It isn’t a diagnosis, but it can help determine if additional evaluation is necessary.
The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2) creates a structured setting where children’s communication, social interaction, and play behaviors can be observed and evaluated. The ADOS-2 is a vital resource for gaining deeper insights into a child’s social and communicative skills, making it a cornerstone of the diagnostic process.
Autism
No. The only type of therapy we provide is ABA therapy. However, we do have partners throughout the autism world, and our referral specialist can recommend great therapists in your area. Reach out to hear more.
If your child seems behind in their development, ask your pediatrician if they can refer you for a diagnosis. If you’re not sure what to look out for, check out our list of typical childhood developmental milestones.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental disability that affects a person’s behavior, communication, and social skills. The term “spectrum” refers to the wide range of symptoms and levels of severity that can be observed in individuals with autism. While signs of autism can appear at any age, they often become apparent between 12 and 24 months of age. However, many symptoms can be seen in infants as young as six months old.
Autism is a spectrum, and it looks different in each individual. Common symptoms include extreme sensitivity to sounds, a tendency to avoid eye contact, limited or unclear speech, reluctance to use gestures, limited or no pretend play, and repetitive or unusual use of toys. For a more comprehensive list, check out our blog post about the signs of autism.
The causes of autism are not yet fully understood, but research suggests that a combination of genetic and environmental factors may be involved.
Careers
No. To become an BT (behavior technician) or RBT (registered behavior technician), you need to have a high school diploma.
Our process is simple. Once we get your resume, we’ll give you a call to schedule a 15 minute interview. Once we determine that you’re a good fit, we’ll match you with a client and get you started with the onboarding process.
Yes, we train, support, and supervise our therapists. We also provide access to a company resource library.
We provide hands-on training, mentorship, and support to complete your RBT certification.
Circle Care employees are eligible for exclusive benefits at our partner colleges, with support to make higher education affordable and accessible through tuition discounts.
Got another question?
We’re here to help! Send us a message, or give us a call at (877) 734-4536