AUTISM 101 CRASH COURSE

A Beginner's Guide for Parents

"MY CHILD WAS JUST DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM. Now what?"

I'm sure when you brought home your baby from the hospital, you didn't know autism would be part of their future. It's okay to feel scared. Hopefully we can help settle some of those unknown fears you have.

You may be reading this because a psychologist said these two things to you:

"Your child has autism."
"You should look into ABA therapy."

So the first thing you did was Google "ABA therapy" and a bunch of option pulled up. Which company is the right one? What even IS ABA therapy?? Suddenly you're expected to understand an entirely new world of diagnoses, therapies, acronyms, and opinions.

That's overwhelming and frustrating!

The good news is that you don't need to become an autism expert today, (Or even tomorrow!)

We're here to help you understand what autism means, what services are available, and how to decide what's right for your child.

What is autism?

Very simply put, autism is a different way of experiencing and interacting with the world. It's the way the brain developed in utero. It's not caused by anything the parent did or didn't do (so stop blaming yourself!).

Autistic people may:

Communicate differently
Learn differently
Play differently
Experience sensory input differently
Interact socially differently

Some autistic children talk a lot. Some talk very little. Some love being around people. Some need more alone time.

There is no one way to "look autistic."

That's why it's called a spectrum.

What does an Autism diagnosis mean?

First and foremost: An autism diagnosis is not a prediction of your child's future.

It does not tell you:

Whether your child will talk
Whether they will attend college
Whether they will live independently
Whether they will have friends
What their future will look like

An autism diagnosis simply gives us information about how your child experiences and interacts with the world.

With a diagnosis, your medical insurance now can pay for supports to help them become the best version of themselves. A diagnosis helps families access support and services that can help their child thrive.

When your child got diagnosed, they may have been assigned a "level" of autism: either 1, 2, or 3.

This might make you think the autism spectrum looks like this:

The level system is not a good indication of your child's autism. It's not meant to tell you "how autistic they are". Everyone's support needs vary in many different categories. One person with autism might have good communication but have high sensory needs, while another person with autism might be non-verbal and can eat any foods with no sensory restrictions.

The autism spectrum actually looks kind of like this:

Autism Spectrum Disorder encompasses many different "types" of autism and is an umbrella term for many people with autistic traits.

My Doctor Said My Child Needs ABA. What Is ABA?

ABA stands for Applied Behavior Analysis.

ABA is a therapy that helps children learn skills that make everyday life easier and more successful.

It is the most well-funded therapy that you'll be able to access through your health insurance, for up to 30 hours a week of support!

Depending on your child's needs, ABA may help with:

Communication
Play skills
Social interaction
Emotional regulation
Daily routines
Safety skills
Independence

ABA is NOT meant to:

Stop stimming behaviors
Make autistic people look normal
Make them be quiet

At Nova Supports, we believe therapy should help children build meaningful skills while respecting who they are as individuals.

The goal is not to change who your child is.

The goal is to help them communicate, learn, and participate more fully in the world around them.

What's a BCBA?

BCBA stands for Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

This person has a Master's degree, thousands of hours of supervision, training, and experience before they even become certified.

They supervise the RBTs and train them on goals, behavior plans, and ABA procedures.

What's an RBT?

RBT stands for "Registered Behavior Technician." You may also see them referred to as a "behavior tech."

Behavior technicians are the staff members who work one-on-one with autistic people receiving ABA therapy. A BCBA will typically supervise 5-10 clients and their RBTs (depending on their caseload). Your child may have 1 RBT all the time, or a few different RBTs working with your child, depending on availability.

The BCBA will train the RBT to implement the behavior plans to reach goals and take data on the results.

Parents commonly complain of RBT turnover in all ABA companies. That's an unfortunate downside of the ABA industry, but it makes it more important for the BCBA to have a good relationship with the client, the client's family, and be aware of goals and be able to train each RBT on the behavior plan.

Why Have I Heard bad things about ABA?

Many parents hear conflicting information about ABA online.

Some autistic adults report having negative experiences with older forms of ABA that focused heavily on compliance or making autistic children appear more "normal."

Those concerns deserve to be taken seriously; we don't dispute that ABA has done harm in the past. Now, we know better ways of implementing ABA therapy to help, not hurt.

Modern ABA has evolved significantly.

Good quality ABA therapy today focuses on:

Building communication
Supporting autonomy
Teaching meaningful life skills
Following the child's interests
Creating positive relationships
Helping children advocate for themselves

Not all ABA providers are the same.

It's okay to ask questions and find a provider whose values align with your family's goals.

What is PRT?

PRT stands for Pivotal Response Treatment.

PRT is a naturalistic, play-based form of ABA.

Instead of sitting at a table completing drills, children learn through activities they already enjoy. Would you expect a neurotypical 3-year-old to be able to sit still and stay engaged for multiple hours in a row? Probably not, right? Then how can we have different expectations of our neurodivergent children?

If your child loves bubbles, trains, dinosaurs, or playgrounds, those interests become part of the learning process! Many different toys and interests can be incorporated into a game that's also a learning opportunity.

Many families find that PRT feels more natural because it follows the child's lead and incorporates learning into everyday activities.

We at Nova Supports feel this way too! Our ABA therapy is play-based, while still being structured around actual ABA. Watch out for ABA companies who let kids play all day without implementing ABA goals and procedures.

What is PDA?

You may have come across the term PDA online. In this instance, it's not referring to "public displays of affection."

PDA stands for Pathological Demand Avoidance, sometimes also called Persistent Drive for Autonomy. PDA is often described as a "profile," or a part of autism. Not every autistic person has PDA. Reports vary with how common it actually is, some reporting that 1 in 5 autistic children have PDA, while others report 1 in 25.

Children described as having a PDA profile often:

Strongly resist demands
Become anxious when they feel controlled
Need more autonomy and choice
Respond better to collaboration than direct commands

PDA is widely discussed among parents and professionals, particularly in the United Kingdom.

However, it is not currently an official diagnosis in the United States.

At Nova Supports, we recognize that some children experience demands very differently and often benefit from flexible, collaborative approaches that reduce power struggles and increase trust. We train our RBTs on PDA procedures and how to approach it.

Does my child need other therapies too?

Maybe! It totally depends on the individual's needs.

Speech therapy can help with communication and speech. Occupational therapy (OT) can help with feeding therapy or sensory needs. Physical therapy may be needed for young children in need of early intervention if they are physically delayed. School-based services may be available to you and might be able to coordinate so that everyone on your care team is on the same page. Mental health therapy can be a great tool for anyone who is communicative and needs more help.

Every child is different.

There's definitely not a checklist of services that mean you are done after you try them. Some of these services you won't need, or maybe you'll want to try all of them, or maybe you'll take a break with one and start it up again later. It toally depends on your family's abilities and child's needs.

What should I do now?

You do not need to figure out your child's entire future today. Take it one step at a time, one day at a time.

Right now, focus on three main things:

1. Learn

Give yourself time to understand autism and the different supports available. You may want to come back and reread this web page, or you may need to ask your child's pediatrician for clarification. It will take time to learn more about the new world you've stepped into.

2. Ask Questions

There are no bad questions! Ask your BCBA, pediatrician, or other professionals on your care team questions if you have them. Your care team will be happy to clarify anything you might need to know.

3. Build a Team

The good news is, you don't need to know the ins and outs of ABA or speech therapy. You don't need to have the answers when you don't know how to get your child to eat more than just chicken nuggets, or to use the toilet, or to ask for more juice. That is literally what a BCBA (or any other professional) is for! The right professionals can help guide you through each step of the journey. You are the manager of this care team. You ask for what your child needs, and your team will guide you through it.

Nova Supports would love to be a part of your care team! Contact us if you'd like to start ABA therapy!

Let's Start