The diagnosis report is sitting on your kitchen counter. Your pediatrician said the words ABA therapy and handed you a list of providers. Here is exactly what happens between that moment and your child's first real session, step by step.
Prefer this as a PDF? Download the full 90-day roadmap to print or share with your spouse, grandparents, or pediatrician.
You need nothing in hand to reach out. The intake team walks you through every requirement, checks what your plan actually needs, and does the insurance legwork for you. Reaching out today with zero paperwork is a completely normal way to start.
What we will eventually ask for
The diagnosis report. The full written evaluation from the developmental pediatrician, neurologist, or psychologist. If you do not have a copy, the office that did the evaluation can send it.
Your insurance card. Front and back. The member ID and the customer service number on the back are what get used.
A referral, if your plan requires one. Some plans want a referral from the pediatrician on file. We check this for you during intake.
Not sure ABA is the right fit, or whether your insurance covers it? You can check both right here before you ever pick up the phone.
Phase 2: The Intake Call and Insurance Verification
The intake call usually takes 15 to 20 minutes. You will talk with a real person on our team, not a phone tree. Here is what gets covered:
Your child's age, diagnosis, and the concerns that brought you here
Your insurance details, so we can verify benefits directly with your insurer
Your schedule and location, so we can plan for in-home sessions that actually work for your family
After the call, we contact your insurance company to verify coverage and start the authorization process. This step is on us, not you. Verification typically takes one to two weeks depending on the insurer.
Hearing terms like prior authorization or single case agreement for the first time? Our insurance terminology guide explains what each one means in plain language. And if cost is a concern, start with our financial aid resources.
Days 10 to 21
Phase 3: The Initial Assessment
This is the step parents are most nervous about, and the one that surprises them most. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst comes to your home. There is no test your child can fail.
What the BCBA actually does
Observes your child in their own space. How they play, communicate, and respond to everyday moments. Home is where the real information is.
Interviews you. You are the expert on your child. Expect questions about daily routines, what a hard day looks like, and what you most want to change.
Runs skill probes. Short, play-based activities that help map where your child is with communication, daily living skills, and social interaction.
What you do not need to worry about
Your house does not need to be clean. Nobody is evaluating you.
A meltdown during the assessment is not a problem. It is useful information that helps the BCBA understand what your child is communicating.
You do not need to prep your child or rehearse anything. The BCBA wants to see a normal day.
Days 21 to 35
Phase 4: The Treatment Plan and Authorization
After the assessment, the BCBA writes a treatment plan: specific, measurable goals built around your family's priorities, and a recommendation for how many weekly hours of therapy will support them. The plan goes to your insurance company for authorization.
Why does my child need that many hours?
Hour recommendations come from the assessment, not a standard package. They reflect your child's age, current skills, and goals. Your BCBA walks you through exactly why each recommendation was made, and nothing starts without your agreement.
Can I see the treatment plan?
Yes. It is your child's plan and you review it before anything is submitted. If a goal does not match your priorities, this is exactly when to say so.
What if insurance approves fewer hours than recommended?
It happens. Your BCBA can adjust the plan to make the approved hours count, and in many cases can appeal or resubmit with additional documentation. You are not navigating that alone.
How long does authorization take?
It varies by insurer, typically one to three weeks. We follow up with the insurance company so you do not have to sit on hold.
Days 35 to 90
Phase 5: First Sessions and Your Role
Here is the surprise about session one: it looks like play. Parents often expect flashcards and table work. What actually happens first is called pairing. Your child's therapist spends the early sessions becoming the most fun person in the room, building trust and rapport, because a child who wants to be with their therapist is a child who is ready to learn.
What the first weeks look like
Weeks 1 to 2: Pairing and rapport. Sessions are built around your child's favorite things.
Weeks 3 and beyond: Goals from the treatment plan get woven into play and daily routines: mealtimes, getting dressed, transitions. By day 90 your child is deep into their program with weeks of momentum behind them.
Your role as a parent
You are part of the team, not an observer. Expect parent training sessions where the BCBA shows you the same strategies the therapist uses, so progress carries into the hours when we are not there. The parents who see the most change are the ones who ask questions, and we want the questions.
Ready to start day one?
Families in New Jersey, Georgia, and North Carolina can begin with a free consultation. We will walk you through every phase in this guide, starting with your insurance.
