Autism therapy is not like a medical emergency that gets fast attention. Parents must journey through a series of nine milestones to start their child in ABA therapy. It is important for parents to understand this process because it determines how quickly their child gets help, and how effective that help can be.
Milestone #1: Accepting the Signs of Autism and Seeking Help … Do Not Wait
Most parents suspect their child may have autism when they notice behaviors and developmental signs unlike other children their age – things like delayed language, avoiding eye contact, and not responding to their name. Other common examples include heightened sensitivity to sounds. textures, and light. For more information, read our blog: Common Autism Behavior Issues in Children.
Of course, all children develop differently, and parents are often hopeful that such behaviors or developmental delays will be resolved on their own. Early signs of autism can also be subtle. As a result, a lot of time can pass before seeking professional assessment and diagnosis. It is in your child’s best interest to consult with a pediatrician or specialist as early as possible. Extensive studies show that a child’s brain is most adaptable to learning new skills before age 5, with the most active period of synaptic connection creation occurring from 18 to 36 months. If it does end up being recommended, getting a fast start on the road to early intervention ABA therapy is critical.
Milestone #2: Getting an Autism Diagnosis
Many parents come to Wellspring seeking ABA therapy for their child prior to receiving an autism diagnosis. However, insurance (including TennCare) requires a diagnosis before reviewing a proposal for ABA therapy services with a provider like Wellspring. This required step can be frustrating for parents who know their child needs help and are seeking a solution as soon as possible.
Wellspring does not diagnose children with autism. Instead, diagnosticians like developmental pediatricians, licensed psychologists, child psychiatrists, and child neurologists typically conduct these comprehensive evaluations that lead to an autism diagnosis. Importantly, there is an overall shortage of these specialists which often leads to long waiting lists for appointments. In addition, the evaluation process can be quite complex with in-depth behavioral observations, interviews of family members, standardized testing, and medical history reviews. This process usually takes place across multiple appointments.
Milestone #3: Choosing the Right ABA Therapy Provider
Taking time to research and evaluate different ABA therapy providers is especially important to make sure their approach and professionals fit your child’s goals and your family’s priorities. There are many early intervention ABA therapy providers in the Nashville area, and there are many differences across facilities, equipment, professionals, and therapeutic approach.
Ideally, your diagnostician will refer you to an ABA provider that they trust and is a good fit for your child’s specific needs. Even then, we recommend that parents take the initiative to evaluate the referred provider and any others under consideration across the following six key categories:
- Therapy Offering
- Program Structure and Integrity
- Therapist Qualifications
- Family Involvement
- Progress Monitoring
- Program Philosophy
There is one more area that parents should pay close attention to when choosing their preferred provider. As you read further, you will better understand the challenges of the admissions and insurance authorization process. At Wellspring, we have a team of experienced professionals on staff dedicated to helping parents navigate the admissions process – including insurance company authorizations and credentialing. In addition, our team is fluent in Spanish.
Once you have narrowed to your preferred ABA therapy providers, make an appointment for a free consultation and tour of the provider’s facility. Your goal is to gain an understanding of what your child will be doing every day when they are there. Be sure to explore the center’s layout, daily activity schedule, room usage, and therapy approach in action. At Wellspring, we are proud and committed to our model, often referred to as “Today’s ABA”. Our Child-Led, Play-Based approach provides effective therapy in a setting where children feel happy, relaxed, and fully engaged.
Milestone #4: Providing Required Documents to Start the ABA Therapy Approval Process
This is an area that can speed up or significantly slow down the admissions and insurance approval process. In our experience, parents that understand and provide the required information early tend to move through the process much more quickly. Key information includes:
- Autism Diagnostic Report
- ABA Referral or Order
- Insurance Card and Member Information
- ABA Registration Forms
- A Photo ID
- Guardianship or Custody Documents, if applicable
- Previous Evaluations or Therapy Records, if applicable
Depending on your insurance plan, there may still be benefit verification, document collection, clinical assessments, and authorization reviews before services can begin. Every insurance company has slightly different requirements.
Milestone #5: Participating in Initial Clinical Team Assessment
Once you have chosen an ABA therapy provider, its clinical team will collaborate with you to gain a deeper understanding of your child’s strengths and challenges. This is usually a 2–4-hour session at your ABA therapy center with parents/caregivers and the child. It includes a 1:1 session led by a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with your child.
During this time, the BCBA will assess your child using structured play or tasks to evaluate current capabilities using accepted ABA frameworks. The goal is to identify skill deficits and better understand challenging behaviors. The clinical team will also work with parents to ensure their therapy goals address the main problems and growth opportunities experienced in the home, at social settings, and during their daily routine.
Milestone #6: Working with Your Child’s BCBA to Create a Learning Plan
The BCBA will use data and observations collected during the initial assessment to create a learning plan tailored specifically to your child. Think of it as a roadmap to achieve the goals identified for your child. These will likely include short and long-term goals, such as readiness to attend school full-time. Even once therapy begins, periodic meetings will take place for deeper understanding and to ensure ongoing goal alignment between the ABA team and parents.
The learning plan will likely include specific measurable objectives that target areas like motor skills, social skills, self-care, communication, behavior management, and academic readiness. Once complete, your ABA therapy provider will submit the plan to your insurance provider.
Milestone #7: Waiting for Your Insurance to Review and Approve the Learning Plan
Once your child’s tailored learning plan has been submitted, your insurance provider will require time to process and review the learning plan documentation to determine if they are going to approve or deny ABA therapy services. They will notify your ABA provider of their decision. Read our blog: Is ABA Therapy Covered by Insurance Providers in Tennessee?
Progress through the Learning Plan Development and Insurance Approval stages typically takes a total of 4 weeks. During that time, your ABA provider will monitor progress and engage regularly with the insurance provider to keep the process moving. They should also reach out to parents every 2 weeks to provide a progress update.
Milestone #8: Scheduling Your Child’s Start Date
Once your insurance provider approves services, your ABA provider will assign a therapy team and schedule a start date for services. Your provider will reach out to make sure that start date works for your family. It is important for parents to understand that there is a nationwide shortage of qualified ABA professionals, which has resulted in waiting lists of a month or more for nearly all early intervention ABA providers.
Your ABA provider should keep you updated on any issues that may affect your child’s targeted start date.
Milestone #9: Getting Ready for Your Child’s First Day
As your child’s start date approaches, your provider should send you a confirmation email with a list of items to bring on your first day. Read our blog: Preparing Your Child for Their First Day at an ABA Therapy Center.
The first week of therapy is very child-led, allowing exploration with less structure and routine to develop trust and comfort. During this time, expect a high level of communication with your provider. It is essential for parents to understand their child’s learning plan and engage with the clinical team to create a successful, positive start. Make it a priority to respond to phone calls and emails from your provider promptly.
Finally, seek to learn how to extend ABA teachings to your home. Take advantage of the progress meetings you will have with your BCBA and the clinical team as well as the parent training offered. For parents who want to have a deeper understanding of autism and ABA therapy teachings, there are a wide range of educational and training resources available in Nashville.
ABA at Wellspring Learning Centers
At Wellspring Learning Centers, we believe in the power of individualized care to help every child with autism thrive. Our Nashville-based ABA therapy center provides compassionate, structured support through personalized pediatric ABA therapy. Each ABA session is thoughtfully designed to meet your child’s unique needs, whether they are building new communication skills, developing independence, or strengthening social connections.
We partner closely with families, offering not just therapy but also the tools, education, and support needed to foster long-term growth beyond the clinic. Contact us today by filling out our online form or giving us a call at 615-236-6399 to learn how our ABA therapy services in Nashville can support your child’s progress and help them reach their full potential.