Can ABA Therapy Replace School?

Autism can be diagnosed in children as young as 18 months old. Children who receive such a diagnosis at that young of an age will typically start to receive treatment to help them overcome the challenges they face since they aren’t developing on a typical timescale.

This is a good thing when it comes to treatments such as applied behavioral analysis, also known as ABA therapy, because studies have shown that the earlier treatment begins, the more effective it can be.

Since ABA therapy can be very time-intensive, though, it may end up replacing typical school experiences for children who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). For instance, they may not go to preschool because so much time is taken up by the ABA therapy.

This often begs the question can ABA therapy replace school? The quick answer to that question is no, but there’s a more in-depth explanation for why, and how school and ABA therapy need to work hand-in-hand.

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What Does ABA Therapy Do?

ABA therapy is based on scientific approaches to learning and behaviors. It’s rooted in proven methods of teaching certain skills through a simplified, step-by-step approach and a rewards system for exhibiting desired behaviors.

Using the essential principles of the treatment, ABA therapists will help teach children with ASD the skills that they need to succeed in life. This includes improving their social and communication skills as well as developing essential life skills such as brushing their teeth.

ABA therapists will use positive reinforcement as a way to encourage their patients to display the behaviors that they want them to. For example, if the child picks up their toothbrush when shown a picture of a toothbrush, they may give them praise or extra time with a toy they love.

Through repetition and consistency, ABA therapy helps children with autism build these necessary skills so they can be successful outside of their home.

What Does School Do?

There is a lot that school does that ABA therapy simply isn’t designed to do.

When many parents think of school, they think of the educational topics and skills that students are taught, such as math, reading, writing, social studies, history, science and more.

But, early schooling also plays an integral role in helping children learn how to do more simple things, such as communicate, follow directions, stay safe from certain dangers, share and more.

School may look a little different for children with ASD compared to those who don’t have developmental disabilities. Depending on the level of support the child requires, they will likely have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) that will help outline specific accommodations that they will be provided in the classroom, including sensory breaks and visual aids.

Some children may require extra support staff such as special education teachers or paraprofessionals. Some may be in regular classrooms and be pulled out at times to get certain special services, while others may need to be in a special education environment full-time.

No matter what it looks like for a child with ASD, though, school plays a vital role in their development and a separate one from ABA therapy.

How ABA Therapy and School Work Together

ABA therapy and school are best viewed as complementary to each other, rather than separate services that can be chosen one over the other.

ABA therapy provides children with ASD the support they need to develop the social, daily living and communication skills they’ll need to do well in a classroom setting. But, it doesn’t provide the comprehensive curriculum schooling does to teach academic subjects.

In addition, school provides children with ASD a great opportunity to advance their social skills even further. It’s one thing to interact with an ABA therapist one-on-one during sessions — and familiar people in their home — and it’s another altogether to interact with other children their age in a neutral environment like school.

In this way, school plays an important role in helping children with ASD overcome some of the challenges they face in these social situations, such as increased anxiety, from a young age.

Likewise, once children reach school-age, it doesn’t mean they’re always ready to stop ABA therapy altogether. The individualized treatment that ABA therapy provides often can’t be replicated in the classroom. Plus, the skills that ABA therapist will continue to teach their patients can supplement what they’re learning in the classroom.

Trust Blue Gems ABA to Teach Your Children Skills

School and ABA therapy should not be viewed as replacements for each other. Instead, they should be viewed as complementary services that both help children with ASD gain the skills they need to succeed in life.

At Blue Gems ABA, we have a team of experienced and licensed BCBAs who work with children with ASD all the time, helping them build social, communication and life skills that can be reinforced in classroom settings.

For more information, please contact us today.