Behavior Services
Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy
Hummingbird ABA Therapy provides Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy to children with autism, but can also be effective for intellectual disabilities, Downs Syndrome, or severe ADHD. ABA is an Intensive Behavioral Health Service (IBHS) known for improving communication, social skills, self-care, and overall independence through a flexible and individualized approach. Our primary area of expertise is with children ages 2-10, but we can occasionally take individuals older than 10 if they have limited communication skills or struggle with daily living tasks that have not been successful with other less intensive therapies. ABA therapy is evidence based and typically covered by insurance companies with a behavioral health diagnosis.
Hummingbird ABA provides each child with a behavioral team consisting of a variety of ABA providers, including a Masters Level ABA Supervisor (either a Behavior Consultant or Board Certified Behavior Analyst) and 1-3 Behavioral Health Technicians (BHTs) or Asst. Behavior Consultants (ABCs). Most clients receive 10-25 hours of direct ABA therapy per week in our center, their home, or their school settings, although some may have a clinical need for less or more than that.
Hummingbird ABA Therapy offers ABA Therapy in our State College center or in your home, school, or community settings, as well as via telehealth when needed. We use neurodiversity affirming practices, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Skills Based Treatment (SBT), and trauma informed care. We believe in not just teaching children appropriate skills to reduce unsafe or problematic behaviors, but also teaching self-advocacy and awareness. Your child will work with a team of trained professionals, including a Board certified behavior analyst (BCBA) or a licensed Behavior Consultant (BC-ABA), and either Assistant behavior consultants (ABC-ABA) or Behavioral Health Technicians (BHT-ABA) to implement their ABA therapy.
Group ABA Therapy
We understand the need for socializing with similar aged peers, and are happy to announce that we now offer Group ABA Therapy at our center for middle school students with autism or behavioral health diagnoses.
How to Start Services
Before getting on our waitlist, please review the following information about our services:
Your first step to receiving ABA Therapy with us is to get on our waitlist. When we are approximately 3 months away from being able to being your child's assessment, someone from our office will send you an intake packet with forms to complete and request that you send us a Written Order for ABA Services from an existing behavioral health or physical health provider that your child has seen within the last 6 months recommending ABA Therapy. We also will require a copy of the most recent diagnostic report. Once we receive all required documentation, we will assign your child to an ABA Supervisor and they will reach out to schedule the 3-4 week long assessment, which includes at least 3 observations of the child in various settings and situations.
Your child's ABA Supervisor will utilize an evidence-based ABA assessment as part of our IBHS Assessment process to determine current skills/abilities and needs, including the Verbal Behavior Milestones and Placement Program (VB-MAPP), the Assessment of Functional Living Skills (AFLS), PEAK, and the Essential for Living (EFL). In addition, we will conduct a functional behavior analysis (FBA) to determine the causes of problematic behaviors and develop a behavior intervention plan that fits your needs, while building upon or teaching more appropriate behaviors.
The assessment will determine if your child meets the medical necessity for ABA therapy, and give the ABA Supervisor a starting point for what skills and goals would be beneficial to target. They will meet with you to review the assessment and treatment recommendations, and if everyone is in agreement to the intensity of hours, service provider types, and location of services, will match your child with BHTs that match the needs of your child. ABA services typically start within 15 days following the completion of the ABA Assessment, but in some cases, your child may only receive ABA Supervisor's services (BC-ABA or BCBA) until a BHT is available.
You are a critical part of your child's development and and should schedule to meet with your ABA Supervisor to review progress and provide you with tools to support your child's skill development at home as well. This is especially important if your child is receiving their services outside of the home.
Insurance Coverage
Hummingbird ABA Therapy currently accepts Aetna, Geisinger, Capital Blue Cross, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, UPMC, Cigna, United Healthcare/Optum, and Magellan, as well as PA Medical Assistance (CCBH). We are a licensed IBHS provider for Centre, Huntington, Mifflin, and Juniata counties in PA.
It is important to note that if your child does not have an autism diagnosis, commercial insurance will not typically cover ABA services, but it will be covered by Medical Assistance. If your child does not currently have Medical Assistance (which they should qualify for if they have a diagnosis that qualifies them for ABA Therapy), it is recommended that you apply online at the Compass Website in order to ensure coverage for services.
If you have a question about payments/billing, please reach out to info@hummingbirdaba.com.
After reviewing the above information, if you would like to put your child on our waitlist, you can complete the ABA Waitlist Request Form
