Our Process: What to Expect with Milestones DFW

Before deciding to become a client, you'll probably want to get a feel for what to expect when we are working for your family. Here is a step-by-step guide on what to expect at Milestones DFW:

Family Meeting

First, your family will meet with one of our Board-Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA®) who is trained to:

• assess patients,
• identify behaviors for increase, decrease, or improvement, and
• create treatment plans that are uniquely focused on your child's needs,
• rigorously assess data to ensure progress towards targeted goals for your child.

During the meeting, the BCBA will make notes about skill or behavior challenges that your child and family enounters in your daily lives. Additionally, the BCBA will make notes about any other questions or concerns that you have about your child's development, since your experiences as a parent or guardian are very important to us.

Child Assessment

Next our BCBA will conduct a thorough behavior assessment of your child by observing and working with him or her across multiple skill sets and conditions. The BCBA works to assess your child's skills and behaviors relative to their same-age peers.

Some of the items that the BCBA will observe can include things like:

• Communication skills
  • What is your child's level of vocal communication?
  • How well does your child do with expressing preferences or making specific requests?
  • Can your child effectively express his or her wants, needs, and ideas?
• Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
  • Is your child able to dress themselves?
  • Can your child feed themselves?
  • How skilled is your child at hygiene-related tasks, such as brushing teeth and washing hands?
  • Are there any concerns related to toilet training?
• Social Skills
  • How well can your child communicate and play with other children?
  • Does your child have the skills to create and maintain meaningful relationships in the various environements of their life, such as school, play, home, social groups, and social activities?
• Independence
  • Can your child exercise reasonable amounts of independence during play or socialization without constant supervision?
• Safety Skills
  • Knowledge about safety signals such as stop signs and train tracks,
  • "Stranger Danger" - Knowing the differences between strangers and friends, family, or guardians
  • Understanding that he or she shouldn't run away from parents, guardians, or teachers,
  • General risk-aversion, i.e., not placing themselves in situations that may put them in harm's way,

ABA Therapy Sessions

Once the BCBA has developed a plan for your child's development, a registered behavior technician (RBT) will begin one-to-one therapy sessions with your child under the direct supervision of your assigned BCBA. The technician works with your child to develop his or her skills and behaviors through play and engaging therapy methods that develop skills. During the therapy session, the RBT will continually collect data that is used to scientifically and objectively measure skill improvements, changes in behaviors, or new challenges that arise and need to be addressed.

In addition to the one-to-one therapy sessions, your assigned BCBA will also schedule times during the week to supervise the treatment provided by the RBT and provide in-depth training to you and your family members. This is also a great time for you to ask any questions and give any feedback to your assigned BCBA.

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