Is ABA always about rigid protocols and compliance? What if we could redefine ABA to prioritize individual autonomy, naturalistic learning, and genuine progress? The good news is, we can. This is the conversation surrounding progressive ABA, and it’s time we explored it. BCBA’s can now execute therapies according to each child as they respond positively to this new approach of progressive ABA. Try and imagine children with autism playing with the toys they love most to address developmental disabilities. This is what progressive ABA is all about, your child gets to choose the activities that will motivate them to help increase desired behaviors and decrease challenging behaviors. 

Traditional ABA vs Progressive ABA

To understand the difference between traditional ABA and progressive ABA therapy it’s important to define “ABA therapy”. Imagine your child’s learning journey as a backyard garden. There, you and your child will plant flowers and vegetables that will eventually sprout and grow. Your child will cherish these moments as they see their hard work come to fruition. But sometimes, certain weeds (unwanted behaviors) pop up, and some flowers (desired skills) struggle to grow. The ABA therapist is like a gardener who uses specific tools and techniques to help your child’s garden flourish. Sometimes the simple weeding can be done by yourself while for more difficult garden impediments you might need to hire a professional. BCBA’s are the professionals who assist parents of autistic children to not only root out negative behaviours but to build up positive skills for their childhood development.

Traditional ABA Therapy: Parents can understand traditional ABA therapy as a very structured classroom. The teacher will prepare a curriculum that will make the subject matter comprehensive for the child to understand. The instructor will make use of textbook base material to teach with the hope that the child will be able to execute what they have learned on a test. The process is repeated until the student becomes proficient in the classroom subject.

The same will apply to an autistic child who is receiving traditional ABA therapy. When teaching colors the BCBA will present two flash cards one with the color “red” and the other with the color “blue”. The therapist will ask the child “please touch the color red”. The expectation will be for the child to execute the process to touch the correct color. For unchallenged children the exercise sounds quite simple but for a child with autism there are multiple behavioural components that can make this a tantamount task. 

There are children that even in a regular classroom setting will require “individualized attention” to help nurture their development. Some children grasp concepts quickly, while others need more time. Individualized attention allows teachers to adjust the pace of instruction to meet each child’s needs. When teaching a child with autism the mechanism of “how to teach” may need to be personalized just for them. Traditional ABA therapy follows a textbook approach that does not work for all autistic children.

Progressive ABA Therapy: For today’s kids, parents and therapists need to execute an educational strategy that will motivate children to perform tasks on their own. We live in a world that provides “instant satisfaction” and children are suffering from it. Think about how much greater the challenge is for children with disabilities. The natural instinct of a parent will be to try to alleviate their discomforts as much as possible. But for an autistic child to advance in ABA therapy it will require hard work on his or her behalf. Who would want a child that is already physically and mentally challenged to struggle? The ideal approach would be to allow them to partake in our society of “instant satisfaction” and pass their day with an array of video games and streaming services. Unfortunately, we are making it more difficult for our children as they don’t know what it means to struggle and succeed. It’s not that they don’t want to succeed, it’s that they have no idea that it includes hard work and perseverance.

This challenge plays itself out in ABA therapy for autistic children. Yes, it will require lots of work on a child’s part that has developmental delays but BCBAs need a strategic approach to motivating today’s kids and that is where progressive ABA therapy can help. Instead of using flashcards to learn colors let the kid play with his shiny blue police car and use it as a prop for color learning. For problem solving, take the child to an ice cream parlor and let them partake in the ordering and gathering all the items they need to enjoy an ice cream. What flavor do they want? Do you want it in a cone or bowl? Where should we sit? Is the table clean? Do I need a spoon? Perhaps we need some napkins in case we get dirty. All these are scenarios where progressive ABA therapy can be implemented because the child is self motivated to execute tasks on their own.

Parent’s Collaboration & Love Builds A Child’s Shining Future

Life is busy and not always do parents have the patience to partake in the ABA therapy for their autistic child. For single parents, they have to already deal with the daily responsibilities of having a job, taking care of children, and keeping the house together all alone. Families that are lucky to have both parents are often flanked with economic burdens and have barely any time to spare. So it’s understood that parents want the therapist to take care of advancing the child through their behavioral and developmental challenges. But with progressive ABA therapy the parents are very much involved even after the therapy session is done.

Parents are critical in identifying their child’s needs and priorities. Therapists work collaboratively with parents to set realistic and meaningful therapy goals. This ensures that therapy targets skills that are relevant to the child’s daily life and family priorities. Parents can share what their child likes most and this can be implemented at the next therapy session. Therapists can share the small wins that the child had made and parents can celebrate later that day. In progressive ABA therapy parents reinforce learning and promote long-term success. BCBAs will look to the parent as the “child expert” and gain vital insight to motivate this child in activities to improve development and behaviour. The partnership between parents and therapists ensures consistent support and maximum progress for the child.  

Parents Being Present During ABA Therapy Sessions

One should not be ashamed to ask a therapist to take part in their child’s ABA therapy session whether it’s in an office or at home. Besides the physical safety aspect of looking after your child today’s educational system is often riddled with ideas that are not relevant to a child. Shannon Penrod who is the host of the YouTube Channel Autism Live shared a story that happened with her autistic son, Jem. During the sessions the therapist was working on basic gender identification and asked “Is dad a boy or girl?” The child answered “Dad is a man”. The therapist responded “No Dad is a boy”. Now Mrs. Penrod happened to hear the back and forth between her son and the therapist and piped in and said “Jem is correct, Dad is a man!”. 

Parents need to be involved to oversee that there is progress with the ABA therapy that is being taught. Sometimes there is a disconnect between the therapist and the child and a mother or father can pick that up. Don’t be afraid to question the therapist, they are there to serve you and your child. Not seeing any improvement in a child’s behaviour should be shared with the therapist. Very often there is someone that oversees the therapist and you can request a meeting with them. Parents need to feel a sense of comfort with the ABA therapist for their autistic child. Just as you seek out the best pediatrician for your child so too when looking for an at home ABA therapist. 

Final Words

Progressive ABA therapy’s crux lies in shifting from rigid, rote instruction to a dynamic, client-centered approach. It prioritizes functional skills, not just isolated behaviors, ensuring learned skills translate to real-world contexts. Central to progressive ABA is a focus on quality of life. Therapists emphasize happiness, social connection, and meaningful engagement, moving beyond mere behavior reduction. Individualized plans, driven by client preferences, replace one-size-fits-all protocols. Collaboration with families is paramount, empowering them as active partners.

Progressive ABA therapy departs from traditional models by prioritizing client autonomy, naturalistic learning, and functional skill development. Instead of rigid drills in clinical settings, it emphasizes real-world application and client preferences. Family collaboration is paramount, and positive reinforcement replaces aversive methods. The focus shifts from mere behavior change to enhancing overall quality of life, empowering autistic individuals to thrive in their daily environments. Whatever approach in ABA therapy your child gets, it should include lots of love and positivity. This will breed only good and will be vital towards progression in both behavior and your child’s development.