FAQ
If you think your child has autism, we recommend that you view our resource center where you can find symptoms and relevant statistics regarding autism. You will also find local and national resources that may be able to provide you with more answers. There is also a list of recommended professionals that can provide you with testing and diagnoses. Select BHA does not provide diagnostic services.
Symptoms are often either lack of verbal communication or a regression, atypical behaviors such as extreme temper tantrums, self-injurious behaviors, PICA (eating things which are not edible), lack of social interaction, lack of eye contact, picky eating. Please contact us if you believe your child should see a neurologist and we will gladly refer neurologists we trust.
A diagnosis for autism should be completed by a licensed neurologist or psychologist. At times, pediatricians and child psychiatrists can also perform diagnoses. A list of recommended professionals is available in our resource center; you can also speak with your child’s pediatrician for more information.
We are currently accepting clients in the Tampa, Brandon, Riverview, Ruskin, Valrico, Dover and Southern Westley Chapel areas.
Our programs are created based on the client’s individual characteristics and behaviors. Therefore, we treat a wide range of ages- anywhere from first diagnosis (around 3 years old) to teens.
There is currently no cure for autism. Research has concluded, however, that intensive ABA therapy programs (like ours!) can greatly reduce the maladaptive behaviors associated with autism and increase the individual’s quality of life significantly. Every child is different, and we are committed to taking each child to their highest potential. You can Google “Celebrities with autism” and you would be amazed at what is possible!
Our Board Certified Behavior Analysts all obtain Master’s degrees in a related field, have completed 2500 hours of supervised therapy by another BCBA, and passed a Board exam. Our day to day one on one therapists all obtain at least a Bachelor’s degree, have their Registered Behavior Technician credential, and are constantly supervised to obtain their supervision hours to become certified.
We accept personal checks, credit cards, group insurance and private insurance, and Step Up for Students Family Empowerment Scholarship. We are not a Medicaid provider (Florida Kid Care, Simply Health, and many other names that Medicaid goes by).
Although your BCBA and Therapist may communicate with you in Spanish, this is solely for your comfort. Therapy sessions will be performed in English because this is the primary language spoken in schools and the United States.
We will provide most of the materials for therapy, but we may have some suggestions for great birthday presents! If your specific case requires some sort of material that is unique, we may ask you to purchase it. We do request, however, that materials used during therapy remain in a specified container and are used only during therapy. We may also occasionally use household items from around your home.
We will ask you to submit an intake packet. Additionally, we will follow your insurance guidelines to commence services. Once these documents are obtained, we will schedule a meeting to begin conducting your child’s ABA assessment.