What Can ABA Help Your Child Learn?
ABA uses the science of learning and behaviour to understand how children learn and identify strategies that help them develop meaningful skills. At Portia, ABA may support areas such as communication, play, social interaction, independence, daily living skills, learning readiness, flexibility and participation in everyday routines.
ABA therapy uses the science of learning and behaviour to help children develop new skills and reduce challenging behaviours. By breaking skills into small, manageable steps and using positive reinforcement, we can help children learn effectively and maintain these skills over time.
Children learn best when they are engaged, motivated and connected to the people around them. We incorporate children’s interests, play and everyday routines into teaching while also using structured learning opportunities when appropriate. The result is individualized ABA that can look like play while intentionally building meaningful skills.
Research has consistently shown that ABA therapy is effective for teaching new skills and reducing challenging behaviours. Our approach is based on decades of research and clinical experience, ensuring that your child receives the most effective intervention possible.
Our ABA Program Options
Every child has different strengths, needs, and goals. Our ABA programs offer different levels of support, from focused intervention in a specific area to more comprehensive programming across multiple areas of development.
Your child’s clinical team will work with you to determine the type and intensity of support that fits their individual needs, your family’s priorities, and the goals that are most meaningful in everyday life.
Teaching takes place through a combination of play, natural learning opportunities, everyday routines, and structured activities when appropriate. Programs typically begin with individualized 1:1 support, with opportunities for peer and small-group learning introduced based on each child’s goals and readiness.
Because the program is focused on specific priorities, goals can be individualized around the areas that are most important to the child and family.
Small-group programming can also provide opportunities for children to practice skills they have learned individually in a more natural social environment.
Not Sure Which Program Is Right for Your Child?
You don’t need to know what type of ABA program your child needs before contacting us. Our team will learn about your child’s strengths, needs, and your family’s priorities and help you explore the level of support that may be appropriate.
What ABA Looks Like at Portia
No two children and no two ABA sessions look exactly the same. Each session is guided by your child’s individualized goals while incorporating their interests, motivation, and everyday learning opportunities.
Depending on your child’s program, a session may include:
- Learning Through Play and Interests
We use your child’s interests and preferred ABA printable materials and activities to create engaging opportunities for learning. Play, movement, games, books, creative activities, and everyday interactions can all become meaningful opportunities to build new skills. - Practicing Skills in Everyday Routines
Learning is embedded into natural activities such as snack time, getting dressed, cleaning up, transitioning between activities, asking for help, or making choices. This helps children develop skills they can use beyond the therapy setting. - Individualized Teaching
Some skills benefit from more focused or structured teaching. Your child’s therapist adapts how skills are taught based on their learning needs, progress, and individualized program. - Opportunities to Learn With Others
When appropriate, children may have opportunities to interact, play, and learn alongside peers. These experiences can support communication, participation in group activities, turn-taking, flexibility, and other individualized social goals. - Encouragement, Motivation & Choice
Positive reinforcement is an important part of ABA, but it can look different for every child. We use meaningful encouragement, access to preferred activities, choice, and naturally occurring reinforcement to help children stay engaged and motivated to learn. - Keeping Families Connected
Families are important members of the clinical team. We share updates about your child’s progress and can provide practical strategies to help support skills across home, school, and everyday routines.
Throughout every session, your child’s therapist collects information about their progress so the clinical team can continually evaluate what is working, adjust teaching strategies, and ensure goals continue to be meaningful and appropriate.
How We Measure Progress
ABA is a data-informed approach, which means we don’t rely on impressions alone to determine whether a program is helping. Your child’s team regularly measures progress toward individualized goals and uses that information to guide clinical decisions.
Through Portia ABA Clinic Software, our therapists and clinical team can collect data during sessions, review progress over time, identify when teaching strategies may need to change, and recognize when your child is ready for new goals.
Families receive regular updates and access to progress information, helping you understand not only what your child is working on, but how their skills are developing over time.
Most importantly, we look beyond progress within the therapy room. We want to know whether skills are becoming meaningful and useful in your child’s everyday life across people, routines, and environments.
Your Child’s Clinical Team
Your child’s ABA program is developed and overseen by a Registered Behaviour Analyst (RBA), who is responsible for assessment, treatment planning, clinical decision-making, and ongoing review of progress.
ABA therapists work directly with your child to implement their individualized program under ongoing clinical direction and supervision. Your team works together regularly to review progress, refine teaching strategies, and ensure programming continues to reflect your child’s needs and goals.
Families are also an important part of the team. We value your knowledge of your child and work collaboratively with you to help skills carry over into everyday routines, relationships, and environments.
Goals That Matter in Everyday Life
ABA goals should be meaningful beyond the therapy room. Depending on your child’s individual needs, priorities may include building communication, independence, participation, relationships, and skills that make everyday routines easier and more successful.
Getting Started
Starting your child’s ABA program is a straightforward process:
Collaboration Beyond Portia
Children are often supported by more than one professional. With family consent, our Registered Behaviour Analysts can collaborate with your child’s educators, Speech-Language Pathologist, Occupational Therapist, psychologist, physician, or other professionals to support consistency across settings and help skills generalize into everyday life.
Take the First Step
Ready to explore what’s right for your child?
Together, let’s take the first step toward meaningful progress.
