When it comes to your child’s ABA therapy, you’re not just along for the ride, you’re part of the team. At Inner Circle Autism Network, we believe that no one knows your child better than you. That’s why we involve parents and caregivers at every step: from assessment and goal setting to feedback and celebrating progress. In fact, on our most recent caregiver satisfaction survey, 94 percent of respondents most strongly agreed with the statement “I was involved in the creation of treatment goals for my child.”
Research shows that caregiver involvement in ABA therapy directly improves outcomes. According to the National Autism Center’s National Standards Report, caregiver participation helps generalize skills across settings and increases the likelihood that gains made in therapy stick in everyday life. Translation? When we work together, therapy works better.
You’re the Expert on Your Child
You know what motivates your child, what frustrates them, and what success looks like at home. Maybe it’s helping them stay seated at dinner, get dressed independently, or navigate a trip to the grocery store without conflict. We want to hear those priorities because those are the goals that matter.
During the intake process at Inner Circle Autism Network, our BCBAs ask about your child’s strengths, challenges, and routines. We listen to what you want to work on, not just what’s on a standard checklist. That collaboration is the foundation of an effective therapy plan.
Goal Setting That Reflects Real Life
Let’s say your child has a hard time with transitions. Instead of setting a generic goal like “follow 3-step directions,” we might target “transition calmly from preferred to non-preferred activities at home and clinic.” If your child uses an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device, we may not focus on vocal speech, we’ll build goals around functional communication using the tools they already have.
These goals are not created in a vacuum. We ask questions like:
- What’s going well at home?
- What’s a behavior or skill you want to improve?
- What skills do you want your child to gain in the next 3–6 months?
“Our goal is not just to fill in an assessment tool. Our goal is to truly make an impact on a family’s life, to lessen stress and to increase the skills that our children have. We do that through parent interviews and with individualized child assessments. We ask caregivers key questions related to areas of quality of life for the child and for the family unit as a whole.” Chief Clinical Officer Sarah Varillas, BCBA.
Then we check in often, not once a quarter, but continuously. You’re always in the loop.
Consistent Feedback and Progress Tracking
You deserve more than a printed progress note. Our teams provide regular updates and sit down with you to explain what’s happening, what’s working, and what’s next. When a strategy doesn’t seem to be helping, we adjust it with your input.
We also offer caregiver training and support. This might include modeling how to prompt communication, helping with behavior strategies at home, or creating a visual schedule that works in your daily routine. Because therapy doesn’t stop at the clinic door.
A Partnership That Builds Confidence
When families are engaged, therapy is more consistent, more effective, and more empowering. You get to see the progress firsthand. And your child benefits from having a team that’s truly aligned.
“We have a monthly check-in with the BCBAs. It’s really nice to be able to communicate with them and see how things are going with therapy and talk about how things are going at home and at school and how we can all collaborate. And, we see the RBTs on a daily basis who tell us how our child’s day went and what he’s working on. The RBTs and the BCBAs have given our family so much support.” Courtney Burns, Inner Circle Autism Network parent.
“It’s not just about what we do in session,” said Regional Treatment Director Alyssa Hollingsworth, BCBA. “It’s about what we build together with families. That’s where strong family connections and growth thrive, when everyone’s working together toward the same, collaborative goals.”
At Inner Circle, you’re not just part of the process. You are the process. We make sure every plan reflects your child’s needs and your family’s values, and we stay in close communication every step of the way.