Articles and Help

Delve into our ever-growing entries into parent resources. Articles related to the nature of ABA, help in advocacy, insurance changes and issues, and many other items are found below. Read all you want, then pop over to the contact us link and ask a question. We love to educate our families!

  • Resources For Parents of a Child in Occupational Therapy

    Your child’s occupational therapist will be the biggest advocate on your child’s team. Use them as a resource! However, I wanted to offer resources here as well. These are great places to start when it comes to discovering tools, strategies, and specific activities that can help your child. I’ve had many parents of kids receiving Read More…

  • Occupational Therapy Tips for Homework Success

    Homework. The term often instills dread among students. Back-to-school time is a good opportunity to review work and study habits that promote academic success. Occupational therapy practitioners are a valuable resource in schools to support students, teachers, and parents as classroom routines and demands are established. The goal is for students to be as independent Read More…

  • Medicaid and OT

    Occupational, Physical, and Respiratory Therapy and Speech Pathology Services The Indiana Health Coverage Program (IHCP) requires Prior Authorization (PA) for all occupational therapy, physical therapy, respiratory therapy, and speech pathology services, with the following exceptions: Initial evaluations Emergency respiratory therapy Any combination of therapy services ordered in writing before a member’s release or discharge from Read More…

  • Who Needs Occupational Therapy?

    The above lists might help explain the question of who OTs service, but it can be helpful to have a list of those who benefit from occupational therapy. This diagnosis list should give you a starting point but know that OT works with anyone struggling to achieve functional skills or independence in an aspect of Read More…

  • What Is Occupational Therapy?

    Occupational Therapy (OT) is a service that helps people of all ages and abilities achieve function and independence in the things that are important to them…in the things that occupy one’s day. Occupational Therapists do this by offering adaptations, modifications, and by addressing underlying factors that impact independence. Let’s take it a step further; Think Read More…

  • Scope of Occupational Therapy practice may include Behavioral Health services

    The Indiana Health Coverage Programs (IHCP) clarified that the scope of occupational therapy practice includes the provision of psychosocial interventions. It was further stated that occupational therapy can be included in the treatment plan of members receiving behavioral health treatment services. “The IHCP supports including occupational therapists on a substance use disorder (SUD) or behavioral health Read More…

  • How Does Your Child Hear and Talk?

    Your child starts communicating with you long before he says his first word. Learn more about what your child should do in his first 5 years and how you can help. Speech, language, or hearing problems can lead to trouble making friends and doing well in school. Give your child success—get help early. Find your Read More…

  • Why do some children need speech-language therapy?

    Kids might need speech-language therapy for many reasons, including: Hearing impairments Cognitive (intellectual, thinking) or other developmental delays Weak oral muscles Chronic hoarseness Cleft li or palate Autism Spectrum Disorder Motor planning problems Articulation problems Fluency disorders Respiratory problems (breathing disorders) Feeding and swallowing disorders Traumatic brain injury Therapy should begin as soon as possible. Read More…

  • Where do I find a speech-language therapist?

    Here at Child’s Play Plus we have experienced, enthusiastic speech therapy providers who will take the time to get to know each of their patients to make therapy as successful as possible. They will learn not only what motivates each patient, but what areas to focus therapy on to make life as independent as possible. Read More…

  • What do SLPs do?

    In speech-language therapy, an SLP works with a child one-on-one, in a small group, or in a classroom to overcome problems. Therapists use a variety of strategies, including: Language intervention activities: The SLP will interact with a child by playing and talking, using pictures, books, objects, or ongoing events to stimulate language development. The therapist may Read More…

  • Who provides speech-language therapy?

    Speech-language pathologists (SLPs), often called speech therapists, are educated in the study of human communication, its development, and its disorders. SLPs assess speech, language, cognitive-communication, and oral/feeding/swallowing skills. This lets them identify a problem and the best way to treat it. SLPs have: A degree State certification/licensure in the field A certificate of clinical competency Read More…

  • Speech and Language Disorders Explained

    What is Speech-Language Therapy? Speech-language therapy is the treatment for most kids with speech and/or language disorders. What are speech disorders? A speech disorder refers to a problem with making sounds. Speech disorders include: Articulation disorders: These are problems with making sounds in syllables, or saying words incorrectly to the point that listeners can’t understand what’s Read More…

  • Insurance Terms

    Understanding important terminology pertaining to health insurance is the first step to obtaining a cost-effective coverage plan that serves all of your individual or family needs.   Premium: The amount you pay your insurance company for health coverage each month or year.   Deductible: The amount of money you must pay out-of-pocket before coverage kicks in. Deductibles Read More…

  • Hearing & Communicative Development Checklist

    From the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association 0 to 3 Months Reacts to loud sounds Calms down or smiles when spoken to Recognizes your voice and calms down if crying When feeding, starts or stops sucking in response to sound Coos and makes pleasure sounds Has a special way of crying for different needs Smiles when he Read More…

  • Huntington County Community Resource Guide

    The Huntington County Community Resource Guide offers helpful contact information to financial assistance, food assistance, mental health & addictions, furniture & clothing assistance, employment services, housing & transportation, health care services, transitional housing, support groups, legal services, general education, youth services, recreation & hobbies and hotlines in Huntington County, Indiana.

  • Allen County Community Resource Guide

    The Allen Co. Northeast Community Resource Guide contains helpful contact information for emergency, legal, housing, food & clothing, social services, children’s services, medical, education & employment and township trustee offices throughout Allen County, Indiana.

  • Choosing a provider

    Who provides ABA services? A board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA) provides ABA therapy services. To become a BCBA, the following is needed: Earn a master’s degree or PhD in psychology or behavior analysis Pass a national certification exam Seek a state license to practice (in some states) ABA therapy programs also involve therapists, or registered behavior technicians Read More…

  • What is Applied Behavior Analysis? 

    What is Applied Behavior Analysis? Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a therapy based on the science of learning and behavior. Behavior analysis helps us to understand: How behavior works How behavior is affected by the environment How learning takes place ABA therapy applies our understanding of how behavior works to real situations. The goal is Read More…

  • Your baby at several milestones…..here are the checklists

    CDC Development Checklists How your child plays, learns, speaks, acts, and moves offers important clues about your child’s development. Developmental milestones are things most children can do by a certain age. Learn the Signs. Act Early.

  • A little about ABA

    Behavior analysis is the science of behavior, with a history extending back to the early 20th century. Its underlying philosophy is behaviorism, which is based upon the premise that attempting to improve the human condition through behavior change (e.g., education, behavioral health treatment) will be most effective if behavior itself is the primary focus, rather than Read More…

  • How Much ABA is Enough?

    Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA, is well recognized as the “gold standard” for treating Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It works by harnessing the scientific principles of behavior into the everyday tasks and skills that most of us take for granted. ABA is also intense, with treatment being prescribed daily, up to 40 hours per week. Read More…

  • Is ABA a part of psychology or a separate discipline?

    The answer to this question is that while many people have historically viewed behavior analysis as a branch of psychology, the two disciplines take fundamentally different and antithetical perspectives to account for variability in human behavior. This divergent view can be summed up as follows. Psychology looks to explain behavioral variability by appealing to internal causes that are typically seen Read More…

  • Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for Autism: What is the Effective Age Range for Treatment?

    The Lovaas Model of Applied Behavior Analysis has undergone rigorous research at UCLA under the direction of Dr. Lovaas, proving its effectiveness in treating children with autism. There is extensive research in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) that shows the effectiveness of focused treatment of behavior disorders with children who suffer from autism who are between Read More…

  • Working with Caregivers and other Professionals

    Family Members/Others as Important Contributors to Outcomes Family members, including siblings, and other community caregivers should be included in various capacities and at different points during both Focused and Comprehensive ABA treatment programs. In addition to providing important historical and contextual information, caregivers must receive training and consultation throughout treatment, discharge, and follow-up. The dynamics Read More…

  • BCBA Caseloads and Supervision

    Case supervision activities can be described as those that involve contact with the client or caregivers (direct supervision, also known as clinical direction) and those that do not (indirect supervision). Both direct and indirect case supervision activities are critical to producing good treatment outcomes and should be included in service authorizations. It should be noted Read More…

  • Selection, Training, and Supervision of Behavior Technicians

    • Behavior Technicians should receive specific, formal training before providing treatment. One way to ensure such training is through the Registered Behavior Technician credential. • Case assignment should match the needs of the client with the skill level and experience of the Behavior Technician. Before working with a client, the Behavior Technician must be sufficiently Read More…

  • Treatment Delivery Models

    Treatment dosage, which is often referenced in the treatment literature as “intensity,” will vary with each client and should reflect the goals of treatment, specific client needs, and response to treatment. Treatment dosage should be considered in two distinct categories: intensity and duration. Intensity Intensity is typically measured in terms of number of hours per Read More…

  • Medicaid and ABA

    From the IHCP: “Effective February 6, 2016, applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy is covered for the treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) for members 20 years of age and younger. ABA therapy is the design, implementation, and evaluation of environmental modification using behavioral stimuli and consequences to produce socially significant improvement in human behavior, including Read More…

  • Insurance Mandates – Indiana

    In July 2001, House Enrollment Act 1122 went into effect as Indiana Code 27-8-14.2, mandating insurance coverage for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders for any accident or health insurance policy that is issued on a group basis (large or small). Also, insurers selling individual policies must offer the option to include coverage for Autism Spectrum Read More…

  • Insurance Terms

    Understanding important terminology pertaining to health insurance is the first step to obtaining a cost-effective coverage plan that serves all of your individual or family needs. Premium: The amount you pay your insurance company for health coverage each month or year. Deductible: The amount of money you must pay out-of-pocket before coverage kicks in. Deductibles are usually Read More…

Success Stories

  • Hope…. hope is the word that best sums up what Child’s Play has given not just (our son) but our whole family. A year ago things were feeling pretty hopeless. It has been so uplifting to see the progress in (his)’s level of independence, self care, independent living skills, and emotional control. Making the decision to send him to Child’s Play is one we will never regret.

    -Caregiver Review, Online
  • When looking for a school or center for a child with autism, the resources are limited when a typical school environment is not functional for your child. We came upon Child’s Play Autism Center and immediately fell in love with the one-on-one interaction for our daughter. Not only does she get one-on-one ABA therapy in her own private therapy room, she also has the opportunity to interact with other students. There are so many areas for her to “play” and learn. There is a music area, pretend play area, gross motor area, sensory area, kitchen area and so much more. She gets the chance to go shopping at the grocery store to work on social behaviors as well as takes trips to the mall. And she goes out to lunch to work on her social and public goals. All of the staff is amazing and is in constant communication as to how my daughter is doing. They are all so supportive! My daughter has excelled greatly since beginning at Child’s Play Autism Center!!! I am so thankful they are here in Ft. Wayne!

    -Caregiver Review, Online
  • As a parent it is hard to watch your child struggle and not make progress in normal child development areas such as verbal, social, emotional and academic skills. As a family we were at a level of deep frustration and didn’t know where to turn to get help. Thankfully, you made a commitment to our community to provide ABA therapy services.

    Child’s Play has provided us with an opportunity to address all of the issues our son has with a program that is comprehensive and customized. Other programs we’ve utilized only address speech when it is the allotted speech time, etc. At Child’s Play Autism Center, they formulate a unique plan for each individual child and work on deficient skills with a precise calculated strategy so your child can attain multiple goals with the completion of one task.

    More than just the therapeutic processes provided, the staff genuinely care for my child and his progress. ABA therapy has been a blessing in our life. We have a long way to go but every week we see some sort of progress in speech or behavior. Child’s Play is making a difference in our entire family’s life for the better and they are a great community asset.

    -Caregiver Review, Online
  • They are a blessing. They have done so much for my son. Couldn’t ask for anything better. You guys rock.

    -Caregiver Review, Online
  • Child’s Play Autism Centers has been coordinating with the Bowen Center on behalf of children and families in Huntington since they began in 2013. The staff are very dedicated to providing individualized treatment, explaining benefits of ABA therapy, and making every child and family who walk through the door feel comfortable. We are pleased to see the tremendous progress in the children who we referred.

    -Shelly Snyder, Director of the Huntington Bowen Center
  • My confidence in their ability to help my patients has yet to wane. Child’s Play is an amazing resource to our community.

    -Dr. Duane Hougendobler, Regional Clinical Medical Director for Parkview Pediatrics
  • They are amazing!! So happy that there is a place for my daughter to go and be challenged to meet her potential!!

    -Caregiver Review, Online
  • Our son has grown leaps and bounds under Rebecca’s supervision. He engages with his peers, has had a huge decrease in meltdowns and works daily on his difficulties on transitions. We are more than pleased with his progress and he loves being there with all his friends!

    -Caregiver Review, Online
  • They are the best! I couldn’t ask for a better place for (my son) to go to…. He went from barely being able to walk with a walk to walking independently in a matter of five months. His therapist’s Rock!!!!!!

    -Caregiver Review, Online
  • I feel incredibly blessed by my child’s support team. I pinch myself everyday when I think about how lucky we are to have found Child’s Play. My child is loved, supported, and encouraged every step of the way, and it shows–he is thriving!

    -Caregiver Review, Online
  • We love this place. We could not be any happier with the results and the huge improvement with our son. They always go more and beyond to help him. I highly recommend this place to anybody who is looking for ABA services.

    -Caregiver Review, Online