Assessments provide us with information about your child’s skills to help create an intervention program that is tailored to your child’s specific needs. At ABA Connect, our programs are individualized and family-centered, meaning that we include the family in creating a program that will be most beneficial to you and your child. We use both skills-based and behavioral assessments to ensure that your child is learning important skills while also decreasing challenging behaviors that may inhibit learning. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) will conduct an in-depth assessment to determine current and emerging skills. The BCBA will also conduct caregiver interviews to help determine your child’s strengths and areas of need. Skills-Based Assessments Skills-based assessments provide us with a starting point for intervention planning as well as a baseline for measuring your child’s progress. The assessment is conducted by interacting with your child through play, as this is the most natural interaction for children. These assessments, such as the Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program (VB-MAPP), the Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills (ABLLS), and Essential For Living measure skills across a variety of domains, including:

Language	Play	Social Skills
Making Requests	Independent Play	Communicating with Peers
Asking Questions	Playing with Peers	Initiating Interactions
Labeling	Pretend Play	Conversational Skills
Following Instructions	Age Appropriate Play Activities	Joint Attention

Classroom Skills	Academic Skills	Functional Skills
Transitioning	Reading	Community Outing Skills (dentist visits, etc.)
Following Group Directions	Writing	Hygiene Skills
Remaining on Task	Math	Feeding
		Safety

Functional Behavior Assessment All children engage in undesirable or challenging behaviors at times. If your child exhibits any behaviors that inhibit learning, the BCBA will conduct a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA). An FBA is used to understand the function (reason) of the behavior and provide an appropriate intervention. An FBA includes: -Parent interviews or surveys -Direct observation of challenging behavior -Analysis of the antecedents (what happens immediately before) and the consequences (what happens immediately after) of the challenging behavior Once we know why challenging behaviors may be occurring, we can develop an individualized intervention that decreases challenging behavior while increasing adaptive, pro-social behaviors. This will allow your child to get what they need using more functional and appropriate behaviors. The milestone and skills assessment process is an ongoing and important piece of your child’s applied behavior analysis program. We continuously monitor your child’s intervention program to ensure that progress is being made and the most effective teaching strategies are being implemented. Behavioral assessments are conducted as needed. Your child’s BCBA will meet with you to review assessment results during parent/team meetings.