Frequently Asked Questions

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the application of the science of behavior and learning to help people build skills and address barriers affecting their everyday lives. In ABA therapy, we look at what a learner is doing, the context in which it happens, and how they respond to teaching so we can make informed decisions about what and how to teach.At Precision, ABA therapy is individualized to each learner and focused on skills that matter in their life.

Precision Teaching is a system for measuring learning and using that information to make better teaching decisions. It is a core part of how we teach at Precision ABA. We define skills clearly, measure performance frequently, and look at things like accuracy, fluency, effort, and whether learning maintains and carries into new situations.We use that information to decide what to do next. When progress isn’t occurring, we look at the skill, the teaching, and what may need to change rather than simply continuing to practice the same way. Precision Teaching helps us continually adapt our teaching based on how each individual learner is responding.

Neuro-affirming care recognizes autism as part of who a person is rather than something therapy is intended to eliminate. At Precision, that means respecting each learner’s communication, sensory and regulatory needs, autonomy, preferences, and individuality while helping them build skills that can make life easier, more independent, or more meaningful to them.We don’t define successful therapy by how closely a child looks or behaves like their peers. We help learners identify their own needs, advocate for themselves, trust their voice, and build confidence using it.

Assent means paying attention to whether a learner is willing to participate and respecting how they communicate when something isn’t working. That requires attunement to the individual learner because withdrawal of assent may be verbal, but it can also show up through changes in body language, engagement, behavior, or attempts to avoid or leave an interaction.Assent-based practice is sometimes oversimplified to mean that if a learner says “no,” teaching simply stops. That doesn’t capture the full responsibility of an assent-based clinician. When a learner withdraws assent, we respect that communication and get curious about why. Is the task too difficult? Is something uncomfortable? Is a prerequisite skill missing? Is our teaching ineffective? Does the goal or our approach need to change?Our responsibility is not to override a learner’s “no,” and it isn’t to stop helping them learn important skills. It’s to stay attuned to what the learner is communicating and change our approach so we can build participation, trust, and successful learning without expecting compliance or using coercion.

A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) is a graduate-level professional certified in behavior analysis. At Precision, BCBAs oversee each learner’s clinical programming, analyze progress, make treatment decisions, and supervise and train the team implementing therapy.