ABA • Speech • Occupational Therapy
Building Skills for Everyday Life
Developmental therapies build on your child’s strengths while supporting communication, independence, and everyday skills.
The goal isn’t to change who our children are. It’s to help them grow with the support they need.
🤝 Understanding the Therapies
- ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis): Supports learning, communication, behavior, and daily living skills through individualized strategies.
- Speech Therapy: Supports language, understanding, and communication through speech, gestures, signs, or devices. May also address feeding and swallowing.
- Occupational Therapy (OT): Supports dressing, eating, coordination, fine motor skills, and sensory-related needs.
Not every child needs every therapy. Support should reflect their individual needs.
🔗 Examples of Support Pathways
- Communication: Identify concerns → Speech evaluation → Communication goals
- Daily Living: Identify challenges → ABA or OT assessment → Practice skills
- Behavior: Understand needs → ABA assessment → Supportive strategies
- Sensory & Motor: Discuss concerns → OT evaluation → Individualized support
Access may depend on referrals, evaluations, insurance, and eligibility.
🌱 Making Therapy Meaningful
Families, therapists, and educators can work together to help children use their skills across home, school, and community settings.
Progress isn’t measured by how many therapies a child receives, but by how those supports help them grow.
📌 WHAT YOU CAN DO
Identify one area where your child needs support. Ask your pediatrician or insurance plan which therapy may help, whether an evaluation is needed, and what services are covered.
Note: This information is provided for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical or developmental guidance. Therapy needs and eligibility vary by child. Families are encouraged to consult qualified healthcare providers and therapists for recommendations specific to their child.
The Hayden Rose Foundation
Families need a map, not another maze.