​Development Center

OPAT​

OPAT’s Treatment Plan

 
OPAT uses applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy as part of their treatment plan. ABA therapy is a scientifically validated practice used to treat individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The focus of ABA therapy is to treat individuals with an individualized treatment plan using behavior analytic principles to decrease maladaptive behaviors and to increase appropriate behaviors. Individuals with ASD are typically behind developmentally, which it is important to start intervention during the early years to maximize their overall potential to bridging the gap on their learning curve. The goal is to get as close as possible to typical development while improving their overall livelihood. Starting ABA therapy early (between the ages of 18 months to 7 years of age) and providing a level of intensity (between 25 to 60 hours per week of ABA therapy), increases the likelihood of favorable outcomes in the future. This is considered early intensive intervention therapy.

Functional Behavior Assessment
An initial functional behavior assessment will be conducted by OPAT’s assessment team. During this phase, OPAT will identify skill strengths and deficits, and behavioral excesses as its first step to developing an individualized program before making a clinical prescription for services.

Early Intensive Intervention
Early intensive intervention techniques are used to deliver a high rate of learning opportunities in order to maximize growth and progress. There are three phases during a patient’s full treatment plan.

• Introductory phase (first 3-6 months depending on current developmental age) will consist on developing the skills necessary to acquire early learning skills such as paying attention; following directions; imitating others; early play skills such as turn taking, variation with play, and appropriate manipulation of toys; social skills including appropriate interactions with others, sustained eye contact, and initiating social contact (greetings); early communication skills (gesturing simple needs and early verbal utterances); and tackling maladaptive behaviors that impede with learning.
  

• Intermediate Intensive phase (Acquisition at its peak) will consist of pre-academics, cognitive, play, social, and classroom skills.  We will also focus on building their verbal repertoire in order to effectively communicate their wants and needs, comment on stimuli within their environment, express emotions, and to develop and sustain conversational skills while maintaining appropriate levels of challenging behaviors.
  

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• Transitional phase (reduction in weekly hours and transitioning skill building to the family) will consist of maintaining skills and generalizing maintenance skills in their natural environment (at the home, school, and community).  Additional support from the behavioral therapists will be systematically faded out in order to generalize maintenance skills with other people within their environment.  This will include more therapy sessions at the home versus at the clinic, to prepare the family to continue teaching their child.  Once all clinic hours are faded out, the patient will progress to the maintenance phase.
  

• Maintenance phase: We will provide an aftercare service by conducting monthly consultation with the family to ensure that they are consistently maintaining their child’s skills by holding monthly visits at the home for up to 6 months to 1 year. 
  

Family Training and Consultations
Weekly family training is provided in order to help families better understand their child’s needs, understand specific behavior analytic principles that can be applied to their child, and to help motivate the family to continue to be an active participant within their child’s progress. Sometimes behavior problems occur out in the community that prevent families from spending time outside in the community. OPAT provides family training in all settings that are crucial for your child into becoming a part of the community.