Applied Behavior Analysis

Children enrolled in our center-based therapy have the opportunity to work one-on-one with a trained behavioral therapist. Children spend their day having fun, playing and engaging in a wide variety of activities with their therapist. Providers use the child's preferred activities and interests to teach a wide variety of skills that range from learning to effectively communicate with others, to social interactions, self-help & independence in daily tasks, and school readiness skills. Skills are chosen based on each individual child's needs and by working collaboratively with the child's family & additional service providers.

Our center-based therapy allows for children to play and engage with other peers with similar interests. Social interaction skills are incorporated into all therpay sessions in a way that is meaningful & motivating to the child. Group peer plays are scheduled and facilitated daily for children to participate in.

Children enrolled in our center-based therapy also have the opportunity to work on daily routines & classroom readiness skills through our regularly scheduled small groups. Small groups are led by a trained behavioral therapist & work on a wide variety of skills. Our earliest learners enjoy singing & dancing to music and listening to stories while also learning to be around their peers, attend to an instructor, and engage in something new. Our older students may work on gathering their belongings, learning to take turns, or raise their hand during class.

RCC strongly believes that in-home or community-based treatment in addition to center-based therapy is the best way to support the children and the families that we serve. This allows for the opportunity to generalize learned skills beyond the clinic setting and into your daily life. This treatment option allows for skills that are unique to the home environment or community to be addressed. Basedon the child's current skills and areas of need, the addition of in-home therapy or community-based therapy may be a great option for your family. This can be discussed further with your child's treatment team once enrolled in services.

We recognize that not all children need intensive 20-40 hours of ABA therapy a week. Some children just need some extra support in social situations. Our group's foundation surrounds creating friendships & building relationships while teaching age-appropriate social skills through play. This group is intended for school-age children who will benefit from expanding their social communication, following directions in a small group, advocating for themselves without direct support, and learning how to make & keep friendships. Our groups are led by trained behavior therapists and overseen by supervisory staff. This group is offered based on enrollment and community interest.

Participation requirements:

• 1:1 support is not available for this group. Children should be able to participate successfully in a group of 4 kids to 1 adult.
• Child must mostly independent with bathroom skills.
• A pre-attendance play interview is required prior to the start of the group.
• Child must have no recent history of aggression towards self or others.
• Child should be able to work through behavior challenges with minimal support.

If you are interested in learning more about our social skills groups, when they are occurring, and if your child would be a good fit; please complete our contact form. This service is available to children who are not currently engaged in our ABA program.

The Rochester Center for Children believes that Individual Skills Training, in conjunction with Family & Caregiver training, is an important combination of services to assist with your child's progress. During training, RCC will assist the family & other caregivers in learning the best methods of Applied Behavior Analysis(ABA) and Verbal Behavior.

This training can look a variety of ways based on the family's desires. Training can include discussion, observation, and/or hands-on time where the parent or caregiver is being coached while working directly with the child. Family & Caregiver Training can also work to address home concerns and plans can be created & tailored to specifically address the individual needs of the family. The amount of time spent engaging in Family & Caregiver Training will look different for each family and will be determined through discussion between the family and trainer.

We can aid in working with you on concerns in the home or community setting. Areas of focus may include expanding on communication, challenging behaviors while grocery shopping, establishing routines, promoting independence at home, etc.

If you are interested in learning more or engaging in Family & Caregiver Training and currently have a child enrolled in our program, please reach out to your child's supervisor.