FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS)
Get the answers you need to make the right decisions with RightStart NY. We provide helpful FAQs to guide you through the process.
How long has your company been established ?
Is my child eligible ?
A child is considered eligible for early intervention services if he or she is under the age of three and has at least a 33% delay in one and/or at least a 25% delay in two or more of the developmental areas:
Physical; including gross motor, fine motor, and sensory (vision and hearing)
- Cognitive
- Communication
- Social-emotional
- Adaptive
- Eligibility for early intervention services is determined using clinical opinion, parent report, and standardized evaluation/assessment and criterion referenced measures.
Children with a diagnosed developmental disability are eligible based upon the diagnosis.
How do I enroll my child in Right Start, Inc.’s Early Intervention Program ?
Any parent/guardian, professional or concerned individual who suspects that a child, from birth to age 3 meets the criteria for the program can call 311 and ask for Early Intervention.
You can ask for Right Start, Inc. to be assigned to provide ongoing service coordination and evaluation for your child.
For more information about the services that Right Start, Inc. provides or the referral process, call us today at (718) 375-2505.
If my child is eligible, where are the services provided ?
If your child is found eligible to receive services with the Early Intervention Program, you will meet with a city official to discuss which services will be authorized for your child, and where they will be provided.
The services are most often provided in the child’s home, but can also take place in a day care or another setting that is a natural environment for the child.
When early intervention services are delivered in child care settings or community locations that require a fee, the parent is responsible for paying any costs associated with access to such child care or community locations.
What is ABA ?
ABA stands for Applied Behavior Analysis. It is the scientific study of human behaviors.
Behavior means anything we do or say which includes talking, reading, writing, social interaction as well as behavior that me be challenging, or interfering with learning and interacting.
It emphasizes on the careful observation and measurement of behaviors of interest, and environmental factors that can be adjusted.
ABA focuses on explaining behaviors in terms of external events that can be manipulated rather than internal constructs that are beyond our control.
It does not just mean negative behaviors. A vast amount of research studies have documented the effectiveness of ABA across a wide range of populations, interventionist, settings and behaviors.
ABA is effective in teaching a variety of skills such as academics, social skills, communication, eating, toileting, dressing, personal self-care, domestic skills, food preparation, money and value, home and community orientation, and work skills.
ABA is also the most effective approach in reducing many problem behaviors such as aggression, oppositional behaviors, disruptive behaviors, self-injurious behaviors, and stereotyped behaviors.
How does ABA work with my child?
It is the most effective intervention proven by research for children with autism. It is recommended by CDC, surgeon general and endorsed by many credible organizations.
Children with autism can learn many skills, but may require specific strategies and techniques in order to address their learning needs. ABA providers know how to utilize your child’s motivation effectively to help them to become more successful learners.
Children with autism can learn many skills, but they are usually challenging to teach. Behavior Analysts have the tools to effectively work with individuals by using many research based principles and teaching methods, such as reinforcement, shaping, breaking skills into small manageable units, using prompts and fading prompts effectively, etc. We use a behavioral approach to teach many skills such as language, cognitive, social, self care and motor skills.
Many children with autism also have problem behaviors that can interfere with their learning. Our ABA professionals will analyze these behaviors and develop a behavior intervention plan to decrease these behaviors. We train the caregivers in using these behavioral strategies so that the behaviors will decrease across all settings.
ABA strategies may be applied in a structured 1:1 setting, as well as within your child’s natural activities and environment. An individual treatment plan will be developed to include the methods that are most effective in meeting your child’s goals.
Parents and other caregivers play an important part in making ABA therapy successful. We strongly encourage parents to be active participants during the therapy process by communicating your observations and concerns as well as carrying over strategies that are recommended by your ABA providers.
We carefully measure the progress through data collection and use data to guide our treatment approach.