Play-Based ABA: Our Philosophy & Mission
Why therapy that looks like play isn't less rigorous — it's more effective. Here's how Achieving Stars approaches autism care.
Quick Summary
Achieving Stars Therapy delivers in-home, play-based ABA therapy for children with autism. Every plan is written by a licensed BCBA, supervised throughout, and built around each child's individual goals — not a generic curriculum.
- No waitlists. Most families start within 1–2 weeks of insurance authorization.
- 100% Medicaid covered for eligible families. Most private insurance accepted.
- BCBA-supervised from initial assessment through every session.
- Weekly parent guidance built into every case — caregivers are active partners, not observers.
- Serves children ages 2–18 across Colorado, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Kansas, and Ohio.
Our Mission
To help each child reach their fullest potential through individualized, evidence-based ABA therapy that fits seamlessly into everyday routines. We combine clinical expertise with genuine care so families feel supported, heard, and confident in their child's growth.
The day-to-day version of that looks like a therapist on your living room floor, figuring out why transitions are hard, and giving you real tools to use between sessions. Progress that sticks because it was never separated from real life in the first place.
Why "in-home" is a clinical decision, not just a convenience
Children with autism often struggle to generalize skills learned in a clinic to their actual environment. When therapy happens at home — during snack time, bedtime routines, sibling interactions — skills are practiced in context.
They transfer naturally because they were never separated from real life to begin with. That's the core reason Achieving Stars operates exclusively in natural environments.
What "Play-Based ABA" Actually Means
ABA therapy has a complicated reputation, partly because older versions of it were rigid and sometimes punitive. Play-based ABA is meaningfully different — and the distinction matters for how your child experiences therapy day to day.
The underlying science hasn't changed. Behavior is shaped by consequences, reinforcement drives learning, and data guides every decision. What's different is the delivery. Learning goals are embedded into activities your child already finds engaging. A child working on turn-taking might practice it through a board game. One building language skills might work on requesting during LEGOs. The goals and data collection are rigorous. The experience feels like childhood.
Child-Led Sessions
Therapists follow the child's interest rather than a fixed script. Motivation drives learning — and children are most motivated by what they choose.
Natural Environment Teaching
Skills are targeted during meals, playtime, and daily routines so they generalize to real life, not just the therapy setting.
Positive Reinforcement
Progress is built on what works. We identify what your child finds genuinely rewarding and use it to build new skills systematically.
Trauma-Informed Practice
Every therapist is trained to recognize stress responses and adjust pace, environment, and approach. Trust and safety come before clinical goals.
How Achieving Stars Compares to Other ABA Providers
Most ABA providers are clinic-based, carry waitlists, and involve parents mainly at intake and discharge. The Achieving Stars model was built differently.
| Feature | Achieving Stars | Typical Clinic-Based ABA |
|---|---|---|
| Setting | ✓ Your home, school, or natural environment | Clinic or center (family travels to therapy) |
| Waitlist | ✓ None — intake to start within 1–2 weeks of authorization | Often 3–12 months |
| BCBA Involvement | ✓ BCBA-led from day one; weekly supervision of all RBTs | Varies; some providers have high RBT-to-BCBA ratios |
| Parent Training | ✓ Weekly or bi-weekly guidance built into every case | Often minimal; parents may not be present in sessions |
| Session Notes Access | ✓ Full caregiver access on request | Varies by provider |
| Medicaid | ✓ 100% covered for eligible families | Many providers don't accept Medicaid |
| Dual Diagnosis | ✓ ASD + ADHD, Down syndrome, co-occurring diagnoses | Varies by provider and program |
| Approach | ✓ Play-based, child-led, individualized per BCBA assessment | May follow standardized curriculum |
Who We Work With
Achieving Stars serves children from early childhood through adolescence. There's no age cutoff — early intervention tends to produce faster results, but meaningful progress happens at any stage.
We also support children with dual diagnoses. ASD combined with ADHD is common in our caseload, as is ASD with Down syndrome and other developmental profiles. Treatment plans are built for the whole child, not just the primary diagnosis.
Age Ranges and Typical Focus Areas
| Age Range | Typical Goals | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ages 2–5 | Communication, joint attention, early play skills, self-care basics | Early intervention window; evidence suggests strongest developmental gains |
| Ages 6–11 | Social skills, academic readiness, emotional regulation, independence | Often coordinated with school IEP goals |
| Ages 12–18 | Daily living skills, social competence, vocational preparation | Goals shift toward community integration and independence |
Progress timelines vary depending on the child, hours of therapy, and caregiver involvement. No provider can ethically guarantee specific outcomes.
Why Parents Are Part of the Treatment Team
A therapist might work with your child 10–25 hours a week. You're with your child around the clock. That math determines a lot about how well ABA actually works.
Parent guidance at Achieving Stars isn't a formality. It's built into every case. BCBAs meet with caregivers weekly or every other week — not just to report progress, but to work through what's happening at home and give you specific strategies to apply between sessions.
The goal isn't for you to become a therapist. It's for you to understand what's driving your child's behavior well enough to respond effectively, reduce daily friction, and reinforce the skills they're working hard to build.
How Getting Started Works
Most families go from first contact to active therapy within a few weeks. Here's what the process looks like.
Initial Call
Our intake team reaches out to answer questions and walk through what to expect. No commitment required at this stage.
Intake Packet
You'll receive a packet by email requesting your child's ASD diagnosis and insurance information. This triggers the authorization process.
Insurance Authorization
Our authorizations team submits immediately. Most authorizations come back within 1–14 days, depending on your plan.
Initial Assessment
A licensed BCBA conducts the initial assessment in your home. The assessment tools used depend on your child's age and the behaviors you've described.
Treatment Plan Review
The BCBA develops a treatment plan and reviews it with you before it's submitted to insurance for approval to begin direct services.
Therapy Begins
Once approved, your assigned RBT begins in-home sessions. Parent guidance is scheduled alongside direct therapy from the start.
Cost and Insurance
Most families pay little to nothing out of pocket for ABA therapy through Achieving Stars.
| Insurance Type | What It Covers | Typical Out-of-Pocket |
|---|---|---|
| Medicaid (primary) | 100% of ABA therapy | $0 |
| Medicaid (secondary) | Often covers remaining balance after primary pays | Typically $0 |
| Private insurance | ABA covered under autism mandates in CO, NH, SC, KS, OH | Deductible/copay per plan |
| No insurance | Our team helps explore waiver programs and state resources | Varies — contact us to discuss |
Our team handles insurance authorizations and communications so you don't have to navigate that process alone.
Common Questions
Is ABA therapy right for my child?
ABA is the most extensively researched intervention for autism. It's not the only option, but it has the strongest evidence base for building communication, adaptive skills, and reducing behaviors that cause distress. A licensed BCBA can help you assess whether it's the right fit based on your child's specific profile and goals.
Does play-based mean sessions aren't structured?
No. Every session is guided by specific treatment goals and tracked with data. Play-based describes how learning is delivered — through engaging, child-led activities — not a lack of clinical structure.
Can we see session notes?
Yes. Every session note is added to your child's account. Caregivers can request full access at any time.
What if my child has both autism and ADHD?
Dual diagnoses are common in our caseload. ASD plus ADHD, Down syndrome, or other co-occurring conditions are well within the scope of what our BCBAs address through individualized treatment planning.
Do you work with bilingual families?
We have Spanish-speaking staff available in some locations. Please reach out directly and we'll do our best to match you with someone who can support your family's language needs.
What are the potential downsides of ABA?
ABA requires significant time commitment — often 10–25 hours per week — which is intensive for families. Older ABA practices had valid criticisms around rigidity and a lack of child autonomy. Modern, play-based approaches are designed to address those concerns directly. The autistic self-advocacy community has raised important questions about goals and values in ABA that are worth reading; we take those perspectives seriously in how we design treatment plans.
My child doesn't have a diagnosis yet. Where do we start?
A formal autism diagnosis is required before ABA services can begin. Our diagnostic services page explains the evaluation process, including the ADOS-2, M-CHAT, and CAST assessments commonly used for diagnosis.
Explore Our Services
Ready to Get Started?
The intake process is straightforward. Our team handles insurance, authorization, and scheduling — you focus on your family.
Serving Colorado · New Hampshire · South Carolina · Kansas · Ohio