Starting ABA therapy is one of the most significant decisions a family can make after a child receives an autism diagnosis. The first 90 days are a time of adjustment, learning, and often, genuine hope. Understanding what to expect during this initial period can help Chicago families feel more prepared and less overwhelmed as services begin.
The First Weeks: Assessment and Goal Setting
Before any formal therapy sessions begin, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the child. This process typically involves direct observation, caregiver interviews, and standardized tools that measure current skills and identify areas for growth. Parents often describe this phase as eye-opening, because the assessment reveals both strengths they may have overlooked and specific targets worth addressing.
During the assessment period, families can expect detailed questions about their child's daily routine, communication patterns, play behaviors, and any challenging behaviors that interfere with learning. The BCBA uses this information to develop an individualized treatment plan with clear, measurable goals. Parent input directly shapes the direction of therapy, and families are encouraged to ask questions at every step.
Once goals are established, therapy sessions begin. In Chicago, sessions may take place in the home, a clinic, a school setting, or a combination of these environments depending on what best serves the child. The first weeks of active therapy are often about rapport building as much as skill building. A skilled therapist will take time to learn what motivates a child, which activities they enjoy, and how they communicate best before introducing structured learning activities.
What Progress Looks Like in Months Two and Three
By the second month, many families begin to notice small but meaningful changes. A child who previously had no functional way to request items may start using a picture exchange system or a few spoken words. A child who struggled with transitions between activities may begin to tolerate them with fewer meltdowns. These early gains, however modest they seem, are the foundation for larger progress later.
Parents often report feeling more confident in their own understanding of ABA strategies by this point, partly because good therapy programs involve caregiver training alongside direct services. Families working with All Around ABA specialists find that this collaborative model helps them carry strategies into everyday routines, turning the home environment into an extension of the therapy setting.
By the end of the 90-day period, the BCBA will typically review progress data, discuss what is working, and adjust goals as needed. Some objectives may be mastered and replaced with new ones. Others may require modifications to the teaching approach. This cycle of assess, teach, measure, and adjust is ongoing throughout ABA therapy and continues for as long as services are appropriate.
For families navigating this process for the first time, it helps to remember that ABA is not a quick fix or a one-size-fits-all solution. Every child progresses at a different pace, and the goals meaningful for one child may look completely different for another. What the first 90 days consistently offer is structure, data-driven guidance, and a growing understanding of what helps a particular child thrive.
Families in Chicago who approach this period with realistic expectations and active involvement tend to feel more settled by the end of it. The work is meaningful, the progress is real, and the relationship built between families and their therapy team during those early months sets the tone for everything that follows.
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