Therapy & Services | Hopebridge Autism Therapy Center
Therapy & Services
Engineering success for your child through therapy
Why Hopebridge? If you ask parents, team members or our partner schools and providers, the answers all point back to the same thing: our unique and effective mix of autism therapy services within Hopebridge 360 Care.
A multi-dimensional model to meet your needs
Children with special challenges require extraordinary care that often doesn’t fit into the framework that families, schools nor even many outpatient therapy options are accustomed to offering. There has been an extensive amount of progress for the autism community, but there is still a need for stronger, more widespread services to meet the needs of this growing population. The 360 Care model is what sets us apart.
Custom-tailored for your family
The best results are achieved when all aspects of a child’s life are taken into consideration. We don’t view only one aspect of an individual. We look through multiple lenses with the intent of services transcending across all areas of life and development.
Our unique, integrative therapy model, 360 Care places the child and family at the center of the circle of care, combining methods and expertise of all of our disciplines. Not every child utilizes every therapy and each has his or her own set of goals. Instead, we work together to find the blend best suited for your family. We treat each child as a whole, not just a diagnosis.
Autism Testing & Diagnosis
Early identification of autism is the first step to effective intervention. Hopebridge provides autism testing, as well as ABA, OT and speech evaluations to get the answers your family needs to set the stage at a young age.
ABA Therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis is the basis of Hopebridge's comprehensive 1-on-1 therapy. By using these targeted techniques and principles of learning in collaboration with other therapies, we influence significant, positive change and independence.
Occupational Therapy
The beauty of pediatric OT is that it teaches kids through what they love most - playtime! Hopebridge creates fun and supportive environments to address sensory, cognitive, perceptual and fine motor skills, including self-care and handwriting.
Speech & Language Therapy
All children communicate in some form, even if nonverbal. It's our job teach them how to communicate their wants in a way that is understood by others. This ranges from developing oral motor control to make sounds, to using words to create meaningful relationships.
Feeding & Swallowing Therapy
Our team mixes therapies for children having challenges with food. From mechanical concerns to sensory aversions, we cover it to lead your kiddo to the nutrition he or she needs, and the smoother functioning mealtimes you desire.
Family Guidance
At Hopebridge, therapy doesn't stop at the center doors. To achieve success, it's imperative parents and caregivers are involved to pursue new skills. Hopebridge offers training and support opportunities to help you bring these practices into the home.
Journey from autism diagnosis to a more independent life
- Discuss challenges with doctor
- Obtain a diagnosis
- Develop a therapy plan
- Request insurance authorization
- Work toward goals
- Transition from the program
Wondering if your child may show signs of autism?
Every child grows and develops in their own unique way. If you’re noticing differences in how your child communicates, plays or interacts with the world, you’re not alone–and you’re in the right place.
At Hopebridge, we believe in celebrating each child’s strengths while providing support that helps them thrive. Our licensed psychologists and diagnosticians specialize in early childhood evaluations for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), working with children ages 15 months to 10 years.
Backed by the trust of families, pediatricians and schools across the country, we’re here to guide you through the next steps with care and compassion.
Get a referral to determine a diagnosis
Every child’s journey is different, and so is their development. If you’re noticing unique patterns in how your child communicates, interacts, or plays, talking with your pediatrician is a great place to start.
Behaviors or challenges your child experiences may or may not be related to autism, but there is one thing in which all experts agree: early identification is key. After age 6, children are less likely to close developmental gaps, so early identification opens the door to services and support that can make a big difference in a child’s growth and confidence.
There’s no need to wait and wonder. If your pediatrician agrees a closer look could be helpful, ask for a referral for autism testing at Hopebridge. Once we receive it, we’ll follow up within 48 business hours to get things started. Hopebridge provides some of the quickest answers in the area, with trusted, insurance-recognized autism evaluations in as little as 45 days.
Craft a custom plan of care
We don’t treat a diagnosis. We support your child. An autism evaluation helps guide the direction of care, but it’s only the beginning of a journey that’s built uniquely for your child.
Because no two children are the same, we create a personalized plan of care designed to help your child grow, connect and reach meaningful milestones. Each family is supported by a dedicated team of passionate clinicians who work together to meet your child’s individual needs.
Many children benefit from a combination of therapies like applied behavior analysis (ABA), speech, feeding and occupational therapy. We begin with thorough evaluations to better understand your child’s skills, communication style and developmental needs. Goals may be to strengthen everyday routines, build language skills or get ready for preschool in the long term, we use this insight to create a clear and compassionate path forward.
With multiple coordinated therapies and natural environmental possibilities under one roof, our team collaborates to develop the most effective mix within a Hopebridge Individualized Treatment Plan (ITP) for each family.
Every child’s plan is guided by their individual evaluation results, including how often therapy sessions should take place. For many children, a consistent schedule – typically 5 days a week – leads to the most meaningful growth. Research shows that early, comprehensive intensive ABA therapy of 26 to 40 hours per week leads to the largest increase in skills with long-lasting benefits.
Our goal is to give your child the best possible start, and that begins with a plan tailored just for them.
Receive insurance authorization for autism therapy
Hopebridge accepts a number of participating insurance providers to make therapy accessible for the widest possible range of families. Because therapy coverage varies by plan, our full-service insurance team provides support from start to finish to make sure your child is eligible for applied behavior analysis (ABA therapy). For an up-to-date list of participating payers by state, click here.
During the appointment, the psychologist may use a combination of standardized measures to determine if the criteria for an autism diagnosis, as defined by the DSM-5, is met. The assessments may vary slightly from child to child, depending on a few different factors related to the individual being evaluated, such as speech level and age, as well as whether the appointment is held face-to-face or virtually. Our Care and Benefits Team can work with you to contact your child’s insurance company to obtain the proper approval for an evaluation.
After the evaluation is completed and the family receives the diagnostic report, our client advocates work directly with your insurance company to obtain authorization for therapy services. Once your child’s physician approves the plan, a Care and Benefits Coordinator can help dissect your coverage to determine the final cost.
Start the therapy your child needs to thrive
Once the logistics are cleared, that’s when the fun begins. With our Hopebridge 360 Care model, your child will receive one-on-one therapy through ABA’s evidence-based practices, often in tandem with other crucial services, like occupational and speech therapies.
All ABA programs are developed and overseen by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), but directed by caregiver input on goals. For instance, want to prepare your child for school or learn to socialize with other children? We have the experience, time and resources to start small and build our way up.
Our therapists begin with one-on-one skills, then can slowly work up to parallel play, interactive play and even mock classroom-like settings. Your child will have access to on-site clinical support, which ensures safe responses to prevent, minimize and manage behavioral challenges. Family guidance is also a crucial part of our therapy services.
Once objectives are set and plans are implemented, progress is monitored and programmatic changes are determined with help from data evaluation. Your child’s goals and progress are routinely reviewed with you, as we know caregivers play a key role in their child’s success.
Receive support through the transition process
These kiddos hold special places in our hearts forever, but it is never our intent to keep them in our centers forever. Our happiest days are those in which our little learners transition out of their programs and onto new adventures.
Just like the children we work with, transitions fall along a broad spectrum, but studies show that autistic children who receive ABA therapy for 30+ hours weekly are significantly more prepared for general education than their peers who receive other types of treatment.
Transitions are goal-driven and timelines vary. Gaining independence and catching up on developmentally age-appropriate skills are usually strong signs kids are ready to grow into the next phase. For some, this means evolving from full time to part time therapy in the center. For others, it’s progressing into preschool, kindergarten or another grade level, either in special education or regular education classrooms.
No matter which route they take, our clinicians not only help them get there, but support families throughout the transition process. Regular check-ins with families, schools and physicians are available to ensure long-term success. It’s all part of 360 Care.
The journey doesn’t end here. This is just the beginning of a beautiful life, here at Hopebridge, home and beyond.
Start now with autism testing
When it comes to autism and behavioral delays, early identification is essential to intervening at an age early enough to impact developmental growth and independence. Hopebridge provides insurance-recognized autism diagnostic evaluations to get your family the answers you need to set the stage for a lifetime. Speed is another benefit of utilizing our assessment services and can reduce your waiting time by up to six months over other providers. Assessments can be performed (and are often most beneficial) at as young as 15 months.
The answers are waiting for you and are easier to obtain than you may think…what are you waiting for? Work with us to find out what your child needs for a more fulfilling life.
Support From Start to Transition
From the start, we focus on giving children the tools they need for a lifetime. Establishing more productive communication and teaching functional skills in our centers lead to future independence. As they progress, our 360 Care programs shift with the needs and opportunities for each child.
For some, this means focusing on school-readiness with necessary skills outside of academics that children need to thrive in the classroom, followed by successfully discharging them for further education. Support doesn’t stop there. To bridge the gap between opportunities, BCBAs help align with the schools to make sure the child’s needs are included in the IEP.
Even after graduating from the center, success for our families remains important to us. Whether transitioning to preschool, elementary school or other goal environments, our therapy teams aid in whatever the next step looks like for each child.