Little
Green
Tugboat
Our Mission
To support and empower children with communicative, behavioral and social challenges, and their families in achieving independence and an improved quality of life through a naturalistic, sustainable, evidence-based, whole child approach.
What is ABA?
Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is a socially relevant, evidence-based therapeutic approach that is widely used in the treatment of autism spectrum disorders. ABA is based in B.F. Skinner’s behavioral theory, which states that behavior can be shaped by its consequences, both positive and negative (i.e., operant conditioning). Positive consequences (i.e., reinforcement) increase the likelihood that the behavior will continue and/or increase. Conversely, negative consequences (I.e., punishment, lack of reinforcement) are likely to decrease the behavior.
There are many models of therapy under the ABA umbrella that are currently used to treat individuals with autism spectrum disorders (e.g., Lovaas method, PRT, ESDM, etc..), each intended to increase functional skills that are relevant to the individual’s life, including building and sustaining social relationships, independently functioning and navigating society.
Professional Training
Lovaas
Method
(DTT)
The Lovaas Method is a model of ABA widely used to treat individuals with autism spectrum disorders. The Lovaas Method consists of highly structured, intensive teaching sequences targeting skills through repetitive and systematic drills in a one-to-one format (i.e. discrete trial training, or DTT).
Picture Exchange
Communication
Systems (PECS)
PECS is a type of augmentative and alternative communication system used to aid individuals who are pre-verbal to effectively communicate with others. PECS utilizes visual symbols in social exchanges with a communication partner for desired items or actions. PECS can help a learner understand the representation of language for items.
Early Start
Denver Model
(ESDM)
ESDM is a model of ABA used to treat young children with autism spectrum disorders using a naturalistic, play-based approach. ESDM emphasizes parent training and focuses treatment on functional relationship-based skills including joint attention, social communication and play.
TEACCH
Method
The TEACCH method focuses on building upon the strengths of the individuals with autism spectrum disorders by modifying the environment and teaching in a way that caters to those strengths. Based on the idea that individuals with autism are visual learners, TEACCH provides visual- and sequence-heavy strategies to teach skills.
Pivotal Response
Training
(PRT)
PRT is a model of ABA used to treat individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Adapted from the Lovaas Method, PRT prioritizes the teaching of core pivotal skills as fundamental to development. While PRT may utilize discrete trial training (DTT) as a teaching technique, repetition and intensity of practice are embedded more naturalistically.
Natural Environment Training (NET)
NET is a method of teaching which prioritizes and utilizes the naturalistic environment for teaching skills. For young children, NET is implemented through play and naturalistic routines.
Hanen
Program
The Hanen program is a parent-training program used to teach parents how to increase their child’s communication skills through building relationships and connections with the world. The Hanen program uses a variety of teaching techniques within a developmental framework to teach children with limited verbal communication skills.
Incidental
Teaching
Incidental teaching is a technique within the ABA approach, which utilizes naturally occurring opportunities for teaching skills. The child’s interest is prioritized as a natural source of motivation and teaching is embedded into motivating activities and routines.
Philosophy & Approach
We target comprehensive skills-building and behavior management in partnership with parents, caregivers and teachers within the home, school and community settings. As each child’s developmental needs are assessed, the priority needs of the family as a whole are also assessed and embedded as an integral part of the treatment model and service delivery. Treatment is individualized, as each child's and family’s needs are unique.
Our Core Values
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Connecting with the child in terms of strengths, interests and motivation as a foundation for building a positive and productive therapeutic relationship.
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Empowering families by coaching and training parents and caregivers to create positive change within the child.
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Assessing comprehensively, accurately and continuously in order to create meaningful and appropriate therapeutic targets.
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Collaborating with all team members of a child’s therapeutic team as fundamental to maximal success.
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Cultivating an environment that promotes inclusion, tolerance and equality in each child, family and team member.
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Utilizing the most naturalistic methods and interventions necessary to create positive behavioral change and skills development to best ensure functionality, generalization and maintenance of skills.
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Continuing professional development and education to ensure that treatment models and strategies are consistent and compatible with evidence-based information as the field continues to evolve.
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Service Delivery
Parent/Caregiver training:
Sessions are highly focused on parent/caregiver involvement, training and coaching. We believe the most effective and sustainable model of treatment is to empower parents/caregivers with the tools and strategies that are most effective in fostering their child’s growth in all areas of development.
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Direct service:
Individual therapy sessions consist of naturalistic, activity-/routines-based ABA sessions within the home or community, typically one-to-one but may involve siblings and/or peers.
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School support:
School consultation is provided to self-contained, inclusive and general education classrooms in various forms, including administering functional behavior assessments (FBAs), writing behavior intervention plans (BIPs), providing professional development trainings (PDs) to school staff and/or providing one-to-one direct support to the child within the school day.
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Short-term targeted intervention:
Specific skills (e.g., transitions, sleep training, feeding, etc..) may be targeted in a short-term intervention program consisting of six to ten weeks of parent/caregiver coaching and training.
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About Our Founder
Stephanie Koh, MA, BCBA, LBA is a New York State licensed and board-certified behavior analyst. She has been treating children with autism spectrum disorders since 1999.
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Stephanie firmly believes that the treatment and support of the whole family system is integral to the developmental success of each child. She employs a naturalistic, play-based, family-/child-centered model of treatment that looks to improve the quality of life for the entire family.
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As a behavioral therapist, autism consultant, parent coach and special educator, Stephanie practices naturalistic applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy, which she studied with leading ABA researcher, Dr. Ivar Lovaas (1927-2010), at UCLA. ABA is the most effective model of treatment for children with autism spectrum disorders; it ensures meaningful learning, generalization of skills and continuation of building skills transactionally through everyday life.
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