Applied Behavioral Learning Experiences - Lakeland

Understanding your child's ABA therapy plan can feel overwhelming at first, but it is designed specifically for your child's unique needs and goals.

Early intervention ABA therapy often focuses on building communication, social skills, daily living skills, and emotional regulation.

Every goal is broken down into manageable steps so your child can learn, grow, and gain confidence over time.

Parents play an important role in the process by helping reinforce skills at home and celebrating progress along the way.

Visit our blog to learn more about what goes into an ABA therapy plan and how it supports your child's success.

Link: https://applied-behavioral.com/understanding-your-childs-aba-therapy-plan-at-an-early-age-for-kids-with-autism/

🌟 GOOD NEWS BRANDON! 🌟
We have Immediate In-Clinic ABA Therapy Openings for Children with Autism

Looking for a supportive, fun environment where your child can thrive? Applied Behavioral Services has open spots available right now at our Brandon clinic!

Contact us for more info.

Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. As more families turn to ABLE for ABA therapy services, we're looking for compassionate professionals who want to make a lasting difference in the lives of children with autism.

We are currently hiring BCBAs and RBTs for our clinics in:

📍 Lakeland
📍 Brandon
📍 Plant City
📍 Tampa
📍 Clearwater

We have full-time and part-time opportunities available, competitive pay, great benefits, and a supportive team that truly feels like family.

For more than 22 years, ABLE has been helping children build brighter futures through high-quality ABA therapy. As we continue to grow, we're looking for dedicated professionals who share our passion for making a meaningful impact.

If you're ready to build a rewarding career where your work changes lives every day, we'd love to meet you.

📩 Apply today and become part of the ABLE family. Together, we can help even more children reach their fullest potential. 💙🌟

Summer break is an exciting time for children, but for many families of children with autism, it can also bring challenges. Without the structure and routine of the school day, some children may struggle with transitions, social interactions, or staying engaged throughout the day. The good news is that summer can also be an incredible opportunity for growth.

By participating in fun, purposeful activities, children can continue developing important communication, social, motor, and daily living skills while enjoying their break from school.

At ABLE, we believe learning happens everywhere, which is why we incorporate many of these activities into our Summer Camp Program, in addition to our regular ABA therapy sessions.

If you’re looking for ways to help your child continue growing this summer, here are ten activities that can make a difference.

1. Water Play and Sensory Activities
Water tables, sprinklers, splash pads, and supervised pool activities are great ways to encourage sensory exploration and social interaction. Water play can help children practice sharing, requesting items, following directions, and tolerating different sensory experiences.

These activities also create opportunities to work on communication goals in a natural and enjoyable environment.

2. Arts and Crafts
Creative activities help children develop fine motor skills, attention, following directions, and self-expression. Painting, coloring, building, or creating themed summer crafts, help children have opportunities to make choices, communicate preferences, and feel proud of their accomplishments.

Arts and crafts also encourage flexibility and creativity, which can be valuable developmental skills.

3. Outdoor Scavenger Hunts
Scavenger hunts combine movement, problem-solving, communication, and observation skills. Children can practice following instructions, identifying objects, taking turns, and working cooperatively with peers.

This activity is easily adaptable for different ages and ability levels.

4. Social Skills Games
Summer is the perfect time to practice social skills in a fun and supportive setting. Group games like Jenga, Uno, Guess Who, Sorry!, etc; help children learn how to:

Take turns
Follow rules
Communicate with peers
Handle winning and losing
Work as part of a team
These experiences build confidence that can carry over into school and community settings.

5. Community Outings
Trips to parks, libraries, museums, or local community events help children practice important real-world skills. Community outings provide opportunities to work on safety awareness, communication, flexibility, and social interaction in new environments.

Learning how to navigate different settings helps children become more independent and confident.

6. Obstacle Courses and Movement Activities
Physical activities help improve coordination, balance, motor planning, and body awareness. Obstacle courses can be designed to encourage following directions, problem-solving, and persistence while keeping children active and engaged.

Movement activities are also a great way to support children who benefit from sensory input throughout the day.

7. Cooking and Snack Preparation
Simple cooking activities teach much more than food preparation. Children practice:

Following directions
Sequencing steps
Fine motor skills
Safety awareness
Independence
These activities also create natural opportunities for communication and decision-making.

8. Story Time and Interactive Reading
Reading together helps build language, listening, and comprehension skills. Interactive story time can encourage children to answer questions, identify emotions, predict outcomes, and practice conversational skills.

Books also provide excellent opportunities to discuss social situations and problem-solving.

9. Pretend Play Activities
Pretend play helps children develop imagination, communication, and social understanding. Activities like playing restaurant, grocery store, doctor, or camping encourage children to engage in conversations, role-play different scenarios, and practice flexible thinking.

These skills are important for both social development and future school success.

One of the best ways to combine learning, socialization, and fun is through a structured summer camp environment. Summer camps allow children to participate in a variety of activities while practicing communication, social interaction, independence, and behavioral goals.

At ABLE, our Summer Camp Program includes many of these activities and more. Children enjoy engaging experiences while continuing to receive support that aligns with their individual goals.

Best of all, camp activities are offered in addition to their regular ABA therapy hours, allowing them to continue making meaningful progress throughout the summer.

Is Summer Time Just for a Fun Time?
While summer should absolutely be fun, it can also be a valuable time for children to continue developing skills that support long-term success. Structured activities help maintain routines, encourage social interaction, and prevent skill regression during the school break.

By combining learning with enjoyable experiences, children can continue building confidence, independence, and meaningful relationships.

Top 5 Questions Parents Ask About Early Autism Intervention

Receiving an autism diagnosis can bring a lot of questions, and that's completely normal. One of the most important things parents can do is learn about early intervention and the support available for their child.

Here are 5 common questions we hear from families:

1. What Is Early Autism Intervention?

Early intervention refers to services and therapies provided during the first few years of a child's life, typically before they enter kindergarten.

2. How Early Can My Child Start ABA Therapy?

Many parents are surprised to learn that children can begin ABA therapy as early as 18 months old.

3. Will ABA Therapy Help My Child Learn to Communicate?

Communication is one of the most common concerns parents have after an autism diagnosis.

Every child communicates differently. Some children may be verbal, while others may use gestures, pictures, or assistive communication devices. ABA therapy helps children build functional communication skills so they can express their wants, needs, feelings, and ideas more effectively.

4. What Does ABA Therapy Actually Look Like?

Early intervention therapy is often play-based and highly individualized. Children may learn through games, songs, social activities, pretend play, and everyday routines.

Therapists create opportunities for learning throughout natural interactions, making sessions engaging and meaningful while targeting specific developmental goals.

5. How Can Parents Be Involved?

ABA therapy does not stop when a session ends. Families are encouraged to participate, learn strategies, and practice skills at home. This consistency helps children apply what they learn across different environments and situations.

The earlier support begins, the more opportunities children have to build communication, social, and daily living skills before they enter school.

At ABLE, we provide ABA therapy for children with autism in Lakeland, Brandon, Tampa, Clearwater, and Plant City. Join our waitlist today and learn how ABA therapy can help your child thrive.

Great clinicians deserve more than just a 1099 contract. They deserve a team, a support system, and a place to grow.

That's why at ABLE, when we hire, we hire as employees. Our team members receive the benefits, stability, and support that come with being part of an organization that values long-term relationships and professional development.

For over 22 years, ABLE has been providing ABA therapy services throughout Central Florida in Lakeland, Tampa, Brandon, Clearwater and Plant City, helping children and families thrive while building a strong clinical team dedicated to excellence.

If you are a BCBA or RBT looking to build a meaningful career in ABA therapy, our doors are open. We want to provide you the mentorship, growth opportunities, stability, and a workplace that feels like family.

As we continue to grow, we are welcoming new clinicians who share our passion for making a difference in the lives of children and families.
Join a team that has been thriving for 22 years and help us continue making an impact for years to come.

Send me a message if you'd like to join the team, I am looking forward to connecting with you.

What Should Parents Expect From Early Intervention ABA Therapy? 💙

Starting an Early Intervention Program can feel overwhelming at first, but knowing what to expect can help families feel more confident about the journey ahead.

Here’s what Early Intervention ABA Therapy focuses on:

✨ Building communication skills: Helping children express wants, needs, and emotions more effectively.

🧩 Improving social interaction: Teaching skills like eye contact, turn-taking, play, and connecting with others.

🎯 Learning through play: Therapy for toddlers and preschoolers is fun, engaging, and play-based.

🏡 Parent involvement: Families learn strategies to continue supporting progress at home.

🌱 Developing independence: Children practice routines and everyday skills that prepare them for school and daily life.

⏳ Celebrating small milestones: Every step matters, from waving goodbye to asking for help.

At ABLE, we provide ABA therapy for kids with autism in Lakeland, Tampa, Brandon, Clearwater, and Plant City, helping children grow with confidence through early intervention.

👉 Visit our blog to learn more
📞 Join our waitlist today and start your journey with ABLE

Great news!!

New Florida Law raises questions about autism support within school districts Tallahassee, Fla. -- Florida teachers and school administrators will soon be required to complete autism-specific training each year under a new law supporters

Social skills are more than just making friends.

They include important everyday abilities such as:

- Making eye contact
- Responding to their name
- Taking turns Playing with others
- Expressing emotions and needs
- Following simple directions

For some children with autism, these skills may not develop naturally or may take extra support and practice.

This is where early intervention becomes so important.

The earlier children begin learning these foundational skills, the easier it can be for them to build relationships and adapt to social environments before preschool.

At ABLE, we provide Early Intervention ABA therapy in Lakeland, Tampa, Brandon, Clearwater, and Plant City, supporting families every step of the way.

👉 Want to learn more? Visit our blog
📞 Ready to start? Contact us today and begin your journey