Multi-Specialty Treatment for Autism in Lakeland
The Alternatives ABA team will support your child with coordinated autism care including ABA therapy, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, and more.
For years, I searched for an ABA center where clinicians would see my son’s brilliance, not just his diagnosis. I wanted to work with his BCBA and be viewed as a critical member of the team, rather than drive from place to place trying to get everyone on the same page.
When I couldn’t find what we needed, I founded Alternatives ABA: exceptional family- and child-centered ABA, SLP, and OT, all under one roof. Our team of compassionate clinicians work together across their specialties to ensure the very best outcomes. We’re so excited to bring this model of care to Lakeland, Florida.
Our hope is to make your journey easier and less stressful, to make your child’s therapy more fun and impactful, and to offer you a community of care. Join us for a tour. We can’t wait to meet you!
Susan Habchy, MPA, MEd, BCBA, LABA, LBA
How to Find Our Lakeland Center
Location:
1818 Harden Blvd, Lakeland, FL 33803
Center Hours:
Monday – Friday,
8am – 6pm
Phone:
863-456-7148
From Polk Pkwy/FL-570, take Exit 5 toward FL-563/Harden Blvd and merge onto Drane Field Rd.
After Drane Field Rd becomes S Parkway Frontage Rd, turn left onto Harden Blvd.
Alternatives ABA — Lakeland, FL
Alternatives ABA — Lakeland, FL
Get Started With ABA Therapy in Lakeland
Customized, Compassionate ABA Therapy in Lakeland, FL
Our approach focuses on collaborative care to provide better support to your child and your entire family.
We are now accepting clients, with little to no wait time, for all of our programs.
Home- and Community-Based ABA
We offer both home- and center-based ABA to provide hands-on therapy and fun in the environment best suited for your child’s success.
Center-Based ABA
Join us for intensive one-on-one therapy supervised by skilled BCBAs at our center. Trampolines, swings, toys, a cardio gym for our older kiddos, and an outdoor play space for all!
Telehealth
If in-person care isn’t an option, our specialists are just as skilled and animated during our HIPAA-compliant remote ABA, speech, and occupational therapies.
Pre-K/Kindergarten Readiness Programs
Help your child prepare for the structure of a classroom. Your two- to five-year-old will love our small groups where therapists sneak pre-academic skills into the fun.
Social and Functional Living Skills Programs
Build your community with other families through our ABA-based social and fitness groups. We also offer group outings, parent and caregiver education, as well as sibling support groups.
Occupational Therapy
Does your child have feeding, sensory, or coordination challenges? Our OT specialists will work to develop your child’s fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and more to help them thrive.
Speech Therapy
Whether it’s a speech delay or language challenge, our highly specialized providers help your child communicate feelings, desires, and ideas — giving them the independence they crave.
Expressive Therapies
Music and art turn therapy into passionate expression and a source of self-esteem for children of all ages and abilities.
Our Mission at Alternatives ABA Lakeland
MISSION
To improve the overall quality of life of individuals and families impacted by autism by providing exceptional strength-based child- and family-centered therapies and family supports based on the principles and practices of applied behavior analysis (ABA).
VISION
We envision a world where all children are recognized for their individual strengths, not their deficits, and where all families impacted by autism have access to the services and support they need in order to live their best possible lives.
CORE VALUE
A well-supported family is better able to support the child.
MEGAN PIERCE, BCBA
Director of Clinical Operations
Megan is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over 10 years of experience providing services to individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families. She believes that partnering with families, schools, and other professionals is the best way to help clients maintain acquired skills and generalize them across settings.
Education: M.Ed. in Special Education and Severe Disabilities, Vanderbilt University; Graduate research assistant, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD)
Experience: 10+ years as a BCBA, Clinic Director, and Researcher
Areas of Focus: Music and naturalistic teaching, utilizing play for skill development, and functional communication
Frequently Asked Questions
What is autism?
Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a broad range of challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication triggered by genetic and environmental factors. People with autism may have varying abilities, and some people with autism require lifelong support, while others can live independently.
What are the signs of autism?
Some common signs of autism include:
- Eye contact avoidance
- Speech or communication delay
- Reliance on routines or self-imposed rules
- Intolerance of minor changes in routine
- Disruptive reactions to sounds, tastes, sights, touch, and smells
- Difficulty interpreting emotions
- Obsession with a narrow range of interests or objects
- Repetitive behavior (i.e. flapping, rocking, or tapping)
- Inability to respond to one’s name by 12 months
- Inability to point out distant objects by 14 months
How is autism diagnosed?
Pediatricians, psychologists, neurologists, and other medical professionals rely on your description of your child’s developmental history, then assess behavior using a variety of diagnostic tools. The earlier the diagnosis is made and ABA and skills training begin, the better outcomes you can expect.
What is ABA?
Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is a series of learning interventions based on the science of learning and behavior. The goal of ABA is to increase behaviors that are helpful and decrease behaviors that are harmful to a meaningful degree and to demonstrate that these interventions are responsible for behavior improvement.
How does ABA work?
ABA therapists observe a child’s every behavior, then either increase or decrease it through exercises and interventions. They work to improve communication, social skills, academics, reading, and adaptive living skills such as gross and fine motor skills, toileting, dressing, eating, personal self-care, domestic skills, and work skills.
Do I need insurance?
Insurance is not required, but having insurance coverage will help to cover the cost of your child’s ABA therapy.
What insurance plans do you accept?
You can find insurance requirements for autism spectrum disorder on the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s website. For autism statutes specific to the Sunshine State, visit the official site of the Florida Legislature.
