About our Services

The SAABA partnership operates a behavior analytic therapy clinic on-site at the UTSA Downtown Campus. The clinic provides outpatient therapy for children and adolescents in Texas. Our mission is to promote the development of functional communication and social skills for individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Regardless of the developmental level of the person with autism, research now shows intervention is never too late. SAABA and its staff believe in exercising best practices and offers individualized research-based treatment and therapy to each patient. All services are designed and implemented by licensed specialists who have experience and training working with individuals with autism and related disorders.

Each patient in the program receives an initial evaluation upon beginning the ABA program. The initial assessment provides a baseline level of the patient’s performance, while at the same time providing evidence for the development of specific, measurable objectives. An individual plan will then be development to teach new social-communication, adaptive, or academic skill and treat any interfering behavior. Below is a summary of clinic services.

Teaching communication

Some individuals may need individualized plans to teach appropriate communication skills. Communication plans will involve teaching appropriate ways to ask for preferred items or activities. An individualized assessment will be conducted to identify the patient's current communication level and their preferred mode of communication. Plans may include alternative modes of communication (e.g., iPad, picture exchange system, signing) or verbal modes of communication.

Parent Training

Parent training is an ongoing process at SAABA. Once we have identified effective plans for your child, clinicians will work with the parent to train them on the interventions. Clinicians will use evidence-based teaching procedures with a focus on generalization and maintenance of treatment plans beyond the clinic setting.

Challenging Behavior

Assessment and treatment of problem behavior may be necessary for some individuals who engage in potentially harmful behaviors (such as aggression, self-injury, or property destruction). The first thing our clinicians will do is to conduct an evaluation to identify why the behavior is happening. The second step will develop a treatment protocol that is individualized to your child. The plan may include teaching appropriate skills to access preferred items or activities, changing the environment to be supportive of appropriate behaviors, and teaching appropriate skills to request breaks or a change of activity.

Teaching New Skills

New skills will be prioritized based on what is meaningful to promote independence and access to less restrictive environments. Clinicians will teach these skills using evidence-based teaching procedures (such as prompting, modeling, and positive reinforcement). Skills may be academic in nature, functional skills (such as potty training or expanding foods consumed), or any skill that will promote independence for the individual.

Physician Collaboration

Many of our clients are also patients at CHRISTUS Children's Hospital. We work in close collaboration with their expert physicians to optimize medication management. The goal is to identify a balance between medication and behavioral therapy to increase the effectiveness of the overall treatment. This relationship has even allowed some clients to reduce the amount of medication needed on a daily basis.

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