In short
It starts with a phone call. When a spot opens, your child has a free clinical intake, then starts sessions. Your Clinical Supervisor completes the assessment and first report within 30 days. After that, you get a progress report every six months. You do not need a diagnosis to start.
- No diagnosis needed
- Free clinical intake
- First report within 30 days
- Progress report every 6 months
For families of children and teens ages 2 to 18, AlphaBee offers Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) services in Etobicoke, Scarborough and Hamilton, with options at home, at school and online. It starts with a conversation about your child and the support you are looking for.
You might be exploring services for the first time, waiting for a diagnosis or moving from another provider. This guide explains the steps from your first call through the first 90 days of ABA.
What happens when I first get in touch?
We start with a phone call to learn about your child and answer your questions about services, fees and scheduling.
If you are ready to start services with AlphaBee, we add your child to our list of families waiting for service. When a suitable service spot becomes available, we contact you with an offer.
We discuss the service hours and schedule your family is looking for, and whether you prefer centre-based or home-based sessions. Service hours are agreed on before your child’s clinical intake.
If you accept the offered spot, the next step is your child’s free clinical intake. This gives us a closer look at your child’s skills, strengths and the goals that matter to your family, and helps the team plan their support.
Do I need a diagnosis to start?
No. A diagnosis is not required to contact AlphaBee or begin services.
Our intake team, which includes a Clinical Supervisor, helps identify the right service based on your child’s skills, needs and your family’s priorities. We can discuss support while you are waiting for a diagnostic assessment or exploring your options. Our guide, Autism Assessment in Ontario, explains how to get a diagnosis.
The assessment used to plan your child’s ABA program is different from a diagnostic assessment. It helps us understand what to teach and how to support learning. Tell us if a diagnostic appointment is already booked or if you have existing reports.
Early Intervention also supports younger children from 18 months. Our intake team can explain the options for your child’s age.
What happens at the assessment?
Assessment is part of your child’s service and begins once sessions start.
Your child takes part in activities, and we set up opportunities for them to respond so we can see their current skills. Your Clinical Supervisor completes the assessment and initial report within 30 days of services beginning.
Example: some activities may involve matching objects or pictures, following a simple instruction or taking turns during play.
We may also create an opportunity for your child to ask for something they want. This helps us see what they can do on their own and where they need support.
We draw from a range of established assessment tools to understand your child’s current skills, strengths and areas for growth. Depending on their age, needs and goals, this may include tools such as the VB-MAPP, EBIC, AFLS, EFL or ESDM. The goal isn’t simply to produce a score — it’s to build a meaningful starting point for individualized programming and measuring progress over time.
We also ask what you see at home. Tell us about skills your child uses with familiar people or in daily routines. This helps us build a fuller picture and choose useful goals.
Who will work with my child?
Your child works directly with an Instructor Therapist (IT), with oversight from a Clinical Supervisor.
Before services begin, we share the names of your child’s team members with you. You will know who is working with your child and who to contact with questions.
The Instructor Therapist works with your child during sessions and records information about their learning. The Clinical Supervisor reviews that information, guides teaching and helps the team adjust goals as your child’s skills and needs change.
AlphaBee’s Clinical Supervisors are Registered Behaviour Analysts with the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario. We explain each team member’s role and who to contact about programming or scheduling.
Will you contact my child’s school and previous providers?
Yes. We gather the background.
With your consent, we connect with your child’s school and any previous provider to collect the relevant information. We also speak with you about your experience with your child. Understanding what you see at home, what is working and where you would like support helps us plan services around your child and family.
Existing assessments and learning plans help us build on work already underway. During our conversation with you, we ask about your child’s interests, communication and daily routines, as well as your questions and priorities. We also discuss how we can work with other providers currently supporting your child.
If your child needs an extended intake for more intensive support with behaviours, we require information from previous providers. Our intake team will explain what records are needed and discuss how to obtain them with your permission.
How do you decide what my child works on?
You set learning goals together with your Clinical Supervisor, using the assessment findings and your family’s priorities.
Your Clinical Supervisor considers your child’s strengths, current skills and support needs, then identifies what to teach next. Goals focus on everyday participation, communication and independence, with teaching approaches selected to suit how your child learns.
A priority might be asking for help, joining a game, managing a change in routine or completing part of a daily task. These are examples of possible goals, not a standard list every child follows.
Tell us what would make a difference in your child’s day. We break broader goals into teachable steps and consider how to practice them at home, at school or in the community.
How will I know my child is making progress?
We track your child’s progress against their own starting point and individual goals.
Data from every session is recorded in Hive, AlphaBee’s clinical data tool, and reviewed by your Clinical Supervisor. That information helps the team understand what is changing, where support is still needed and what to work on next.
What you notice at home matters, too. Tell the team when a skill appears in a daily routine or remains difficult outside sessions.
What’s in a progress report?
Your first assessment report is completed within 30 days of starting services. It explains your child’s skills and guides their goals. For ongoing ABA programs, formal progress reports follow every six months. These reports summarize progress towards goals and the next steps in programming, using assessment findings and session information.
Ask your Clinical Supervisor to explain any unfamiliar terms and how the information relates to your child’s daily life.
“There’s no average child. We track where yours began, where they are now, and what to work on next.”
Shikha Rajput, Director of Operations
What do the first 90 days look like?
The first 90 days begin with getting to know your child.
Assessment takes place during sessions, with the assessment and report completed within 30 days of services beginning. Your Clinical Supervisor uses this information to develop an individual plan, then reviews session data to guide teaching and any changes.
- First sessions Your child meets their Instructor Therapist and becomes familiar with the setting. Share their interests, how they communicate and anything that helps them feel comfortable.
- First month We complete the assessment and report to help identify strengths and priorities.
- The weeks that follow Teaching focuses on the individual plan, with Hive data informing adjustments.
The pace depends on your child and their schedule; 90 days is not a deadline for reaching a particular skill.
To prepare for the first session, confirm the location, arrival time and what to bring. Ask about food, personal-care supplies and comfort items relevant to your child. Tell the team about allergies, medical needs and communication supports. You can also ask how to explain the visit to your child in a way they will understand.
Free printable: Getting ready for your child’s first ABA session. A one-page checklist to take to any provider you are starting with, including us.
When should I get in touch?
It’s worth reaching out if:
- You are exploring services for the first time.
- You are waiting for a diagnosis and want to talk about support in the meantime.
- You are moving from another provider.
- You have questions about services, fees or scheduling.
At AlphaBee, a Clinical Supervisor plans your child’s goals with you. An Instructor Therapist works with your child in sessions.
How soon can we start?
Your start date depends on the recommended service, the session times your family needs and the availability of a suitable team.
Our intake and services teams explain the next steps and discuss scheduling with you. Contact us for current availability at your preferred centre or for services in another setting.
Let us know whether you have a preferred location, fixed school hours or flexibility in your weekly schedule. If you are moving from another provider, share any planned end date so we can discuss the transition. Before your child begins, confirm the schedule, service details and required paperwork with our team.
To get started, call 416-622-9979 or email info@alphabee.com. Tell us a little about your child and the support you are looking for. Our intake team will help you understand the next step.