ABA Therapy as a Key Piece of the Multidisciplinary Puzzle: Supporting the Whole Child and Family

We often meet families who are juggling multiple therapy appointments, school meetings, doctor visits, and a host of other responsibilities while trying to find the right support for their child with autism. It can feel overwhelming—and sometimes isolating.

As Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) we want to say this clearly: you shouldn’t have to do this alone, and you shouldn’t have to choose only one type of support. That’s why we believe so strongly in the power of a multidisciplinary team—a group of professionals who work together, not in silos, to support the whole child and family.

ABA therapy plays a vital role in this team—not as the only voice, but as one of many working in harmony to meet your child’s unique needs.

What Is a Multidisciplinary Team?

A multidisciplinary team is a group of professionals from different specialties who collaborate to create a comprehensive, individualized plan for a child. This might include:

• Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs)

• Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs)

• Occupational Therapists (OTs)

• Physical Therapists (PTs)

• Developmental Pediatricians

• Special Education Teachers

• Social Workers and Counselors

  
  

Each of these providers brings a unique lens—and when their efforts are aligned, your child receives care that is cohesive, compassionate, and consistent.

How ABA Complements Other Therapies

ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) is rooted in understanding behavior: what motivates it, what maintains it, and how we can support meaningful, socially significant change.

But that doesn’t mean ABA is a one-size-fits-all approach. In a multidisciplinary setting, ABA can be tailored to work with other therapies—not against or around them.

Here’s how ABA enhances and supports a team-based approach:

✅ With Speech Therapy

• ABA helps generalize communication skills learned in speech sessions into everyday life.

• We collaborate on functional communication goals, including AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) use, to ensure consistency across environments.

• ABA therapists reinforce speech strategies during play, meals, or community outings.

  
  

✅ With Occupational Therapy

• ABA programs incorporate OT recommendations, like sensory diets or fine motor exercises, into routines.

• If a child struggles with tolerating grooming, dressing, or handwriting, ABA can help break down these tasks using gradual exposure and reinforcement.

• We can help monitor data on sensory behaviors and share patterns with the OT to inform their approach.

  
  

✅ With Physical Therapy

• For children working on mobility or balance, ABA supports motor planning through task analysis and consistent practice.

• We help integrate PT exercises into the child’s home routine with positive reinforcement and visual supports.

  
  

✅ With Mental Health Professionals

• Emotional regulation strategies developed in counseling can be supported through ABA programs that teach coping skills, self-monitoring, and mindfulness.

• We collaborate on helping children identify and communicate feelings using behavior-based teaching tools.

  
  

Supporting the Whole Family

One of the core values at Pathways to Potential is that families are experts on their children. As BCBAs, we’re not just working with a child—we’re partnering with parents, siblings, caregivers, and school teams to create lasting, meaningful change.

In a multidisciplinary setting, that means:

• Coordinating team meetings to ensure everyone is on the same page

• Sharing data and observations with other providers

• Aligning goals so that strategies at home, school, and therapy are consistent

• Advocating for a child’s needs across systems

  
  

When we work together, families experience less stress, more clarity, and better outcomes.

Why This Matters

Children with autism are beautifully diverse in their strengths, needs, and preferences. Some may benefit most from intensive communication support. Others may need help with regulation, feeding, motor skills, or social connection. There is no single “right” therapy—only the right combination for your child.

ABA doesn’t need to operate in isolation. When done ethically and compassionately, it becomes one part of a cohesive, individualized plan—a plan that sees your child not as a diagnosis, but as a whole person.

At Pathways to Potential, we take pride in being a collaborative partner in your child’s journey. We work closely with speech therapists, OTs, schools, and medical teams to ensure that every goal we work on serves not just a behavior, but a life skill—something that builds confidence, connection, and independence.

If you’re looking for a therapy team that sees your child for who they are and values every piece of the puzzle, we’re here to help.

If you’d like to learn more about our collaborative approach or schedule a consultation, please visit info@pathways2potential.org or reach out to us directly. We’d love to walk this path with you.