Guides
Clear answers on autism, speech and ABA, written to act on.
In-depth guides for parents of young children with autism, developmental delay or a speech delay, and for the therapists, RBTs and teachers who work with them. Each one answers the big question first, shows it with diagrams, and links to free tools and printables you can use today.
Pillar guides
Start with the question you have now.
- For parents and new RBTsABA therapy explainedWhat ABA therapy is, who does what, and how DTT, NET, task analysis, mands, tacts and intraverbals work, in diagrams.
- For parents and early-years teamsEarly intervention for autismWhat early intervention is, how to get it, the main approaches, how many hours, and what a week really looks like.
- For parents of toddlersSpeech delayMilestones from 12 to 36 months, late talkers, speech delay vs autism, and what to do at home while you wait.
- For parents, SLPs and teachersAAC for autismAAC devices explained: low-tech to high-tech, cost and funding, how to start, and PECS vs AAC.
- For teachers, BCBAs and parentsIEP goals for autismHow to write measurable IEP goals for autistic students, with a filterable bank of 80+ sample goals to copy.
Quick answers
The short version of each guide.
- What is ABA therapy?
- ABA therapy is a teaching approach based on applied behavior analysis: it breaks meaningful skills into small steps, teaches them with prompts and reinforcement, and measures progress every session to decide what to do next. Full guide: ABA therapy explained
- What is early intervention for autism spectrum disorder?
- Early intervention for autism spectrum disorder is individualized therapy and family support for autistic children, typically from birth to age 5, that targets communication, social interaction, play, daily living and learning skills during the years when development moves fastest. Full guide: Early intervention for autism
- What is a speech delay? Speech delay vs language delay
- A speech delay means a child says fewer words or sounds than expected for their age. A language delay means a child has trouble understanding words (receptive language) or putting words together to say what they mean (expressive language), whether by talking, signing or pointing. Full guide: Speech delay
- What is an AAC device?
- An AAC device is any tool that supplements or replaces speech, from a laminated picture board to a tablet that speaks the words a child taps. AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) also includes ways to communicate with no tool at all, like signs and gestures. Full guide: AAC for autism
- What makes a good IEP goal for a student with autism?
- A good IEP goal for autism is a measurable annual goal, written from the student’s present levels, that says under what conditions the student will do an observable skill, how well, how it will be measured and by when. Full guide: IEP goals for autism
Act on it
Free tools, printables and assessment guides.
No sign-up
Free tools
- Visual schedule maker
- Token board maker
- First-then board maker
- Social story maker
- Core word board maker
- PECS-style picture card maker
- RBT practice test
- ABA data sheet generator
- IOA calculator
- ABA graph maker
- VB-MAPP goal mapper
PDF packs
Free printables
- Autism starter kit
- Visual schedules
- Token boards
- First-then boards
- Social stories
- Picture exchange book
- Task boxes
- WH questions
- Yes/no questions
- Sequencing
For BCBAs and teams
Assessment guides
- VB-MAPP
- ABLLS-R
- VB-MAPP vs ABLLS-R vs PEAK vs AFLS
- PEAK
- AFLS
- Essential for Living
- ESDM and PEP-3
- VB-MAPP goal mapper
Studying for the RBT exam? Take the free RBT practice test
Next step
Turn the plan into daily practice.
SuperChild gives young children short, independent practice sessions with an AI coach, on the goals their therapist, teacher or parent picks, with every trial recorded.