What is ABA?
What We Know: Autism & Georgia
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition that affects how individuals communicate, interact, learn, and experience the world around them. Awareness and diagnosis have continued to grow in recent years — both nationally and here in Georgia.
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According to the CDC’s 2024 report, 1 in 31 children (3.2%) aged 8 in the U.S. have been diagnosed with ASD — an increase from 1 in 36 in 2020 and 1 in 44 in 2018.
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Early detection is improving: children born in 2016 were 1.6 times more likely to be diagnosed by age 4 than those born in 2012.
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Nationwide, about 1 in 6 children has a developmental disability or delay, highlighting the importance of early screening and intervention.
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In Georgia, approximately 1 in 64 children is diagnosed with ASD — a rate slightly lower than the national average.
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As of May 2023, there were 856 Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) in the state, serving an estimated 40,000 children with ASD — a ratio of just 1 BCBA for every 46 children.
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Georgia was the 41st state to pass legislation requiring insurance coverage for ABA therapy.
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In 2015, Ava’s Law expanded insurance coverage for children with autism, and in 2018, Georgia Medicaid began offering ABA benefits — significantly improving access to care for more families.
At Limitless, we’re committed to being part of the solution. We advocate for access, equity, and excellence in autism care — and we’re here to help you navigate this journey with knowledge, transparency, and compassion.
What is ABA?
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a science-based approach to understanding and improving behavior. It’s been widely used for decades and is considered the gold standard in autism treatment by many leading medical and psychological organizations.
At its core, ABA focuses on how behavior works, why it happens, and how the environment affects it. Using this information, therapists can help individuals build important life skills while reducing behaviors that may be harmful or disruptive.
ABA is:
● Evidence-based – backed by decades of research showing its effectiveness.
● Individualized – no two children are the same, so no two treatment plans should be either.
● Data-driven – decisions are based on ongoing observation and measurable progress.
● Functional – we look at why a behavior is happening before trying to change it.
Rather than using a one-size-fits-all model, ABA is personalized to support communication, independence, social interaction, emotional regulation, and more. It helps us identify which behaviors are helpful, which ones may be getting in the way, and what can be done to create positive change.
The ultimate goal of ABA is simple: to increase meaningful skills and reduce dangerous or interfering behaviors, so each individual can thrive and experience the highest possible quality of life.
Collaboration
Collaboration is the key to your child's success. At Limitless, we pride ourselves on collaborating with physicians, speech therapists, occupational therapists, teachers, and any/all other members of your child's clinical team. Our staff believes that in order to truly provide a comprehensive plan of care, we must communicate with other professionals that care for your child. Additionally, we understand the importance of consistency and continuity of care for you and your family. For this reason, our promise is that we will be proactive in coordinating meetings, responsive to inquiries, and dedicated to contributing our skills, ideas, and experiences to produce meaningful results in your child's life.
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