The University of Washington Autism Center, Tacoma Satellite

At The University of Washington Autism Center, Tacoma Satellite, we understand that it can be difficult to know when your child may need speech therapy. Speech therapy is an important part of early intervention for children with autism, as it helps them learn effective ways to communicate. While it might be obvious when a child is having difficulty speaking, there are other indicators that can help you recognize if your child needs speech therapy, such as difficulty responding to questions, initiating or ending conversations, changing conversation topics, and understanding other people’s body language. For more information on speech therapy, please visit our guide which provides everything you need to know.

At the University of Washington Autism Center Tacoma Satellite, our speech therapists can help your child communicate effectively across all environments. Our speech therapists can work with your child on nonverbal skills, such as signs or gestures, helping them to formulate speech in a clearer way, communicating thoughts and feelings clearly, understanding and responding to questions, discerning facial expressions and their corresponding emotions, noticing and understanding body language, feeding, and swallowing. We also offer Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) to help your child express themselves.

At The University of Washington Autism Center Tacoma Satellite, we offer Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy – a science-based approach to helping children and adults learn to improve their communication skills, social skills, and daily living skills while reducing problematic or challenging behaviors. Our goal with ABA is to empower individuals to gain independence and lead fulfilling lives. Find out everything you need to know about ABA therapy with our comprehensive guide.

At The University of Washington Autism Center, Tacoma Satellite, we understand how important it is to make the right decision for your child. We want to help you decide if applied behavior analysis (ABA) is the right option for your family. ABA looks to improve communication skills, introduce productive habits, and reduce harmful behaviors. However, you should be aware of potential providers who may seek to “cure” autism. We believe that high quality ABA therapy should focus on helping individuals learn all that they can so they can reach their potential while embracing their individual qualities. If you’re considering ABA therapy, we have a full guide available to help you start and end your therapy journey.

At the University of Washington Autism Center Tacoma Satellite, you may be wondering, “How much does ABA therapy cost?” The answer is that ABA is typically covered by insurance if your child has an autism diagnosis. Autism is the only diagnosis that insurance will typically authorize for ABA services, due to the extensive research into its benefits. Before you seek services for ABA therapy, it is important to check with your insurance plan to make sure it is covered for your child’s diagnosis and that the provider you are seeking care from is in-network. To further assist you in understanding everything you need to know about ABA therapy, we have created a comprehensive guide that you can find online.