Early Intervention ABA for Toddlers in Orange County
The years between two and five are when ABA does the most. Our early intervention program brings a play-based, in-home program to your toddler or preschooler, led by a doctoral-level BCBA, with you coached every step of the way. No waitlist.
In network with Anthem Blue Cross and Aetna. Private pay welcome.
What we work on first
Communication
Requesting, pointing, first words or an augmentative system, and understanding what you say, taught through play rather than drills.
Play and imitation
Copying actions and sounds, playing with toys the way they are meant to be used, and starting to play alongside and then with other children.
Daily routines
Mealtimes, dressing, hand washing, sleep and the transitions between them, worked on where they happen: in your home.
Parent coaching
You learn the strategies as we go, so what works with the technician keeps working with you, every day.
Why early matters
Research consistently finds that children who start intensive ABA between two and five make the largest and most lasting gains in language, play and daily living skills. The brain is most adaptable, habits are still forming, and there is more time before school to build the foundations school will ask for.
Our Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI) program combines naturalistic, play-based teaching with structured practice, tracks progress on every goal, and reassesses formally every six months. Read our guides to early signs of autism in toddlers, what to do after a diagnosis and how many hours of ABA a child needs.
- Sessions at home, several short ones a day, built around naps and routines.
- Supervised by a doctoral-level BCBA who observes regularly and adjusts the plan from the data.
- Parent coaching is part of every week, not an add-on.
- Coordination with your pediatrician, Regional Center service coordinator and preschool.
Questions parents of toddlers ask
What is the youngest age you take?
Two. Our early intervention program serves children from age 2 through 5. If your child is younger than two and you have concerns, the Regional Center of Orange County's Early Start program evaluates and serves children under three at no cost, and we are glad to point you to it; call us and we will explain how.
Does my child need a diagnosis to start?
For insurance-funded ABA, yes: an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis from a licensed professional plus a physician referral. If you are still waiting for an evaluation, parent training can start sooner, and our guide explains the fastest routes to a diagnosis in California.
How many hours a week does a toddler need?
Early intensive programs typically run 20 to 40 hours a week, spread over several short sessions a day so they fit a toddler's attention span and naps. The number comes from your child's assessment and what the plan authorizes, and it is reviewed every six months.
What does a session with a two-year-old look like?
Play, mostly on the floor. The technician follows your child's interests, builds in dozens of small learning moments (a request, a look, a turn, a word), and keeps data on each. Your BCBA observes regularly and adjusts. Sessions are in your home across Orange County.
Does insurance cover early intervention ABA?
In most cases yes. California requires state-regulated health plans to cover behavioral health treatment for autism, and early intervention is the best-supported use of ABA. We are in network with Anthem Blue Cross and Aetna and welcome private-pay families.
Can we also use the Regional Center and preschool?
Yes. The Regional Center of Orange County serves children under three through Early Start and provides service coordination after that; your school district provides special education from age three through an IEP. Insurance-funded ABA, Regional Center services and school support are separate, and many families use all three.
See also in-home ABA therapy and parent training.