Q. What services do you offer?
A. Our quality services include:
- Comprehensive Assessment & Evaluation which consists of the following:
- Functional Behavior Analysis & Assessment (all branch locations and international affiliates);
- Speech & Language Assessment & Evaluation (Northern California & all international affiliates);
- Occupational Therapy Assessment & Evaluation (Northern California & all International affiliates); and
- Diagnostic Assessment & Screenings (all international affiliates);
- Applied Behavior Analysis & Case Management (all branch locations and all international affiliates) which consists of the following;
- Consultancy and Related Support Services (all international affiliates);
- Consultation;
- Modified Discrete Trial Therapy (all branch locations and all international affiliates);
- Incidental Teaching/Pivotal Response Training (all branch locations and all international affiliates);
- School Shadowing/Inclusion Support (all branch locations and all international affiliates);
- Speech Therapy (Northern California and all international affiliates);
- Occupational Therapy (Northern California and all international affiliates);
- Counseling (Northern California and all international affiliates);
- Social Skill Groups and social skills training (all branch locations and all international affiliates);
- “Shining Stars” infant-development center-based program (Northern California);
- Learning Support Services for the learning impaired (all branch locations and all international affiliates);
- Parent Education (Northern & Southern California);
- Adaptive Skills Training (all branch locations and all international affiliates);
- Vocational Skills Training/Job Coaching (all branch locations and all international affiliates);
- Education & Training-Parents (all branch locations and all international affiliates);
- Education & Training-Professionals (all branch locations and all international affiliates); and
- Community Outreach Support & Recreation such as acting camps, support groups, event volunteering, etc. (all branch locations and all international affiliates).
Q. Is there a waiting list?
Home Program:
A. It depends on the location of the client and the availability of our staff in that geographical area, branch or affiliate location.
Shining Stars program:
A. Please contact our office (San Mateo or San Jose, California only) to check on enrollment availability.
Q. In what locations do you provide services?
A. We provide services in the following locations: throughout the South Bay, East Bay, North Bay and Peninsula areas of Northern California. In addition, we provide services in the following areas in Southern California: San Fernando Valley and greater Los Angeles areas. Internationally, we have affiliate offices who offer services in Dubai, UAE and surrounding GCC regions.
Q. Are you a vendor of my Regional Center?
A. We are used as a vendor by several California Regional Centers in both Northern and Southern California. However, referrals are determined based on a consumer’s Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) program. Nevertheless, parents may request for our services with their caseworker if they would like to choose Stepping Stones as their service provider (based on the child’s IFSP).
Q. Are you contracted with any school districts?
A. Yes, with many. We are a Non-Public Agency (NPA) which assists us in contracting with districts and districts contracting with us.
Q. Are you strictly an ABA program or do you use other intervention methodologies?
A. While we adhere to traditional ABA methods, our program is comprehensive and individually tailored to meet the unique needs of each child. We utilize various methodologies such as discrete trial teaching, incidental teaching, social skills training, language-based interventions, and facilitated playdates, all of which fall under the canopy of Applied Behavior Analysis. Further to this, we use a variety of other treatment methods for those individuals not diagnosed within the autism spectrum (e.g. Down’s Syndrome, Speech and Language delay, etc.).
Q. What are the ages of the children you serve?
A. We provide services for children between the ages of 18 mos. to 22 years of age. However, if a parent or school district wishes to enroll a child into our program who is over the age of 6, it is preferred that he/she has already received related services in order for us to implement an effective treatment program. Furthermore, for children over the age of 6, upon the conclusion of a behavior assessment, should the behavior consultant determine that our services are not appropriate in addressing the child’s areas of need, a referral will then be made to an organization or service provider that most appropriately addresses such treatment needs (US locations only). Internationally, we offer these services following assessment based on the parent’s agreement to services. We also accept some forms of insurance billing/claims processing. See our Director of Operations-Debra Ellis-for more information about insurance billing.
Q. Is Stepping Stones involved in the IFSP/IEP process?
A. Yes, however, we must be invited to the IFSP/IEP (whereby parents request us to attend and school districts and regional centers send a formal invitation). We provide updated reports and proposed goals and objectives at such meetings if a child is receiving or may be receiving services through our agency.
Q. Does your program supply all materials for a child’s program?
A. No, parents are responsible for purchasing materials for their child’s program or making arrangements with other sources when purchasing such materials.
Q. Can I view an actual in-home session in progress, prior to contracting with your agency for services?
A. No. Due to confidentiality and the personal privacy of our clients, we cannot permit other families to sit in and observe our clients in session. However, you may visit the following websites to view video samples of how ABA sessions are run, based on different stages of treatment, by visiting: http://www.gohfoundation.org/aba/aba_video_c1.asp
Q. How many in-home hours of ABA will my child receive?
A. We cannot predetermine the number of hours that will be recommended for any child until we have first had the opportunity to do a complete assessment on the child. Upon completion of the assessment process there will be recommendations made as to how many hours we feel would be clinically appropriate to meet the specific educational and treatment needs of the child.
