Located within STEPS Academy
Individualized care. Everyday progress.
One-on-one ABA for children ages 3–11 diagnosed with autism or related developmental differences.
Clinical ABA
Educational programming
Serving families throughout Greater Cleveland and Northeast Ohio.
Welcome
You want your child to communicate their needs, feel more comfortable in everyday routines, and develop greater independence. You also want a team that recognizes their strengths, listens to your family, and understands that progress looks different for every child.
At STEPS Institute for Child Development, we bring those priorities together through individualized clinical care, one-on-one intensive teaching sessions, and family partnership.
Located within STEPS Academy in Parma, the Institute offers opportunities to coordinate clinical ABA and educational programming in one location.
Clinical ABA
Applied behavior analysis (ABA) helps children develop useful skills through individualized teaching, positive reinforcement, and practice. At STEPS Institute, treatment connects with your child’s assessed needs and the everyday experiences that matter to your family.
A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) gets to know your child through caregiver conversations, observation, and appropriate assessments. Together, we identify priorities and develop a treatment plan with meaningful, measurable goals.
We build on what your child can already do and create opportunities to use new skills across people, activities, and settings.
Our Approach
During one-on-one intensive teaching sessions, clinical staff provide focused instruction and individualized feedback under BCBA supervision. Play, preferred activities, and everyday routines give children opportunities to practice skills in meaningful ways.
We recognize communication through speech, gestures, signs, pictures, and communication devices. Teaching reflects how your child communicates and helps them develop effective ways to make choices, express needs, and connect with others.
With appropriate consent, we collaborate with speech-language professionals to support consistent communication strategies.
We pay attention to your child’s preferences, sensory needs, and signs of discomfort. Choices, breaks, and adjustments to teaching help support engagement and participation. We teach children to ask for assistance, express preferences, and communicate when they need something to change.
A BCBA develops the treatment plan, supervises clinical staff, and reviews treatment data alongside family feedback. We explain what your child is learning, how they are responding, and when goals or strategies need to change.
Two Programs
Two distinct services. Teams that can work together.
For children enrolled in both STEPS Academy and STEPS Institute, coordinated programming can combine a half-day of individualized education with a half-day of clinical ABA in the same building. Additional clinical time may extend into the afternoon when recommended and included in the child’s schedule.
Educational programming
Guided by the child’s educational needs and Individualized Education Program (IEP).
Clinical ABA
Guided by clinical assessment and an individualized treatment plan.
With appropriate consent, educational and clinical teams share insights and coordinate communication tools, visual supports, and helpful strategies. This collaboration helps children practice and apply skills across different parts of their day.
Each program maintains its own goals, documentation, funding process, and scheduled service hours. Enrollment in STEPS Academy does not automatically include clinical ABA; clinical services require separate intake, assessment, and treatment planning.
Schedule
The Institute operates year-round, with services beginning at 8:30 a.m. Some children finish at 3:30 p.m., while others receive services beyond 3:30 p.m. and up to 5:30 p.m., depending on their prescribed treatment hours and individual schedule.
We develop your child’s schedule with you during intake. Together, we consider your child’s recommended treatment, educational programming when applicable, and your family’s needs and routines.
Services begin
Some children finish
Services beyond 3:30 p.m., depending on prescribed treatment hours and individual schedule
Family Partnership
You know your child’s strengths, routines, and challenges in ways an assessment alone cannot capture. Your perspective helps us make treatment relevant and practical.
Understand your child’s goals and teaching strategies.
Practice skills with guidance from the clinical team.
Support communication and independence during daily routines.
Talk through challenges at home or in the community.
Share progress and help shape next steps.
Our goal is to help your child use skills beyond a therapy session—and help you feel informed and supported along the way.
Contact our team to discuss your child’s diagnosis, strengths, current services, and your family’s priorities. You can ask about clinical ABA, coordinated educational programming, or both.
We review relevant records and discuss whether our services may be appropriate. Our team helps you understand insurance benefits, referral requirements, authorization steps, and anticipated costs.
A BCBA uses caregiver input, observation, and appropriate assessment tools to identify clinical needs and recommend treatment goals and hours.
We discuss recommendations, caregiver participation, scheduling preferences, and next steps. Services begin after required intake and authorization steps are complete and staffing is available.
Common Questions
We welcome inquiries for children ages 3–11 diagnosed with autism or related developmental differences. Each child’s needs are reviewed individually to determine whether our clinical services are appropriate. Insurance eligibility and coverage are reviewed separately.
No. We support children who communicate through speech, gestures, signs, pictures, or communication devices. Assessment and treatment planning reflect your child’s communication needs.
No. If toileting is an identified clinical need, our team can discuss whether it is appropriate to address within the treatment plan.
A BCBA recommends treatment hours based on an individualized clinical assessment. We discuss those recommendations with your family and consider your child’s other services when developing a schedule. Coverage and authorization requirements may affect the services available.
Yes. During intake, we work with you to develop a schedule that considers your child’s treatment needs and your family’s routines. Some schedules end at 3:30 p.m., while others extend beyond 3:30 p.m. and up to 5:30 p.m. Options depend on recommended hours, authorized services, and availability.
Yes. Children enrolled in both STEPS Academy and STEPS Institute can be considered for coordinated programming. Educational and clinical services have separate enrollment processes, plans, and service hours.
Yes. Contact the Institute directly to discuss clinical services, program fit, and scheduling availability.
Coverage depends on your child’s diagnosis, plan benefits, our participation in the plan, and required authorizations. Our team helps families verify benefits and understand anticipated out-of-pocket costs before services begin.
Educational services through STEPS Academy follow a separate funding process.
Tell us what is going well, where your child needs support, and what you hope will become easier in everyday life.
We’ll listen, answer your questions, and help you understand the options for your child and family.
Serving families throughout Greater Cleveland and Northeast Ohio.
