Accessing Services
ABA Treatment for Children Ages 1-10
Demand for services is high so there may be several delays in accessing services. We recommend starting the process as soon as possible.
The Offerdahl Autism Discovery Center (OADC) offers focused applied behavioral analysis (ABA) treatment. ABA is different from comprehensive treatment in that comprehensive treatment is typically much more intense than focused treatment. Focused ABA treatment targets a few specific goals at any given time.
The OADC is working toward the development of a comprehensive ABA program in the future. If your child needs a comprehensive program, there are a number of local ABA providers who provide comprehensive treatment. We recommend you contact one of those providers.
Currently, the Offerdahl Autism Discovery Center serves children ages 1 through 10.
- Third party funding: Coverage can be provided through the State of Minnesota. This is known as Medical Assistance. The benefit is entitled Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention (EIDBI). In Minnesota, children with autism can qualify for this coverage, regardless of income.
- At this time, we cannot accept private commercial insurance such as Optum, Blue Cross Blue Shield, etc. We hope to accept these third party payors in the future.
SMRT Eligibility
To be eligible for services with, a child must be certified disabled. This certification can be complete through a process called SMRT.
- Medical diagnosis needed: If you suspect your child has autism, the first step is to seek an evaluation with psychological testing for autism. Your child needs a medical diagnosis which is different than a school classification. If your child receives services at school for autism, the school evaluation alone may not be sufficient to access funding through the State of Minnesota. Contact a medical or mental health provider for an assessment, or locate a provider at MinnesotaHelp.info.
- After medical diagnosis: Complete an application for EIDBI online at mnsure.org as soon as possible. If you have questions or need help filling out the application, call the Minnesota Health Care Programs Member Helpdesk at (651) 431-2670 or toll free at (800) 657-3739. If you need language assistance, ask for interpretation services.
- More information can be found in the Minnesota Autism Resource Portal.
- Accessing EIDBI benefits: Watch this six-chapter video about accessing the EIDBI benefit.
- Final step: Complete our application.
What is Applied Behavior Analysis?
Behavior analysis is a natural science focused on understanding the behavior of individuals. Behavior analysts recognize that behavior is something people do, not who they are; that behavior is learned; and that there are specific factors in an individual’s environment that reliably influence their behavioral choices.
Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is the application of these scientific principles to socially important behaviors. ABA has made valuable discoveries that address healthy eating, education, sports performance, organizational management, and workplace safety, among many others. ABA is best known as an evidence-based strategy for improving the lives of individuals with pervasive developmental disabilities, such as autism.