Frequently asked questions

What are the core principles behind Blackbird’s work?

We strive to support learners on goals that are meaningful to them and their families. We believe in honouring every individual learner we support, and always aim to provide therapy services that are engaging and fun. We believe in the importance of connecting with learners and providing personalized services that meet them exactly where they are.

As Behaviour Analysts, we are trained in assessment and treatment using the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA). Scientific studies show that ABA therapy consistently results in life-changing improvements for children with ASD.

Why do people choose Blackbird?

In particular, parents tell us that what they like about our services are:

1. The staff are very kind and child-focused: Our ethos is that all children should feel welcome and accepted by their therapy team. Our team members all strive to help our clients get the most out of their therapy while feeling connected and appreciated.

2. A high level of accountability: Parents always know what their child’s goals are and are able to see the speed of progress.

3. The therapy is actually fun!: Some people come to us having heard ABA is nothing but ‘table time’ and endless repetition. Not so! We aim to socially engage children so that they love learning and engaging with their interventionists, family members, and peers.

4. The program is very individualized: Parents say they notice we don’t use a ‘cookie cutter’ approach; their child’s goals and program in general are truly based on their areas of skill and challenge and are clearly designed to create maximum results with a high level of engagement from the child. As every learner is different, we design different learning programs for each child and each goal.

How many hours per week of therapy will my child receive?

Good question! Though we can estimate the number of hours that would work for your child after speaking with you in more detail, we would provide a specific recommendation following a comprehensive assessment of your child. The number of hours recommended per week varies significantly amongst children with an ASD diagnosis, and the content of those hours varies too — e.g., some children may benefit from more work in small groups, or in parent-implemented contexts vs. with behavioural interventionists. We are also mindful about working with families within their budget.

Do you work just in your centre, or in homes too?

In our aim to individualize programming as much as possible, children typically receive a combination of home- and centre-based treatment, depending on what works best for the child and family. It’s also important to note that for many children with ASD, generalization of skills between environments can be challenging, so working in a few contexts is often an important way to plan for the transfer of their emerging skills. At least some home-based component is typically recommended, though we are happy to support learners fully in home if that is what the family desires. We also support learners around the community, in preschools, daycares, or other locations as needed.

How will I know if my child’s therapy is working well?

Blackbird provides parents with frequent updates on their child’s progress. This includes detailed visual representations of progress on current goals, so you can see how your child is progressing. We encourage families to regularly check in with their child’s team to ask questions about current goals, program plans, etc. Ideally, families will be actively involved in their child’s program at all times!

I’ve heard that my child will need Behavioural Interventionists (BIs) to implement his/her program. How can I find these people?

We employ BIs directly as families generally find this the most convenient and simple situation for them, and because it allows us to provide highly trained and skilled BIs to our clients.

Should you wish to find and hire their own BIs, though, we will accommodate that and help walk you through the process, while providing all of the training/supervision they need to work effectively with your child.

How can I get more information?

 Let’s set up a meeting! At an initial consultation (no charge, of course), we can talk to you in more detail about your child’s skills, your hopes and dreams for them, and the services we might be able to offer your family. Please contact us to set up a meeting.

What is the cost of service?

The cost of service varies depending on the service, the child, and the level of support needed. We do not have a set tuition cost for our Education Program, but rather work within the available funding sources. Please contact us to set up a meeting if you would like to inquire about costs for specific services.