Since 1995, Bradley Hospital’s home-based Intensive Behavioral Treatment (IBT) program has been providing innovative treatment services for children with autism, helping our young patients to learn and grow, and their families to manage the multitude of stressors associated with the disorder. Children admitted to the IBT Program are generally under 4 years of age, having been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and often display varying degrees of chronic behavior disorders. If left untreated, most, if not all, would ultimately require psychiatric hospitalization or out-of-home residential placement.

What Is IBT?

IBT Program staff work directly with children in their homes for 20 to 30 hours per week. This daily one-on-one interaction in a familiar and safe environment routinely leads to improvements in a child’s communication abilities, social interactions, and behavioral, play and self-care skills. This applied behavior analytic (ABA) treatment process is individualized to the child, and includes family and school staff in order to improve all aspects of a child's life. The daily regimen is offered in six-month blocks (as covered by Medicaid or some insurance plans), and is renewable for up to three years.

Nationwide, 12 to 14 percent of children with ASD experience out-of-home placement (psychiatric hospitalization, foster care, and/or residential treatment) by age 15. For children who have received IBT Program treatment, that number is significantly lower, with only one percent experiencing an out-of-home placement. Early intensive behavioral treatment promotes positive outcomes in the child’s communication, social interaction, play and self-care skills.

Who Is IBT for?

You and your family may gain from IBT. It is particularly beneficial for:

• Children with autism under four years of age.
• Families who want daily one-on-one services in the comfort of their home.
• Families who seek a partnership with an ABA treatment team all year round.
• Families who want the ABA treatment team to collaborate with school staff and other therapy providers to make sure that everyone is working together to help the child make as many gains as they can across all settings.

What Is a Typical IBT Session Like?

Therapy takes place daily in the family’s home, during two- to three-hour sessions specifically designed to help the child improve behaviors, communication, daily living skills, play, and social interactions. By incorporating the child’s favorite items into structured learning opportunities and motivating rewards, we encourage the child to learn and grow every day.

Why Choose IBT?

We provide consistent, personalized support for the child with autism, and the whole family, in the comfort and natural home environment. The child and family will work with a dedicated care team composed of a clinical psychologist, treatment coordinator, and specialized direct-care therapists.

Each child with autism is unique; the care they deserve and the support the family needs should be too. By working in the home, we can truly understand the child’s specific skills and needs so that together with the family, we can maximize the child’s potential.

Parent Testimonials

Parent responses when asked: “What most impressed you about the IBT Team?”

• “Their compassion, commitment… willingness to stand by my side and help fight for what my daughter needs. And deserves.”
• “Knowledge of psychologist and coordinator and ability of staff.”
• “My child’s team has been beyond fantastic with the program and her!”
• “The collaborative approach of the whole team. Excellent communication with all involved parties. Flexible and individual therapy approaches.”
• “The quickness of getting eval and plan in motion. Flexibility in schedule. Knowledge of all staff. Super helpful with school process!”
• “The relationship between the doctor and coordinator and our family. The relationships the therapists make with my son.”
• “Accessibility and openness to suggestions, quality of staff, willingness to work with other professionals”
• “How flexible and understanding of our family needs.”
• “The entire team has been fantastic.”
• “Knowledge base and experience of the coordinator and psychologist.”
• “The level of humanity and caring everyone involved has shown our family and specifically my daughter. They treat her with such gentleness, compassion and respect even when she gives them a hard time. The IBT program as a whole feels as though they are a part of our family, and I don’t know where we’d be without everyone involved.”
• “The care and compassion of all the team members who truly want to make a difference and create a bond with my child.”
• “The leadership. Seeing and experiencing education, knowledge, and compassion cohesively working together to impact a student’s progress.”

Contact Us

For more information, please contact Karyn Blane, PsyD, by phone at 401-432-1225 or by fax at 401-432-1500.