Frequently asked questions
22 questions, answered the way we'd answer them on the phone: the short version first, the detail after, and a link to the page that tells the whole story.
Getting started
What the first call is like, what you need before it (almost nothing), and what happens next.
What's the first step to starting ABA therapy?
One phone call. Call (952) 900-2344 or send the contact form, and we'll talk through your child, your coverage, and which setting fits — no paperwork needed for that first conversation. From there, our team guides every step of the intake process.
Can we start the process before my child has a diagnosis?
Yes — call anyway. Many families reach us mid-evaluation or before one is even scheduled. We'll explain how a diagnosis works in Minnesota and help arrange the CMDE through independent partner agencies, so the pieces move in the right order.
How long does it take to go from first call to first session?
It varies too much for an honest single number — coverage, evaluation status, and scheduling all move the timeline. What we can promise: a current, truthful picture on your first call, and help moving each intake step as fast as it can go.
Will my child sit on a waitlist?
Availability genuinely changes month to month, so we won't publish a number that could be stale by the time you read it. Call and we'll tell you where things stand today — and starting intake early is the best way to shorten any wait.
Cost & coverage
The question most parents ask first. For most families we serve, the answer is better than they expect.
Will we have to pay out of pocket?
Most families we serve pay nothing out of pocket. Minnesota's EIDBI benefit funds therapy through Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare, and children under 21 on MA have no copays for covered services. We accept Straight MA and Blue Plus — here's how coverage works.
What is EIDBI in plain language?
EIDBI — Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention — is Minnesota's Medicaid benefit that pays for intensive therapy, including ABA, for people under 21 with autism or a related condition. EIDBI is the funding; ABA is the therapy delivered under it. Our EIDBI services explains eligibility step by step.
We have insurance through work. Does that cover therapy here?
We bill Straight MA and Blue Plus — not commercial plans. Under Minnesota rules your work plan stays primary and Medical Assistance can wrap around it, but whether that path works depends on your specific plan. Call us and we'll walk through your situation honestly — the insurance page explains the mechanics.
What is TEFRA, and is it automatic with an autism diagnosis?
TEFRA is a Medical Assistance option that counts only your child's income — not the family's. It is not automatic: the State Medical Review Team must certify a disability and an institutional level of care, and a diagnosis alone doesn't qualify a child. Since July 2023 there's no parental fee for children on MA-TEFRA living at home. More on the TEFRA path.
What if we have no insurance at all?
Your child may still qualify. Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare cover children based on family income, and applications go through MNsure. If income is too high, TEFRA may open a path. We'll help you sort out which application fits on your first call — start with the coverage overview.
Services & ages
Who we serve, how the two settings differ, and how a week of therapy actually takes shape.
Is my child the right age for Ability Avenues?
We serve children ages 2–12 — early intervention for toddlers and preschoolers through continued support in the school years. Minnesota's EIDBI program itself covers young people under 21; 2–12 is the range we accept. See everything our services include.
How do families choose between the center and in-home?
Can we split the week between home and the center?
No — every family chooses one setting, and a child's program runs entirely in it. If the setting stops working, you and your BCBA can switch to the other, but a schedule never runs in both at once. How the two settings compare.
How many hours a week will my child be in therapy?
There's no standard number, and we won't promise one before evaluation. The CMDE establishes what's medically necessary, and your child's individual treatment plan sets hours from there — reviewed and adjusted as your child grows.
What does a therapy session actually look like?
Mostly like focused play. Your child works one-on-one with a behavior technician, under a BCBA's supervision, on goals broken into small steps — practiced through games, routines, and activities your child enjoys, with progress recorded every session. See a day at the center.
About ABA therapy
Honest answers about the therapy itself — what it is here, what your role is, and how anyone knows it's working.
Is ABA the right choice for every child?
No single therapy is right for every child, and we'll say so when it isn't. The CMDE evaluation — done by independent partners, not by us — establishes what your child actually needs, and Minnesota's EIDBI benefit also covers ESDM, DIR/Floortime, and RDI.
Is ABA at Ability Avenues play-based?
Yes. Skills are taught through play a child chooses and enjoys — games, pretend routines, blocks, turn-taking — not drills at a table. Play is where young children learn naturally, so that's where our teaching lives. Curious about the terms you'll hear? The glossary defines them plainly.
What role do parents play in therapy?
A central one. Caregiver training is built into EIDBI, so you learn the same strategies your child's team uses — and skills practiced in session get reinforced at dinner, bedtime, and everywhere else your child actually lives. In-home therapy makes that partnership especially visible.
How is my child's progress measured?
With data from every session, measured against your child's own goals — never a generic benchmark. The supervising BCBA reviews the data, adjusts the individual treatment plan, and walks you through what it means in regular check-ins. Terms like ITP and BCBA are decoded in the glossary.
Practical details
Where we are, where we go, and how we work with the other people in your child's life.
Where is your center located?
Our center is at 1415 Lilac Dr N, Suite 140, Golden Valley, MN 55422 — on Minneapolis's northwest border. Hours are Mon–Fri 8:00am–5:00pm. The locations page has drive times from every community we serve.
Which cities do you serve?
The center welcomes any family who can get their child there and back, wherever home is. In-home therapy runs across 29 Twin Cities communities and most of Minnesota — call to confirm your area, since availability outside the metro is case by case. Find your city.
Do you work with schools and IEP teams?
Yes — with your consent. EIDBI therapy and school services can run at the same time, and our team can share progress and coordinate goals with your child's school team so the two plans pull in the same direction. The diagnosis guide explains how school evaluations fit in.
What languages can families work with you in?
We work with translation services so every family can access services in their preferred language — from the first phone call through caregiver training. Tell us your preferred language when you reach out and we'll arrange it.
Not sure where to start? That's okay. Most families aren't.
Call us. We'll help you figure out eligibility, coverage, and next steps. The first conversation needs no paperwork at all.