Our Model

Our Model: Compassion-Driven, Parent-Led ABA Inspired by Dr. Hanley

At Milestone Behavioral Health, we are proud to practice a Parent-Led Collaboration Model grounded in the principles of Today’s ABA, as developed by Dr. Gregory Hanley. This approach centers on safety, trust, and joy—prioritizing the voice of the autistic person and the people who love and understand them best.

We begin by listening—to families, caregivers, and, most importantly, the child. We create enriching, flexible spaces where children feel happy, relaxed, and engaged before any formal instruction begins. Our therapists follow the child’s lead, responding with empathy and respect, never pressure.

From there, we build trust, empower communication, and gradually introduce developmentally appropriate learning opportunities that are personalized, dignifying, and led by consent. If a child signals discomfort, we pause and return to joy—because we believe meaningful learning only happens when the child feels seen, safe, and understood.

This is not the ABA of the past. We reject coercion, compliance-based teaching, and trauma-inducing interventions. Instead, we embrace an inclusive, trauma-assumed, and values-driven practice that fosters genuine connection and long-term success for families.

Our guiding principles include:

• Prioritizing emotional safety over compliance
• Partnering with families in every step of the process
• Teaching through joy, not distress
• Responding to all forms of communication with respect
• Creating flexible environments where children can lead
  

We believe ABA should never feel like control—it should feel like collaboration.