About EIA

“If a child can’t learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn.”
-Ignacio Estrada

At Early Intervention for Autism, we believe all children can learn and are dedicated to helping children with special needs meet their full potential in a supportive, nurturing, and family-centered environment.

Our mission is to help children with special needs achieve their full potential by teaching them the way that they learn best. We develop an individual-based program specifically designed to meet the unique needs of each child, utilizing Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy to improve life skills, academic skills, communication, and social skills. We work with children and their families where they are and where they live: in the home, in the schools, and in the community.

Our Services

E.I. For Autism Offers...

EIA offers a variety of behavioral services for children with special needs and their families. Our services include ABA therapy, social skills training, family consultation, program management, toilet training, and school consultations. Our therapy is conducted mainly in the home, and we provide services in the community and school as well. Our ABA teams consist of the child, the child’s family, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and a team of behavioral therapists.

  • 1:1 therapy with a trained ABA therapist
  • Treatment plan: To address developmental, social, and academic needs
  • Behavior plan: To decrease interfering behaviors while increasing more socially appropriate behaviors
  • Evaluations: We use a variety of assessments to determine strengths and areas for improvement. These assessments are used to regularly update and optimize a child’s program—we continually evaluate the effectiveness of our treatment and behavioral plans, and optimize them in a data-driven manner to support a child’s growth
  • Social Skills groups: Designed to support appropriate play and improve social interactions
  • Life skills: toilet training and self care
  • Individual Education Program (IEP) Case Conference Support, School transition planning and school consultations

What is ABA?

Behavior Analysis is the science of behavior. Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is the process of systematically applying interventions based upon the principles of learning theory to improve socially significant behaviors to a meaningful degree (Baer, Wolf & Risley, 1968/1987; Sulzer-Azaroff & Mayer, 1991). ABA has been proven to be effective across a variety of populations, including children with mental illness, developmental disabilities, learning disorders, down syndrome, and autism. ABA can be used to teach new skills and decrease unwanted behaviors.

ABA evaluates observable behavior and the decisions about the program are based on data. The programs are based upon the principles of learning and how best to reach the individual learner.

At EIA, your family will be working with a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) every step of the way. The BCBA will evaluate your child using a variety of assessments to determine strengths and areas of deficit. Based on these assessments, the BCBA and family will work together to develop an individualized treatment program to fit the child’s needs. An individualized behavior plan will also be implemented in order to increase socially acceptable behavior and decrease inappropriate behaviors.

The treatment plans are implemented by trained ABA therapists. The BCBA will monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions and make modifications as needed.

Insurance Information

Early Intervention for Autism works directly with insurance companies. The State of Illinois has an autism insurance reform law (public act 95), to provide insurance coverage for individuals with autism. This means that your insurance company may pay for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).
EIA is currently an in-network provider for the following insurance companies:

  • Blue Cross/Blue Shield
  • United Health/Optum
  • Aetna
  • Cigna

If you do not see your insurance carrier listed, please contact us.

For more information on the Illinois autism insurance reform law, please visit autismspeaks.org or http://insurance.illinois.gov.

Contact

For more information, please contact me via email at:
jenniferm@earlyinterventionforautism.com
or by phone at:
847-915-0164.

Areas We Serve

Early Intervention for Autism is proud to serve the North Shore area. This includes Cook and Lake counties. If you would like more information about our services, please contact us! We look forward to hearing from you!