Will we have the same therapist every time?

Yes. Consistency is essential for progress. Your child builds trust with their therapist, and that relationship drives results.

Do I need to be home during sessions?

Most parents want to be present, especially initially. You can participate actively, observe quietly, or step away when needed—whatever works for your family.

What if my child refuses to work with the therapist?

Our therapists are trained to work with resistant or hesitant children. We start where your child is and build from there. If they need to go slow, we go slow.

How long until we see changes?

Every child is different. Some families notice improvements within weeks. Others take months. But if we’re doing our job right, daily life gets easier—mornings calm down, meals improve, bedtime becomes manageable.

Does insurance cover in-home ABA?

North Carolina law requires Medicaid and most major insurance plans to cover ABA therapy for children with autism diagnoses. We verify your specific benefits upfront.

Can we reschedule if something comes up?

Life happens. We work with you. Reschedule when you need to.

What if we're not seeing progress?

We track data constantly. If progress stalls, we adjust strategies. We don’t keep doing the same thing and hoping for different results.

Early intervention ABA therapy in North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, and Alaska

The best investment you'll make in your child.

Between 18 months and six, a child’s brain is more open to learning than it will ever be again.

Kennedy ABA is built to make the most of it.

Why starting early makes all the difference

Young brains are built for this.

A skill that takes a three-year-old a few weeks to learn can take a seven-year-old several months. That’s neuroplasticity in action, and it’s the reason early intervention works. Children who start ABA therapy before age six make measurably greater gains in communication, social skills, and independence than those who start later.

Early intervention also means fewer meltdowns, less frustration, and a child who enters school ready to learn alongside their peers. For most families, that means 12 to 24 months of therapy, not a lifetime.

What we work on in early intervention ABA therapy

Picture this.

Your child asks for what they need instead of melting down. They play next to another kid and look up to share a smile. They get through the morning routine without a fight. That’s what early intervention builds toward.

Communication

Requesting, expressing feelings, following instructions. Words, pictures, signs, or devices, whatever works for your child.

Play and social skills

Taking turns, making eye contact, engaging with peers. The building blocks of every friendship they'll have.

Daily routines

Getting dressed, brushing teeth, sitting at mealtimes. Small things that make the whole day smoother.

Emotional regulation

Learning what's underneath the difficult behavior, and finding better ways to handle it.

School readiness

Following group instructions, transitioning between activities, sitting for short tasks.

How early intervention works at Kennedy ABA

Five simple steps to start

Step: 01
Reach out: Call or fill out the form. You'll hear from us the same day.
Step: 02
We verify your insurance: We handle authorization before anything starts. No surprises.
Step: 03
Assessment at home: A Kennedy BCBA meets your child and your family in your home. This is where we learn what your child needs and what your family is working toward.
Step: 04
Your child's program is built: Every program is written from scratch. Goals are specific, strategies are real, and everything is explained to you before sessions start.
Step: 05
Therapy begins, and we adjust as your child grows: Your RBT runs sessions. Your BCBA reviews progress regularly and updates the plan as your child hits goals and takes on new ones.

What you'll notice with early intervention ABA Therapy

What the first six months look like.

Having a child with autism is challenging no matter where you live. The good news? Charlotte has a solid network of resources beyond ABA therapy, from diagnosis centers to parent groups where you can actually talk to people who get it.

First few weeks:

Your child’s BCBA is still getting to know them. Sessions feel more like play than therapy, and that’s entirely intentional.

Months 2 and 3:

Small wins start to stack. A new word. A smoother transition. A moment of eye contact that wasn’t there before.

Months 4 to 6:

The changes become hard to miss. Family members and teachers start noticing too.

Month 6 and beyond:

Skills are solidifying. Your child is carrying what they’ve learned into new situations, with new people, without prompting.

“The best part?” her mom said. “Emma’s calmer. Happier. She can tell us what she needs now. She’s not trapped in constant frustration anymore.”

Where ABA early intervention happens

Your home. Their best classroom.

Kennedy ABA is an in-home provider. Sessions happen at your house, around your child’s routine, with the people and objects they already know. Young children learn best in familiar environments, and that’s exactly where we show up.

If your child attends daycare or preschool, we can coordinate sessions there too. Ask us about school-based options when you call.

What Kennedy families say

Heard from parents this month.

"My 4-year-old went from zero words to actually talking in about eight months, and meltdowns barely happen now. Miss Sarah is an angel. 10/10!" - Marcus Whitfield

"Within a month of starting ABA, Amy was smiling and just a much happier kid. It wasn't long before she began to dress herself." - Elena Vasquez

"She smiles now. She wants to play and pulls us towards a toy, or to the door to go outside. She wants us in her world." - Grace Thompson

"Since switching 2 months ago, our son has made more gains than in the entire previous year. We can participate, learn strategies, and use them." - Daniel O'Connell

We Serve Children Throughout North Carolina, Georgia, Alaska and Virginia

Kennedy ABA provides early intervention ABA therapy across North Carolina, Georgia, Alaska and Virginia.

Alaska

Anchorage, Eagle River, Chugiak, Eklutna, Girdwood, Hillside & more

Don’t see your city?

Reach out — we likely serve your area.

Areas we serve

Things we hear all the time.

What's the ideal age to start?

As young as 18 months. The earlier the better, though it’s always worth reaching out wherever you are.

Does my child need a diagnosis first?

Kennedy offers autism assessments and can guide you through the diagnosis process. You don’t have to have everything figured out before you call.

How many hours per week does this take?

Comprehensive programs typically run 25 to 40 hours per week. Focused programs run 10 to 20. Your BCBA makes a recommendation after the assessment.

Will ABA change my child's personality?

ABA builds skills and reduces the barriers that get in their way. It doesn’t try to change who your child is.

How long will my child need therapy?

Most early intervention programs run 12 to 24 months. Progress is reviewed every 90 days, and we tell you honestly where things stand and what comes next.

How involved do I need to be?

As involved as you want to be, though families who stay closely involved tend to see faster progress. Parent training is built into every Kennedy program.

What insurance do you accept?

In North Carolina: Aetna, BCBS, Alliance Health, Vaya Health, Trillium, Healthy Blue, United Healthcare, Cigna, Humana, and others. In Georgia: Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, BCBS, CareSource, Peach State Health Plan, and others. In Virginia: Aetna Better Health, Anthem HealthKeepers Plus, Sentara, UnitedHealthcare, and others. In Alaska: Alaska Medicaid (Denali KidCare), Premera BCBS, Tricare, Aetna, United Healthcare, Cigna.

Call us at 888-360-6664 and we’ll verify your specific plan before anything starts.

Still Have Questions?

How to get started with Kennedy ABA early intervention

We're here when you're ready.

Serving families across North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, and Alaska.