About Cardinal ABA
Learn more about our history, team, accepted insurance, and the philosophy that guides us in North Carolina & Arizona.
Our History
After seeing a need for high-quality, customized autism therapy in our community, we established a unique program where children with autism could learn in a positive place and staff looks forward to coming to each day. As a result, The Cardinal Center for Behavior Analysis was founded in 2016.
Our vision is to create a unique setting including one-on-one and group Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy. Although ABA has, in the past, been known as a strict and rigid therapy, we use ABA in an engaging way that helps them adapt to new environments and learn to thrive independently.
Our Philosophy
Autism is not a “disease,” nor is it something that should be “cured.”
Your child is still your child after they are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This diagnosis simply means that your child will need a little bit more support and accommodation, and we use ABA methods to teach them how to adapt to new situations and function as independently as possible.
ABA therapy is the “gold standard” of autism treatment, but that it also needs to be applied in a way that is conducive to an individual’s learning experience.
We take the time to get to know your child and find out what best motivates them to learn, and then use that as positive reinforcement to bring out the behaviors we’d like to see and provide constructive alternatives to the ones we don’t. Our ABA therapy never, ever involves punishment, and our treatment plan is completely tailored to your child’s specific needs and your family’s goals.
Teaching and coaching you, the parents or guardians, is essential to provide the tools you need to continue to support your child outside of therapy and encourage positive behaviors.
Parental coaching is a necessary component of ABA to give your child a consistent learning experience and help them apply useful skills outside our “classroom.” We want to be your partner in care, and an advocate for your child, wherever your family needs us.
Most of all, we believe that every child with autism deserves the chance to thrive.
Our Team
Each one of our dedicated staff members at The Cardinal Center for Behavior Analysis is committed to providing you with the highest standard of service. Our Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) are highly trained and experienced, and together, we build a positive and engaging environment to ensure that your child and your family have the best possible experience possible.
William Evans
Director of Recruitment and Outreach
Alice Okamoto, MA, BCBA
Chief of Staff
Insurance Accepted
Insurance Networks
We are currently in-network:
- in North Carolina with Cigna, United Healthcare, Aetna, and NC Medicaid.
- in Arizona with Cigna, United Healthcare, Aetna and ACHHS.
Per the North Carolina Autism Insurance Mandate, or SB 676, insurance contracts renewed on or after July 1st, 2016 are required to provide coverage for ABA therapy up to $40,000 per year until the individual turns 18 years old.
Plans that should cover ABA under SB 676 are those sold to employers with over one hundred employees; plans sold to individuals and small groups that have been in effect, and essentially unchanged, since March of 2010; and plans sold to individuals and small groups that were in effect prior to 2014.
Other Funding Sources
Many businesses provide support for ABA services for their employees. To find out if ABA financial assistance is available to you, contact your employer’s human resources department or your group health insurance provider.
In addition, there are also several grants available to cover ABA therapy for your child, including the following:
- Autism Strong Foundation offers two different grants to help families afford ABA therapy.
- United Healthcare Children’s Foundation’s grant helps cover the difference between what your insurance will pay for and the services your child needs.
- Outreach Autism Services Network lists several grants available to help cover autism treatment.
- Autism Speaks has also compiled a full list of autism grants for families.
Have Funding Questions?
The Cardinal Center for Behavior Analysis is dedicated to helping children with autism succeed by becoming your partner in care to ensure that your entire family unit will thrive.
If you have any questions at all regarding ABA funding, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact us for additional questions
How long is the intake process?
The intake process typically takes 4-6 weeks, but may be shorter or longer depending on insurance delays, etc.
What is the initial assessment?
The initial assessment is a 1-hour in-person assessment with one of our BCBAs. The assessment (along with a parent phone interview) guides the initial treatment plan for your child. This assessment is NOT a diagnostic evaluation.
What does the initial treatment plan include?
Your child’s initial treatment plan will include demographic information, assessment results and scores, primary goals, service hour recommendations, etc.
How will I know who my child’s therapists are?
Your child’s therapists are assigned at the end of the intake process. Our scheduling team will send you your start date and include who your child’s BCBA and RBT(s) will be.
Who do I talk to about my child’s program goals?
Your child’s BCBA will be your go-to for all programming. You will have the opportunity to have monthly parent meetings/trainings to go over progress, new goals, and any other questions or concerns you may have.
I want my CCBA team to talk with my child’s related providers, how can we get them in touch?
Our intake packet includes a release of information form. Completion of this form allows us to communicate with your child’s other providers for collaboration purposes. Contact your child’s BCBA if this is something you are interested in.
I need to cancel my child’s session, who do I contact?
Please contact our scheduling team at scheduling@cardinalaba.com for all schedule changes. Please refer to the client handbook for fees associated with late cancelations and late arrivals.
I haven’t received an invoice, who do I contact?
Please contact our finance team at office@cardinalaba.com
Can we have additional hours of services during school track outs or during the summer?
We like to accommodate as many families as we can during school track outs and summer schedules. Please inform our scheduling team at scheduling@cardinalaba.com with as much notice as possible if you are interested in additional hours.
*Additional hours are not guaranteed*
Can my child’s therapist work on academics with my child?
Short answer is no, because insurance does not cover academics with ABA. With this being said, if you are interested in additional goals for your child, please work with your child’s BCBA to develop a plan that best suites your family’s needs.