10 Things to Look for in an ABA Program with Michelle Hascall, MA, BCBA, LBA

In this episode, I'm taking you inside what makes ABA therapy truly effective. Whether your child is already in ABA or you're still deciding what support is right for them, this conversation will change how you think about therapy. I'm joined by Michelle Hascall, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who leads our ABA team at Cortica. Michelle doesn't just talk about best practices—she openly shares what she used to do wrong in traditional ABA and how learning about the brain transformed her entire approach. Her honesty about walking around with Skittles in her pockets, being taught to "keep the demand," and writing goals that asked children to "tolerate" discomfort is both refreshing and eye-opening.Together, we walk through the ten steps of brain-based ABA. I explain how your child experiences the world through eight senses, not five, and why your child's struggle to "just do it" isn't defiance—it's how their brain processes information. We break down the difference between tantrums and meltdowns (they require completely different responses), why movement and heavy work aren't distractions from learning but essential preparation for it, and why natural reinforcement works better than artificial rewards. Michelle shares the powerful insight that adults already do this—we join running clubs, rock climbing groups, and go to concerts together because movement and shared experiences support social connection. We're simply bringing what already works in the world into our practice with children.This episode is for you if your child is currently in ABA and you want to understand what makes therapy effective, you're choosing between programs and need to know what questions to ask, you've felt uncomfortable with certain practices but weren't sure if your concerns were valid, you're a professional who knows something feels off about traditional approaches, or you need permission to trust your parental instincts. Throughout, we emphasize that you are the expert on your child, and if a professional tells you otherwise, that's a red flag.