03/10/2026
Hot take from a Houston SLP… 🗣️
Somehow here in Texas, ABA got marketed as the place where kids go to “start talking.”
But here’s the reality: ABA ≠ speech therapy.
I met a wonderful family last week whose daughter has been in public school for 4+ years and had never been given a communication board or AAC device. Their plan? Enroll in ABA so she could start communicating.
When I explained that most ABA centers (especially around Houston) don’t actually have speech therapy on site, they were shocked.
Communication goals in many centers are written by a BCBA, not a speech-language pathologist… and developing speech, language, and AAC systems is our scope of practice.
ABA can absolutely be part of a great collaborative team — but it is not the same thing as speech therapy, and it won’t automatically make a nonverbal child verbal.
If your child needs help communicating, your best starting point is a neurodiversity-affirming SLP who supports total communication (AAC, gestures, signs, speech — whatever works for the child).
And parents — do your research.
Ask centers:
• What will my child be doing all day?
• Who is writing communication goals?
• Do you allow outside speech therapists to come in?
Because communication should be supported by the right professionals. 💬
And any center that won’t collaborate with outside providers? 🚩
