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Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) Therapy in Scarborough Made Simple

Little Steps offers applied behaviour analysis therapy for children with autism in Scarborough and across the GTA. Before we write a single goal, a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst / Registered Behaviour Analyst spends real time with your child, figuring out what makes communication hard, what sets off a rough morning, what would genuinely help at home and at school. From there, we build sessions around your child, not a set curriculum.

Book a consultationLearn more

Get a free consultation with Recha, our founder and Clinical Director, who's spent over 15 years working with children and families with ASD.

Small Caseloads
Multi-Setting Support
Culturally Aware
Evidence-Based ABA
 Parent Coaching Included
What we offer

Looking for ABA Services Near You? Here's What We Offer

If you've been comparing ABA services near me, here's the short version. Every program below is BCBA/RBS-supervised, your child keeps the same therapist, there's no waitlist and scheduling works around your family, not the other way around.

ABA Therapy

One-on-one therapy built from an assessment of what your child can do now and what would help most. Your BCBA/RBA sets specific goals, maybe asking for a break instead of melting down, or getting through a transition without it turning into a fight and tracks how things are going session by session. Available in your home or at our Scarborough centre.

Group Classes or Social Groups

Small groups where kids practice the things that only come up around other kids. Waiting for a turn, Sharing a toy without a struggle, Joining a game that's already started. A therapist runs every group and steps in with prompts and encouragement as things happen, so it's more than supervised playtime.

In-School Support

A therapist joins your child for parts of the school day, helping with circle time, classroom routines and the transitions that tend to be hardest. We stay in touch with your child's teacher too, so school and therapy aren't pulling in different directions.

Parent Coaching

You learn the same strategies your child's therapist uses, so a good session doesn't stay in that room. We work through whatever's hardest right now, bedtime, mealtimes, a meltdown in the grocery store and you leave with something concrete to try.

ABA Therapy Near You: Why Scarborough Families Choose Little Steps

Type ABA therapy near me into Google and odds are you're not actually looking for the closest address. You want to know someone will pick up the phone. That your child won't be one of forty names on a caseload. That you're not signing up for a three-month wait before anything even starts.That's the bar we've set for ourselves, honestly. Recha and the clinical team start by getting a real picture of what your child can already do and where they're getting stuck. From there, a plan comes together and we keep adjusting it, sometimes every few weeks, rather than waiting on some once-a-year review. Most kids stick with the same therapist session to session, so nobody's re-explaining themselves every time. There's no waitlist. Sessions can happen wherever makes sense: your home, our Scarborough centre, a classroom, sometimes a mix of everything. And parent coaching isn't an add-on tacked onto the end. It's baked into the plan from day one.

What Is Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) Therapy?

Applied Behaviour Analysis, or ABA, is an evidence-based therapy for children with autism. At its core, it looks at how behaviour connects to what's going on around a child and uses that connection to build skills, communication, social skills, daily living, independence, while easing the behaviours that get in the way of learning or connecting with other people. It's also the most researched approach out there for autism support, which is probably why it's usually the first thing a pediatrician or school board mentions.In practice, it starts with watching, not testing. A BCBA / RBA spends time with your child, talks through what's hard right now with your family and figures out what's actually driving a behaviour and what skill could take its place. From there, the plan might draw on a few different methods: structured repetition for skills that need a lot of practice, learning woven into play, plenty of positive reinforcement, whatever combination genuinely works for your child.

Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) and Autism: What It Actually Targets

Ask five different families what applied behaviour analysis and autism support actually looks like day to day and you'll get five different answers. It depends entirely on the child. That said, most plans circle around a handful of the same areas:
  • Communication, from asking for a snack to using pictures or a device instead of melting down
  • Following instructions and getting through transitions without them turning into a battle
  • Everyday skills like dressing, eating, or using the bathroom, without needing help every time
  • Playing and connecting with other kids: sharing, waiting a turn, joining in without being prompted
  • Fewer of the behaviours that make daily life harder, meltdowns, aggression, wandering off

Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) for ASD: How We Track Progress

One question we hear a lot from families comparing applied behaviour analysis ASD programs: how do you actually know it's working? For us, every goal has data behind it. We're not waiting until some quarterly review to notice a strategy isn't landing. If something hasn't moved the needle in a couple of weeks, we change it.

Still sorting out Ontario Autism Program (OAP) funding, insurance, or whether you'd pay privately? Bring it all to your free consultation. We'll walk through what actually applies to your family, no pressure either way.

Join our Summer Camp!

Fun, structured, and supportive summer programming for children ages 5 and up — in Scarborough, July 6 to August 28, 2026. Limited spots.

Get more details

3:1 staff ratio, supervised by an RBA. Full-day and half-day options available. OAP, insurance, and approved government funding accepted.

Our people

Meet our team

Experienced, warm, and dedicated to your child's progress.

meet our founder
Recha Sood
Founder, MA, R.B.A. (ONT.), BCBA

With over 15 years of dedicated experience since earning her psychology degree, Recha Sood has focused her entire career on autism services. She earned her B.A. in Psychology (University of Toronto, 2010), a postgraduate diploma in Autism and Behavioural Science (George Brown College, 2012), and a Master of Education in Autism (Arizona State University, 2023). A BCBA and RBT, she founded The Little Steps in 2022, providing personalized care across the GTA. Families have trusted her for years, reflecting her warmth and creativity. A mother of three, Recha continuously enhances her expertise through seminars, bringing broad perspectives into her practice. This lifelong path is her passion.

Sophia Wang
Supervised Behaviour Therapist

University of Toronto psychology grad who found joy at an ABA summer camp, becoming a calm, playful presence for children with autism.

Aishat Oseni
Supervised Behaviour Therapist

Social Science degree with diplomas in Personal and Developmental Support and Play Therapy; brings patient, person-centred care focused on small wins and real progress.

Kiranvir Kaur Gahir
Supervised Behaviour Therapist

Chetna Gupta
Executive Assistant - Administrator

Seasoned administrative professional with 15+ years of experience, including stints at Accenture and Microsoft; the go-to for invoicing, billing, and admin at Little Steps.

location

Visit Our ABA Therapy Centre in Scarborough

Families across Scarborough choose Little Steps partly because we're easy to get to, close to Agincourt, Wexford, Guildwood, Birch Cliff,Malvern and the neighbourhoods around them. We also run in-home ABA therapy throughout Scarborough and the eastern GTA, so you can pick whichever setting actually works for your child.

3319 Sheppard Ave East (Warden and Sheppard)

FAQs

Find answers to common questions about our approach and services.

What is ABA therapy?

ABA, short for Applied Behaviour Analysis, is an evidence-based approach that helps children build new skills and cuts down on the behaviours that get in the way of learning or daily life. Every session is built around your child's specific goals, using reinforcement and a lot of repeated practice, so new skills actually stick instead of fading after a week.

How long does therapy take?

There's no fixed timeline and we'd be a little wary of anyone who hands you one on day one. Every child moves at their own pace depending on where they're starting from and what they're working toward. We set goals together, check progress regularly and you'll always know where things stand instead of having to guess.

Do you work with families who are new to a diagnosis?

Absolutely. We understand that receiving a diagnosis can come with a lot of questions and uncertainty. We help families understand what ABA therapy is, what to expect, and how we can support their child. Our team will guide you through the process, answer your questions, and help you decide on the next steps that make sense for your family.

Can therapy happen at home, or only at your centre?

Both and a lot of families end up doing a mix of the two. In-home sessions mean we're working right in the space your child spends most of their time, which tends to help new skills carry over faster. Our Scarborough centre gives kids who do better without extra distractions somewhere more structured to work.

What if my child is non-verbal?

We work with children across the full spectrum, including non-verbal children. Our therapists are trained in approaches like picture exchange systems and speech-generating devices (AAC) and we build the plan around whatever way of communicating actually fits your child.

What ages do you work with?

We work with individuals across a wide range of ages—from preschool and school-age children to teens and adults. Our ABA therapy, social groups, parent coaching and other supports are tailored to each person’s age, needs and goals. Not sure which service is the right fit for your family? Ask us during your consultation—we’re happy to answer your questions and help point you in the right direction.

Do you accept OAP funding or insurance?

A lot of our families use Ontario Autism Program funding or private insurance to help with the cost of therapy. It really depends on your situation, so we'll walk through what applies to you during your free consultation, no guesswork involved.

How do I find the right ABA services near me?

Ask about caseload size, whether a BCBA/RBA is actually the one supervising the plan in-person, how progress gets tracked and whether there's a waitlist before you commit to anything. Those four questions will tell you more than most websites ever will. At Little Steps, caseloads stay small, every plan is BCBA/RBA-supervised, progress is tracked session by session and there's no waitlist to get started.

Book a free consultation

Schedule a time that works for you. We'll listen, answer your questions, and talk about how we can help.