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Our Blog — Page 4

The True Progress Therapy blog is your trusted source for evidence-based ABA insights, autism research, and clinical perspectives. Designed for families seeking answers and professionals raising the bar — because meaningful progress starts with knowledge.

Showing 12 of 543 articles · page 4 of 46

Child with autism playing inside cardboard box at home.
Blog Feb 2026

Do Autistic Kids Look Different? Autism Facts Explained

We’ve had families walk into our True Progress Therapy clinic and say, “He doesn’t look autistic.” That statement usually carries confusion—and sometimes relief. But autism isn’t about facial features or body type. It’s about how a child experiences, processes, and interacts with the world. Like mos

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Parents sitting on a couch with their young child and a laptop in a bright living room.
Autism Feb 2026

The Essential Role of Parents in Autism Care

When a child is diagnosed with autism, most conversations focus on therapy hours, school placements, and service providers. But in our clinical experience, the most consistent factor in long-term progress is not just professional intervention. It’s parental involvement. At True Progress Therapy, we’

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BCBA working one-on-one with a young boy at a table with pencils.
Autism Feb 2026

Autism Insurance Coverage in New Jersey Missouri: What’s Required and What’s Not

When a child receives an autism diagnosis, insurance becomes part of the conversation almost immediately. Not in theory — in practical terms. Can we afford therapy? Will insurance approve it? How long will it take? At True Progress Therapy, we don’t just provide ABA services. We regularly walk famil

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BCBA helping a girl draw at a table with colored pencils.
ABA Therapy Feb 2026

How Soon Can You See Results from ABA Therapy?

When families begin working with our team at True Progress Therapy, one of the first questions we hear is: “How long does it take for ABA to work?” It’s rarely just curiosity. It’s usually coming from a place of exhaustion, hope, and uncertainty. Parents want to know when communication will improve.

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School-aged boy with a backpack standing outside near a building.
Autism Feb 2026

How to Decide the Best Educational Path for an Autistic Child

There’s a lot of noise around what autistic children “should” do educationally. Some advocate strongly for full inclusion. Others insist specialized programs are the only appropriate path. From our perspective, neither extreme tells the full story. At True Progress Therapy, we’ve worked with childre

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A BCBA and a young girl sitting at a table in ABA therapy session in NJ.
ABA Therapy Feb 2026

How ABA Therapy Supports Emotional Well-Being in Children

When families first reach out to me about ABA therapy, they’re often focused on behaviors — meltdowns, aggression, refusal, shutdowns. But underneath those concerns is something deeper: they want their child to feel calmer, more confident, and more emotionally secure. Over the years, I’ve seen how A

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Couple reviewing a Behavior Intervention Plan together at a laptop.
Autism Feb 2026

How to Read a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP)

When parents hand me a copy of their child’s Behavior Intervention Plan, I often hear the same thing: “I signed it, but I’m not sure I fully understand it.” That reaction makes sense. A BIP is often filled with technical language, data charts, and behavioral terms that aren’t explained clearly in IE

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A BCBA helping autistic boy with homework at a kitchen table during in-home ABA.
Autism Feb 2026

How to Help an Autistic Child Recognize When They’re Being Bullied

It’s hard enough knowing bullying exists. It’s even harder when your child may not recognize it happening to them. If you’re wondering how to teach an autistic child to recognize bullying, you’re not alone. Many children with autism interpret language literally and may miss the subtle social cues th

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A young boy with autism sitting on the floor with his head down, appearing upset.
Autism Feb 2026

Why Is My Child Hitting Themself? Understanding and Stopping the Behavior

If your child is hitting themselves, it can feel scary and overwhelming. You might wonder if you’re doing something wrong — or if something more serious is happening. Self-hitting is often a form of communication. The key isn’t just stopping the behavior. It’s understanding why it’s happening. Why D

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A child with autism hanging from monkey bars on a playground in NJ.
Autism Feb 2026

Autistic Inertia: Why Starting and Switching Tasks Feels So Hard

Autistic inertia is the difficulty starting, stopping, or switching tasks — even when someone wants to. It’s not laziness, defiance, or lack of motivation. It’s a neurological challenge that can deeply affect daily life for autistic children, teens, and adults. If you’re a parent in New Jersey or Mi

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A smiling girl with autism climbing on a rope structure at a playground in NJ.
ABA Therapy Feb 2026

Is 7 Too Old for ABA Therapy? What Parents Need to Know

If you’re wondering whether 7 is too old to start ABA therapy, the short answer is no — it’s not too late. While early intervention is ideal, children can benefit from ABA therapy at many ages, including school age. If your child is 7 and you’re just now exploring options, you still have time to […]

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A smiling boy with autism standing on playground equipment with a slide behind him.
Autism Feb 2026

The Truth About False Signs of Autism in Young Children

It’s completely normal to worry when your child does something that feels “different.” But many behaviors that look like early signs of autism are actually part of typical child development. Not every speech delay, tantrum, or shy moment means autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In fact, while autism is

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About the Author

Michele Young

Regional Clinical Director

MS · CCC-SLP · BCBA · LBA

Michele has been working with young people with autism since 2009, bringing more than 15 years of hands-on clinical experience to every article she writes. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist (CCC-SLP), Michele has built programs at Rutgers, led behavioral services at Autism Family Services of NJ, taught graduate students at LaSalle University, and worked in schools across New Jersey and the Carolinas.

As Regional Clinical Director at True Progress Therapy, Michele oversees clinical operations and makes sure every BCBA on the team has what they need to deliver real, measurable results for families.

She writes about ABA therapy, autism support, communication-building strategies, and what families and therapists can do to drive measurable progress — translating decades of clinical experience into guidance you can actually use.

Clinical Specialties

  • Functional Communication Training (FCT)
  • Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
  • Real-world ABA program design
Credentials & Verification

BACB Certification #1-10-6918

Active · Certified since 2010

Verify on BACB