ABA Therapy for Autistic Adults in Central New Jersey

At Graham Behavior Services, we prioritize teaching functional, real-world skills to adults with autism, ensuring they gain greater independence and confidence in daily life. We use a combination of the PEAK and AFLS (Assessment of Functional Living Skills) assessments to identify meaningful target skills tailored to each individual's needs.

Our support covers a wide range of skills, from essential self-care tasks like toileting, teeth brushing, and making requests to more complex abilities such as navigating public transportation and engaging in workplace conversations. We work closely with the individual’s family, school, vocational program, job, or day program to ensure consistency and meaningful progress.

Our ABA therapy services are flexible and can be provided in various environments, including:

• Volunteer opportunities to build job-related skills for future employment.

• Paid employment settings to help maintain and enhance job performance.

• At home to develop independent leisure skills and self-care routines.

By tailoring our approach to each individual, we empower adults with autism to thrive in their communities and workplaces.

It is a common misconception that ABA therapy is only effective for children. In reality, individuals of all ages can benefit from ABA therapy. While the core characteristics of autism—challenges with communication, social skills, and repetitive behaviors—may present differently in adults, these areas can still be successfully addressed with behavioral support.

Many families assume that ABA therapy is only needed during early childhood. However, as individuals grow into adolescence and adulthood, new challenges and skill deficits often emerge. During these transitions, ABA therapy can provide valuable support in developing new skills, increasing independence, and improving quality of life.

ABA therapy for adults focuses on building practical skills that promote independent living and improve quality of life. At Graham Behavior Services, this often includes teaching essential abilities like self-care, meal preparation, self-management, and vocational skills tailored to each individual’s needs.

A key difference between adult and child ABA therapy is the environment. While therapy for children often takes place at home or in a clinic, adult ABA therapy typically occurs in the community—at day programs, vocational sites, job placements, or college campuses—where skills can be practiced in real-life settings.

In addition to life skills, adult ABA therapy may also include behavior intervention plans to reduce challenging behaviors, functional communication training to improve interaction skills, and activity schedules to promote independence in completing daily tasks. This comprehensive approach helps adults with autism thrive across various environments and stages of life.

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is considered the most effective therapy for adults with autism. Research shows that ABA therapy helps adults reduce problem behaviors and develop essential life skills across a variety of areas, including communication, self-care, vocational tasks, and independent living.

While early intervention often leads to the most significant gains, adults of all ages—including geriatric patients—can make meaningful progress with ABA therapy. It is the only scientifically validated treatment for autism and can be tailored to meet the unique needs of each adult in real-life settings such as homes, workplaces, and community environments.

While ABA therapy is commonly associated with autism treatment, it is also highly effective for adults with an Asperger’s diagnosis (now part of Autism Spectrum Disorder under current diagnostic guidelines). At Graham Behavior Services, we use a range of evidence-based strategies tailored to the unique needs of individuals with Asperger’s, including:

• Behavior Skills Training (BST): Teaching social and communication skills through modeling, practice, and feedback.

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Helping clients manage emotions, develop flexibility, and engage in meaningful activities.

• Self-Management Strategies: Empowering clients to monitor and regulate their own behavior.

Many of our clients with an Asperger’s diagnosis are able to actively participate in shaping their treatment goals. Our BCBAs and behavior therapists work collaboratively with these clients to develop personalized treatment plans. This collaborative approach fosters greater engagement, leading to faster progress and more meaningful outcomes.

At Graham Behavior Services, we provide ABA therapy for adults throughout New Jersey. While our headquarters is located in West Long Branch, Monmouth County, our team of providers serves a wide geographic area. We offer services throughout most of the state.

If you’re unsure whether we serve your area, click here to fill out our contact form. A member of our team will respond within one business day to discuss your needs and service availability.