That first phone call to an ABA provider can feel like a big step, especially if you're calling shortly after a diagnosis and still processing a lot of new information. Here's what to realistically expect, and how to make the most of it.
What the Provider Should Ask You
A good first call is a two-way conversation, not a sales pitch. Expect to be asked about your child's age and diagnosis status (or where you are in the evaluation process, if a diagnosis isn't finalized yet), your specific concerns and goals for your child, your family's general availability and scheduling needs, and your insurance coverage, so benefits verification can begin.
What You Should Ask Them
This is your opportunity to start working through the questions in our guide, Questions to Ask Before Choosing an ABA Provider. You don't need to ask everything in one call, but it's worth prioritizing questions about who will design your child's treatment plan, what the assessment process looks like, and realistic timelines.
What Should Happen With Insurance
A reputable provider should offer to verify your specific insurance benefits at no cost before you're asked to commit to anything. If a provider is vague about cost, pushes you toward a decision before benefits are clear, or seems reluctant to discuss insurance directly, that's worth noting.
What Comes After the First Call
Typically, the next steps are: insurance verification (which can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks depending on your insurer), scheduling a comprehensive in-home or in-clinic assessment with the BCBA, and then, once the assessment and treatment plan are complete, scheduling regular ongoing sessions. If a provider has current capacity constraints, you may be placed on a waitlist at some point in this process — we explain what that typically looks like in Waitlists and ABA Therapy: Why They Happen and How to Navigate Them.
It's Okay to Take Your Time
You're not obligated to decide on the first call, and a provider confident in their value shouldn't pressure you to. It's reasonable to have similar conversations with more than one provider before deciding — this is a significant, ongoing relationship for your family, not a one-time purchase.
What Our First Call Looks Like
For Wyoming-area families reaching out to Maple ABA Therapy, that first call typically covers your child's situation, an overview of how our in-home model works, and next steps for insurance verification — all before any commitment is asked of you. Our BCBA, Kimberly Blazer, is directly involved in your child's care from the assessment forward.
Our Individual ABA Therapy service is designed around exactly this kind of goal. Our in-home ABA therapy in Wyoming page has more detail, or you can Get Started Today to schedule that first conversation.
This article is part of our complete guide, How to Choose the Right ABA Provider in Michigan. Clinically reviewed by Kimberly Blazer, BCBA.