ENC ABA

01/02/2026

We have a new look for our BCBA Corner for 2026! Each month this year, we will take an ABA strategy that we use in clinic and translate it into meaningful ways you can use it at home.

We have some families who have been on their ABA journey for many years and some who are just beginning their journey. You may also be seeing this post and are curious as to what ABA really is all about. Wherever you and your child are in your journey, we want to continue to be a resource for your family.

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a research-based approach that helps children learn new skills, increase independence, and reduce challenging behaviors that may interfere with learning or daily life.
ABA focuses on understanding how behavior works, why it happens, and how to teach skills in ways that are meaningful and motivating for your child.
Your child’s individualized ABA program is designed and supervised by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and implemented in a 1:1 or small group setting by a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT).

The ultimate goal of ABA is to help your child:
Build meaningful, functional skills
Reduce behaviors that interfere with learning or safety
Increase independence and confidence
Improve quality of life for the child and family

ABA is not about changing who your child is.
It’s about supporting their growth, communication, and ability to navigate the world successfully.

01/01/2026

Happy New Year from ENC ABA! We hope 2026 is full of blessings!

12/20/2025

Autism Society of North Carolina

12/18/2025

Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season from the staff at ENC ABA. ❤️💚🩵

12/13/2025

Saying goodbye to this building is so bittersweet! We poured literal blood, sweat, and tears into renovating this building and have loved so many children who walked through these door the last 3 years. We outgrew this space within the first 6 months of operation and have been stretched across 2 buildings (even 3 for a short period) the last 2.5 years. We are excited that we have the opportunity to finally bring everyone back under one roof, but we will always cherish this building where our dream became reality.

12/01/2025

The holiday season brings many opportunities for children to practice and strengthen social skills - especially when spending time with extended family, participating in traditions, and navigating busy routines. However, we understand that the holidays can also bring about many stressors for you and your children due to changes in routine, meeting new people, and being in new environments. Below are strategies to help you and your family feel supported and successful during the holiday season gatherings.

🎁Giving & Receiving Gifts
Tips for Practice:
Model simple scripts such as:
“Thank you!”
“I like it!”
“Can you help me open it?”
Reinforce any attempt at polite responding!

🍽️ Holiday Meals
Tips for Practice:
Allow your child to bring a preferred food.
Practice “waiting time” using a timer.
Reinforce positive meal-time behavior such as: staying seated, trying small bites/new foods, or asking politely to be excused/take a break!
Provide clear expectations during meal-time using a visual support

👵 Socializing with Unfamiliar Family Members
Tips for Practice:
Develop a set of predictable greeting scripts:
“Hi! My name is __.”
“Nice to see you!”
Prepare your child for who they might meet or see by reviewing family photos.
Use a Social Interaction Choice Board to empower your child to choose a greeting they feel comfortable with.

📖 Reading a Social Story:
Practice reading a social story before the event so your child can feel more prepared and know what to expect, including what they can ask for if they become overwhelmed (ex: a break with break options)!

-Stephanie Higgins, BCBA, LBA

12/01/2025

https://www.encaba.com/blog-3-1/bcba-corner-social-skills-at-home-holiday-edition

11/14/2025

https://www.encaba.com/blog-3-1/bcba-corner-building-a-practice-of-gratitude

10/14/2025

In ABA, environmental changes are proactive adjustments made to the physical space, routines, and instructional setup to help prevent challenging behaviors and promote desired ones. Rather than waiting for behavior to occur and reacting, teachers can design the instructional environment to make appropriate behavior more likely.
These are a few ways that environmental changes can be helpful. What would you add to this list?

10/14/2025

The First/Then strategy is a simple but effective visual and verbal support used to increase motivation, structure tasks, and promote cooperative behavior. It presents expectations in a clear, predictable sequence: first a required task, then a preferred activity or reinforcer. This approach helps individuals understand what is expected and when access to a preferred outcome will occur.
The First/Then strategy is grounded in behavioral principles of reinforcement. By clearly linking completion of a less-preferred activity (the 'first') to access to a preferred activity (the 'then'), you can increase the likelihood that the desired behavior will occur again in the future. The 'then' component serves as a reinforcer, motivating individuals to complete tasks and transition smoothly.

09/04/2025

08/29/2025

Our website has gotten a bit of a refresh. We've also added a "Resources" tab where we will be sharing our "BCBA Corner" from our monthly parent newsletter. We continue to strive for consistency and clarity for improved quality of care. Check it out at

Compassionate ABA on the Carolina Coast Supporting Progress Toward Individual Goals Learn More Mission and ValuesOur mission is to provide quality Applied Behavior Analysis services to individuals with autism and their families by recognizing each person’s unique qualities and abilities and suppor...