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20+ Years Serving Central CT

How ABA and Physical Therapy Work Together to Support Children with Autism

How ABA and Physical Therapy Work Together to Support Children with Autism

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Parents often wonder how different therapies can come together to help their child thrive. It’s a great question, and one that shows just how much families value a personalized approach to care.

For many children with autism, combining Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and physical therapy offers a balanced approach to addressing both behavioral and physical development within a coordinated plan.

In this article, we’ll explore how these two therapies complement each other and how an integrated approach can make a meaningful difference in your child’s development.

Getting Started with ABA and Physical Therapy

Beginning therapy can feel like a big step for families, but it often marks the start of meaningful progress.

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and physical therapy both use structured, play-based methods that make learning engaging and rewarding. Each approach targets different but complementary areas of development:

  • ABA focuses on behavior, communication, and participation.
  • Physical therapy strengthens movement, coordination, and body control.

Together, these therapies help children build a strong foundation for learning, movement, and connection.

How ABA Therapy Can Help Your Child

ABA uses positive reinforcement to encourage meaningful and lasting growth. In sessions, children learn through play and daily routines, building skills in communication, social interaction, and self-help at a pace that feels achievable.

For example, a child might practice asking for a favorite toy using pictures or words, or take turns during a group activity to strengthen social awareness.

Every step forward is supported and celebrated, helping children feel confident in their progress and motivated to keep learning.

The Benefits of Physical Therapy for Your Child

Physical therapy helps children move with confidence and ease. For children with autism, this often includes working on balance, strength, posture, and motor planning – skills that make everyday play and movement more accessible.

Sessions may involve fun, structured activities like climbing, balancing, or novel obstacle courses that build both strength and coordination.

As children improve body control, they often become more comfortable participating in play, classroom routines, and family life. The goal is to help each child feel capable, coordinated, and proud of what their body can do.

A Unified Approach to Growth

When ABA and physical therapy come together, they create a whole-child approach that nurtures both the mind and body. Behavioral strategies from ABA help children stay engaged and motivated, while physical therapy builds the physical foundation for success.

This partnership allows progress in one area to reinforce the other – turning each therapy session into a coordinated effort that supports communication, movement, and confidence across all areas of life.

Bringing ABA and Physical Therapy Together

ABA and physical therapy foster connected progress – strengthening communication, coordination, and confidence in every setting. This approach allows therapists to address multiple developmental goals in each session, making progress more cohesive, engaging, and meaningful.

For instance:

  • During play: A child might practice turn-taking during a group game (an ABA goal) while improving balance and postural control by moving between different play positions, such as sitting, standing, or crouching (a PT goal).
  • During movement tasks: Following directions in an obstacle course (ABA goal) can also build coordination, strength, and motor planning (PT goals).

By aligning goals and methods, therapists help children gain independence and enjoyment in movement and learning. Every small victory builds on the next, creating steady, lasting growth.

Strategies for Effective Integration: How Parents Can Support Collaboration

Successful collaboration between ABA and physical therapy begins with communication and shared goals. When therapists and families work together, progress stays consistent — and children experience steady growth across their routines.

Here are practical ways to make that collaboration work:

1) Share regular updates.

Keep a simple notebook or shared digital log between therapists and caregivers. Notes about new milestones, challenges, or moments of success help both therapy teams adjust goals and celebrate progress together.

2) Set unified goals that link both therapies.

During team meetings, identify one or two shared priorities. For instance, if physical therapy is targeting posture or balance, ABA can support engagement and motivation during those same movement tasks.

3) Use consistent cues and language. 

When everyone uses the same short phrases, visuals, or gestures like “ready, set, go!” or “first–then,” children know what to expect. That consistency helps them feel confident and supported as they learn new skills.

4) Blend therapy into everyday routines.

Small, natural opportunities can make a big difference. Try practicing balance while brushing teeth, or following one-step directions while getting dressed. Integrating therapy goals into daily play and self-care helps skills generalize beyond the clinic.

5) Keep a progress journal and celebrate small wins.

Write down moments of success each week, no matter how small. Sharing these with your child’s therapy team keeps everyone aligned and gives your child positive reinforcement to stay motivated.

6) Stay connected through brief team check-ins.

Even short monthly meetings or shared emails between therapists can keep everyone focused on the same developmental priorities and prevent overlap.

Simple tools like child-friendly therapy apps, visual planners, or home activity guides can help parents extend therapy naturally into daily routines. They can ensure that growth continues between sessions and make coordination easier.

Making Therapy Part of Everyday Life

When therapy becomes part of family life, progress doesn’t stop when the session ends. It grows stronger through repetition, play, and shared connection.

Carrying over strategies from the clinic to home helps children apply what they’ve learned in real-world situations, making skills more meaningful and lasting.

Easy Ways to Bring Therapy Home

Everyday routines are full of opportunities to reinforce your child’s goals in fun, natural ways. Try:

  • Sensory play: Explore textured bins, water play, or gentle tactile games to support sensory regulation.
  • Balance and coordination games: Practice hopping, tiptoeing, or easy yoga poses to build core strength and control.
  • Interactive storytelling: Act out stories or songs with gestures and facial expressions to strengthen communication and imitation skills.
  • Movement moments: Turn household activities into mini–challenges – like marching to music during cleanup or balancing while putting away toys.

These small moments create powerful connections between therapy and home. By weaving therapeutic play into everyday routines, parents help children stay engaged, confident, and excited about their progress.

Partnering with Schools and Specialists for Better Outcomes

Children thrive when the adults in their world work together. Collaboration between therapists, educators, and other specialists ensures that the strategies used in therapy also support success in the classroom and community.

Families can strengthen this collaboration by:

  • Scheduling regular updates with teachers and therapists to share progress and challenges.
  • Coordinating supports so that classroom strategies align with therapy goals.
  • Joining team meetings to review milestones and adjust plans as their child grows.

When everyone works from the same plan, children experience greater consistency, confidence, and success across all areas of life.

Different Therapy Methods We Use at Talcott

Our therapists draw from a range of evidence-based approaches to support each child’s physical, emotional, and developmental growth.

Techniques such as Neuro-Developmental Treatment, sensory integration, and play-based motor activities are often woven together with ABA principles to build strength, coordination, and confidence.

By blending these complementary methods, children learn new skills in ways that feel natural, engaging, and deeply connected to their everyday experiences.

Understanding Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT)

Neurodevelopmental Treatment supports children in developing controlled, purposeful movement for everyday tasks – such as reaching, standing, and grasping toys. Through gentle, guided movement and hands-on facilitation, therapists help children build postural control, coordination, and confidence in how their bodies move.

At Talcott, NDT techniques can be integrated with ABA to support progress across both physical and behavioral goals.

  • For example, while a physical therapist helps a child reach for a toy while maintaining sitting balance (a PT goal), the ABA team may reinforce participation and engagement (an ABA goal) through play-based reinforcement.
  • This collaboration ensures each session supports not just movement, but also motivation and focus – helping children feel proud of every success.

Integrating Senses: The Vestibular and Proprioceptive Approach

The vestibular and proprioceptive systems help children understand movement, balance, and body position.

  • Vestibular input comes from the inner ear and helps with balance and motion awareness.
  • Proprioceptive input comes from muscles and joints and helps children know where their body is in space.

At Talcott, therapists engage the vestibular and proprioceptive systems through playful, structured activities – such as balance beams, and pushing or pulling games – to help children process sensory input more effectively.

When these systems are well-integrated, children experience:

  • Better body awareness and postural control.
  • Improved balance, stability, and coordination.
  • Easier transitions between activities and smoother motor planning for complex tasks like climbing stairs or jumping.

Sessions may include a mix of movement and resistance work designed to improve body awareness and coordination. Sensory-based activities may include:

  • Gentle swinging or rocking to support vestibular input and calm regulation
  • Climbing, pushing, or pulling games that build proprioceptive feedback and strength
  • Balance beams, hopscotch, or light resistance play to encourage coordination and motor planning

Each exercise is customized to the child’s sensory profile, designed to help them feel grounded, secure, and confident as they move.

Harnessing the Power of Play-Based Therapy

Play is at the heart of every therapy session at Talcott. Creative, child-centered activities target physical goals like balance, coordination, and motor planning while keeping sessions fun and motivating.

Examples used by our interdisciplinary team include:

  • Animal walks (pretending to be frogs, bears, or crabs) to strengthen core and leg muscles
  • Obstacle courses tailored to each child’s abilities, improving balance, endurance, and attention
  • Rolling, tossing, or catching games that build hand-eye coordination and social engagement

These activities not only build physical skills but also promote confidence, teamwork, and flexible thinking – key components of whole-child growth.

Families are encouraged to continue play-based learning at home, turning everyday routines into moments of progress and connection. Whether it’s dancing during cleanup time or building a mini obstacle course with pillows, playful movement helps children carry therapy gains into daily life in ways that feel natural and fun.

Tailoring Therapy to Your Child’s Unique Journey

Every child grows and learns in their own way, which is why personalized care matters.

At Talcott, therapy plans are thoughtfully tailored to each child’s strengths, interests, and developmental goals. Families and therapists collaborate closely to ensure every activity feels purposeful and enjoyable, helping children stay motivated and confident.

By blending approaches like NDT, sensory integration, and play-based learning, Talcott therapy fosters progress that feels natural and meaningful.

Supporting Every Step Toward Growth

When ABA and physical therapy work together, children experience well-rounded progress – strengthening both how they move and how they engage with the world.

This combined approach nurtures communication, coordination, and overall confidence, helping children grow with balance and purpose.

Families play an essential role in that progress. By partnering with therapists, celebrating small milestones, and bringing therapy into everyday moments, parents help ensure that growth continues long after each session ends.

With consistency, collaboration, and care, every child can move closer to their goals – one confident step, smile, or success at a time.

Partner with Us on Your Child’s Therapy Journey

At Talcott, we believe progress happens best when therapy feels connected to family life, play, and each child’s unique potential.

Our ABA team, along with physical, occupational, and speech therapists, designs integrated care plans that evolve as your child grows. Whether you’re exploring combined therapies for the first time or strengthening your child’s current plan, we guide families with expertise and compassion.

Schedule a consultation to learn how our team can help your child build skills, confidence, and joy at home, in school, and in every part of daily life.

Help for Families Starts Here

Take the first step. Fill out this form to connect with our team and learn how Talcott can support your family’s journey.









    20+ Years Serving Central CT

    Every Step Counts: How Physical Therapy Supports Children with Autism

    Every Step Counts: How Physical Therapy Supports Children with Autism

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    You want your child to feel comfortable, active, and included. But for children with autism, certain motor differences can make everyday movement more challenging. These challenges can also affect how easily they participate at school, in the community, or during play.

    Physical therapy offers children structured, supportive opportunities to develop physical skills in a way that feels engaging and approachable. Instead of focusing only on exercise, therapists design activities that match your child’s abilities and interests, creating progress that feels natural and motivating.

    In this article, we’ll look at how physical therapy supports children at every stage of growth – from toddlers building first milestones to teens preparing for independence – and what to consider when choosing the right therapist for your family.

    How Physical Therapy Can Help Your Child with Autism

    When movement feels hard, everyday activities can feel out of reach. Physical therapy helps bridge that gap, turning small steps into meaningful progress your child can carry into play, school, and friendships.

    Benefits of Physical Therapy for Your Child

    Physical therapy can open new doors for your child, helping them feel more skilled and self-assured in movement, social situations, and daily routines.

    Beyond improving strength and coordination, it also enhances how children engage, communicate, and thrive in everyday life by:

    Building Confidence and Making Friends

    For many children, joining a game or activity depends on more than just interest. It also requires the physical ability to participate.

    Physical therapy creates opportunities for children with autism to build those skills in supportive, structured settings.

    As they learn new movements and feel capable in group play, children often discover that connecting with others comes more naturally. These small moments of success can make social experiences less intimidating and more enjoyable.

    Improving Balance, Coordination, and Strength

    When balance or coordination is challenging, even simple movements can feel unpredictable.

    Physical therapy helps children build the strength, stability, and body control they need to move confidently. Through playful and engaging activities, therapists break each skill into manageable steps, helping children strengthen key muscles, improve coordination, and develop better body awareness.

    As these skills grow, children often find it easier to stay steady on uneven ground, move through busy spaces, or attempt activities they once avoided. Each success brings a sense of freedom and confidence, supporting more active participation at home, in school, and in the community.

    Enhancing Mood and Behavior

    Physical activity has a direct impact on how children feel and respond to their surroundings. In therapy, movement becomes a tool for calming the body, focusing attention, and managing emotions.

    Children begin to recognize how being active can help them reset when they feel overwhelmed or restless. These experiences often carry over into daily routines, making transitions smoother and helping children approach challenges with greater resilience.

    How PT Goals Evolve: Supporting Your Child’s Growth at Every Age

    The benefits of therapy look different at each stage of childhood.

    Here’s how therapy can support growth at various stages of life, with examples of what that progress looks like.

    Starting Physical Therapy with Babies and Toddlers

    In the earliest years, therapy focuses on helping little ones meet important milestones that support future learning and play.

    For babies and toddlers with autism, these activities may include crawling through tunnels, stacking blocks, reaching for toys, practicing standing balance, or taking early steps. Each playful moment builds strength and coordination, helping children feel secure in movement and encouraging them to explore their world through age-appropriate play.

    Physical Therapy for School-Age Children

    Once children enter school, therapy often shifts toward helping them refine their motor control and physical endurance, enabling them to keep up with their peers in daily activities.

    Physical therapists focus on identifying and strengthening the underlying movement skills that support success in playground and sports activities. These include balance, core strength, running, jumping, catching, and ball-handling.

    Sessions may include exercises that resemble playground games or early sports, helping children feel more confident during recess, gym class, or play with friends.

    When these strategies are practiced both at school and at home, children make steady progress and feel more included in group activities.

    Supporting Your Teen: Physical Therapy for Teens

    For teenagers, therapy is tailored to meet the evolving needs associated with the transition to independence.

    Sessions often focus on targeted muscle strengthening to support posture, stamina, and comfort during school or social activities. Therapists may also help teens develop the building blocks they need to safely participate in community fitness programs, gym workouts, or recreational sports.

    By addressing real-life goals, therapy helps teens feel more capable and confident in social, school, and community environments, while promoting overall physical health as they prepare for adult life.

    Choosing the Right Physical Therapist for Your Child

    Selecting the right physical therapist for your child is both a practical and personal decision. While training and experience matter, what truly makes a difference is how a therapist builds trust, motivates your child, and partners with your family over time.

    Qualities to Look for in a Therapist

    Children thrive when therapy feels encouraging and engaging. A skilled therapist knows how to make sessions engaging while still progressing toward meaningful goals.

    Look for someone who notices small progress, celebrates effort, and adjusts strategies to keep your child invested in the process.

    Training and Collaboration

    Pediatric development often involves multiple specialists. Choose a therapist who is open to collaborating with teachers, physicians, and other providers on your child’s care team.

    Ongoing professional training and openness to new methods also signal that the therapist is committed to providing the best possible support as your child grows.

    Understanding the Approach

    Every child’s journey is different. Ask how the therapist develops treatment plans, and whether they use both structured exercises and play-based activities to keep therapy balanced.

    When therapists clearly explain how progress will be measured, you can feel assured that goals are both realistic and matched to your child’s strengths.

    Involving Families in the Process

    Parents and caregivers play a vital role in the therapy team. The right therapist doesn’t just work with your child in sessions; they give you tools and encouragement to reinforce skills at home. This might include showing you how to support posture, balance, or motor skills during everyday routines, so progress continues outside the clinic.

    Physical Therapy vs. Occupational Therapy for Your Child

    For children with autism, both physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) can play an important role in supporting development. While they focus on different areas, together they help children move, play, and participate more fully in everyday life.

    Physical Therapy (PT)

    Physical therapy supports children with autism by making movement feel less overwhelming and more enjoyable. It focuses on building strength, coordination, and physical readiness so kids can move through their world with greater ease.

      • Focus: Strengthens movement skills, coordination, and balance.
    • Activities: May include playful exercises such as:
      • Jumping or hopping through obstacle courses
      • Climbing on play structures to build core strength
      • Riding scooters or tricycles to improve balance
    • Goal: Develops confidence in gross motor skills, enabling children to participate in playground activities, sports, and family routines with greater comfort and consistency.

    Occupational Therapy (OT)

    Occupational therapy helps children develop everyday skills they need for independence, learning, and play. It also supports sensory processing, so children feel calmer and more in control of their bodies.

    • Focus: Promotes independence in daily living activities by strengthening the underlying skills that support it – such as fine motor coordination, sensory regulation, and self-care routines.
    • Activities: Often look like everyday play or routines, such as:
      • Using tweezers, beads, or stickers to strengthen hand muscles
      • Practicing dressing skills like zipping, buttoning, or tying shoes
      • Exploring sensory play with water, sand, or textured toys
    • Goal: Helps children participate more fully in daily tasks by addressing the foundational motor and sensory skills that support confidence, focus, and success in daily life.

    Why Combining PT and OT Matters at Talcott

    Every child’s progress is strongest when therapies connect. That’s why at Talcott, physical therapy and occupational therapy are never separate from the bigger picture of ABA support.

    Here’s how our approach supports your child:

    Comprehensive Assessment

    • Our physical therapists assess underlying areas, such as strength, posture, and motor coordination, that may affect movement and decreased participation.
    • Our occupational therapists identify how those challenges impact daily living activities and explore how the sensory processing system contributes to your child’s responses and routines.
    • Our BCBAs (Board Certified Behavior Analysts) and ABA therapists build on these insights by developing behavior plans that support PT and OT goals across your child’s day – at school, during play, and in daily routines.

    Together, our team brings these insights into one plan for comprehensive, coordinated care that meets your child’s full range of needs.

    Tailored Therapy Plans

    Our physical therapists build strength and stability at the foundation. For example, by improving core strength and postural endurance, your child can sit comfortably and focus for longer periods. Occupational therapists then build on those gains to strengthen functional skills, such as feeding, writing, or other tabletop tasks.

    ABA therapists collaborate with PTs and OTs to implement these goals in everyday routines. They identify and reinforce strategies that match each child’s current skill level. This helps children be successful throughout their day – whether that means using more supportive seating at lunch for a child who has low core endurance, or practicing movement breaks during play.

    By aligning therapeutic strategies, our team ensures progress in one area directly supports success in another. This coordinated approach helps children move, learn, and participate with greater ease and consistency.

    Ongoing Progress Monitoring

    Since our team works under one roof, we meet regularly to review progress and adjust our techniques. If your child thrives in one area, we adapt to the next step, ensuring therapy always feels meaningful.

    Family Partnership

    We know parents are key to lasting progress.  Whenever possible, we invite families to observe sessions so they can see what strategies work best for their child and collaborate directly with the therapy team.

    Our team helps you practice simple strategies at home, such as:

    • Turning everyday routines into skill-building moments (e.g., balancing while brushing teeth)
    • Incorporating movement into play (e.g., hopscotch, ball games, climbing)
    • Encouraging independence in dressing, eating, or other self-care tasks
    • Using positive reinforcement to celebrate small wins

    By blending PT, OT, and ABA within a play-based model, we provide children with the tools they need to gain comfort and ease in how their body moves, feel confident in daily tasks, and stay supported in every setting – home, school, and community.

    Partner with Us on Your Child’s Therapy Journey

    At The Talcott Center, we take a team-based approach so that no aspect of your child’s progress is left behind. Our BCBAs, together with physical and occupational therapists, collaborate to develop ABA plans that evolve as your child grows.

    We also support families with simple, practical ways to carry progress into daily life – so children feel confident in and out of therapy sessions.

    We invite you to reach out for a friendly, no-pressure conversation about your child’s physical therapy needs. Our team is here to listen, guide, and support you as your child builds the skills to thrive.

    Help for Families Starts Here

    Take the first step. Fill out this form to connect with our team and learn how Talcott can support your family’s journey.