La Jolla

A trusted partner of CA Regional Centers

Covered by most major insurers and Regional Centers. Learn more

Our services are not covered by California State Medicaid or TRICARE at this time.

Our Approach

Supporting your child’s growth with you

Our care model extends beyond providing therapy for children. It empowers you with the knowledge and skills to implement therapeutic practices at home, thereby strengthening your relationship with your child.

Integrated, family-focused care is proven to provide lasting results

hours of therapy per week versus traditional providers typically requiring 30+ hours per week

Children are more receptive to explore and learn when care is delivered at home

Our Outcomes

Many children experience significant growth in at least one area within six months

Emotional Regulation

Finding the calm to process complex emotions

Communication

Initiating and maintaining meaningful interactions

Social Engagement

Building real relationships based on shared interest & connection

Daily Living

Developing functional capacities for independence

Findings from the preliminary internal program evaluation for children with moderate complexity of support needs over a 10 to 16-month period of continuous care using data collected from 2021 to 2023. A comprehensive care plan is individualized to meet the unique profile and needs of each child with no guarantee of any specific outcome.

Our model works - hear directly from parents

”They understand that [people with autism] don’t need to change because they have a different neurotype. There just needs to be support and accommodations wherever they need them to continue their progress in their development." Leslie Parent

"I feel like they gave our child back to us. We don’t have to worry that he’ll be in intensive hours of learning with providers without us. He gets to be home and he gets to be playing with us. It makes us really happy to know that this is his life. These are going to be his memories of his childhood." Peter Parent

"I didn't know that I was looking for tools for myself. I learned how to be the kind of mom he needs. I learned to be his safe space. And I wasn't expecting that. And maybe I should have been looking for that and I didn't even know to look for it, but it was so necessary and I'm so grateful for it." Pascale Parent

Frequently asked questions

Is an ASD diagnosis required before an evaluation?

Many insurance companies require an autism diagnosis prior to receiving an evaluation with Positive Development. Your intake coordinator can help to determine insurance requirements.

Positive Development does offer virtual diagnostics (18 months to 9 years old). Learn more here

What are common symptoms of autism?

Signs and symptoms of ASD can vary per child and age. According to the CDC, common signs in a child might include (but are not limited to): avoids eye contact, repeats words or phrases, gets upset by small changes or changes in routine, has obsessive play tendencies (repetition), overly challenging behavior, flaps hands or spins body in circles, is highly sensitive to sounds/textures/smells, shows delayed language or cognitive skills or has obsessive interests.

You can learn more about the top signs of autism here: Top 12 Signs and Symptoms of Autism

How much does treatment cost?

Our intake coordinators and Revenue Cycle Team can assist in determining if therapy sessions are covered by your insurance and/or the out-of-pocket cost.

How long is treatment?

Treatment length varies based on diagnosis, however, your child may show significant growth in as little as six months when engaged with 6-8 hours of weekly therapy.

How is developmental therapy different from ABA?

In short, Traditional Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) focuses on specific behaviors, while Developmental Relationship-Based Interventions (DRBI) focuses on the whole child. Traditional ABA has historically been the primary therapy offered for people on the autism spectrum, which teaches skills to gain desired behaviors through reinforcement and discipline, often led by an adult. This approach focuses on observable behaviors and is measured by meeting predetermined developmental goals vs. individualistic goals.

Therapies using a developmental approach belong to a category of interventions called DRBI- Developmental Relationship-based Interventions. DRBI looks beyond specific (and often stereotyped) behaviors like aggression, rigidity, and withdrawal to understand and address the neurodevelopmental challenges beneath the surface. These challenges may include motor planning, emotional self-regulation, sensory sensitivity, learning disabilities, and speech delays. DRBI is child led, without a pre-determined schedule of events or tasks to complete.

Read more about the core differences between ABA and developmental therapy here: ABA and the Developmental Model: A Slight Controversy in Autism Therapy