Frequently Asked Questions

From the start Cornerstone has invested in training and supporting our staff so they can provide best-in-class intervention. Providing tuition assistance, paid professional development days, CEUs and ongoing training opportunities has allowed us to attract, retain and promote some of the best talent, which translates to top quality care for your child.

We’re very selective about who we hire at Cornerstone! All therapist candidates go through a comprehensive training program to become Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) and must pass a certification exam. In addition to an RBT certification, a therapist at Cornerstone will be trained in Professional Crisis Management (PCM). Our therapists are supported by Mentors, Team Leads, and BCBAs who have extensive training and experience in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis.

Keycard security access gives you peace of mind that your child is safe. Cameras throughout our facilities give us the ability to capture those magical moments and continually observe and train our staff. We deploy iPads to our therapists and each child’s daily progress is captured as it happens.

One-to-one — every day for every child. Cornerstone believes in the benefit of one-on-one bonding between a caring therapist and an encouraged child. We apply a tried and true scientific method of identifying your child’s individual motivations and using those through barriers to progress. We further tailor that intensive treatment to your child’s unique needs, abilities and preferences. If your child grows distracted, tired or agitated along the way, our therapists adjust quickly to ensure engagement remains.

Children at the center have numerous opportunities throughout their day to work on social skills. From simple greetings of peers, to turn-taking during board games, to interacting during art projects or circle time activities, they are presented a wide variety of opportunities to practice skills that will help them be more successful in their interactions with other children.

Our staff are trained to deal with challenging behavior and work together to determine the function of the behavior. Based on that, a behavior plan is developed and implemented. Additionally, all staff members are trained in Professional Crisis Management techniques.

Cornerstone provides all therapy materials and the center is stocked with a wide variety of toys, puzzles and games. Each child should bring a packed lunch each day, and appropriate snacks as desired. If your child is not potty-trained, please bring a supply of diapers or pull-ups. All children, regardless of age, should have a change of seasonally appropriate clothes on hand.

That will largely depend on the child, but for most they will spend their day with one therapist in the morning, and another in the afternoon. Each therapist will provide opportunities to work on communication, social skills, self-help skills, group activities, art, gross motor activities and of course lunch!

Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM

Yes! We observe major holidays and also close for Christmas week, but other than that we are open for therapy!

Behavior analysis focuses on the principles that explain how learning takes place. It is based on the premise that appropriate behavior – including speech, academics and life skills – can be taught using scientific principles. Through decades of research, the field of behavior analysis has developed many techniques for increasing useful behaviors and reducing those that may cause harm or interfere with learning. Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is the use of these techniques and principles to bring about meaningful and positive change.

ABA is the science that uses principles of behavior like reinforcement, extinction, motivation, etc. to teach new behaviors, and change or reduce maladaptive behaviors.  Verbal Behavior or VB is simply the application of these scientific principles to language.  Many create an unnecessary and ill-informed distinction between ABA and VB.  A well-trained professional should make use of the principles of ABA in all areas of the child’s development to include language. In simple terms, Verbal Behavior is a comprehensive Applied Behavior Analytic approach to language.

One of the basic principles of ABA is that when a behavior is followed by some sort of reward, the behavior is more likely to be repeated. It is important with children to identify those things they find reinforcing—from tickles and high-fives, to a tangible toy—then use that reinforcement as a motivator for learning. It is important to note, what works today may not work tomorrow. A skilled therapist continually identifies those things that motivate a child so that learning will continue.

Learning occurs through a history of reinforcement.  If a response receives reinforcement every time the behavior is exhibited, in all environments, by all people, it will have a much stronger history of reinforcement.  It will be learned much quicker and will be more resistant to being “unlearned”.  Consistency in the way something is taught is very important as well.  Imagine being taught three different ways to tie your shoes before you had mastered one way.  It could understandably be very confusing.

The Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program (VB-MAPP) is a criterion-referenced assessment tool, curriculum guide, and skill tracking system that is designed for children with autism, and other individuals who demonstrate language delays.

Behaviors suggesting your child may struggle with autism most often occur between ages 2 and 6. None of the behaviors below represents an immediate indication of autism. But if you’ve observed any of them, you should consider a comprehensive evaluation from a clinical psychologist. No babbling or pointing by 12 months No single words by 16 months or two-word phrases by 24 months No response to name Loss of language or social skills Poor eye contact No smiling Impaired ability to make friends Absence or impairment of imaginative or social play Stereotyped, repetitive or unusual use of language  

To be gluten-free and casein free means to avoid eating things that contain those proteins. Gluten is found in items that contain wheat, oats, barley and rye, while casein is a protein found in milk and dairy products. Many families have noticed dramatic improvement in their children when they remove these things from their diet.

If your child has a food intolerance there may be adverse reactions that come about in the form of behavior when that food is eaten. While diet does not work for every child, to those where it plays a part you may see dramatic changes in behavior because you have removed the offending item.

A physician affiliated with MAPS, or Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs, would be familiar with autism and the special treatments available for this population.

The autism mandate in Indiana ensures that children covered by commercial or state-funded insurance plans have access and coverage for applicable therapies, including Applied Behavior Analysis.

It’s as simple as calling the center and giving us your insurance information. Our experts will make the necessary inquiries with your carrier to determine the type of policy and whether benefits are extended under the Indiana Autism Mandate. In addition to basic eligibility, we will determine your deductible, and other out-of-pocket costs such as co-pays or co-insurance so you will have a full understanding of your policy benefits.

We are in-network with many insurance plans such as Anthem, United Healthcare, IU Health, Medicaid, MDWise and Cigna. If you have questions about your policy, call our center and we’d be happy to help you determine your child’s coverage.

This will largely be determined by your particular insurance coverage. Since your policy is a contract between you and your insurance company, you are responsible for any annual deductible, co-pays or co-insurance that your policy dictates. Cornerstone will work with you to determine what those costs are and develop a payment plan that works for you and your family.

Although Cornerstone wants parents to be fully comfortable with our treatment model for their children, we must balance that with our need to conduct treatment in a structured, productive manner. We encourage you to work directly with your BCBA to schedule time to come in for observation, parent training, and any discussions regarding your child’s treatment.

Because your child may struggle to verbalize their day, a communication notebook travels between Cornerstone and home. The notebook allows the therapist to share the highlights of your child’s day, and allows parents to respond in kind by sharing any behavior or insights about life at home. Parents and caregivers can also request a meeting with a BCBA or a senior clinician to discuss their child’s progress whenever necessary.

Absolutely! Please work directly with your child’s BCBA to schedule a time that works best for you.

Not only do we accommodate them, we encourage them. We strongly believe that a healthy diet translates into happier, healthier children that are able to fully reap the benefits of the intensive therapy.

You betcha! This is an important milestone for any child, and our children are no exception. We have a very successful method for achieving success in this area.

In addition to the daily communication from your child’s therapy team, you will have the opportunity to schedule an in-person meeting with your BCBA at regular intervals.

Your child’s clinical lead will discuss those challenges with you and determine if a home visit is appropriate to address those issues.

Cornerstone utilizes electronic billing for greater tracking of claims, ease in coordination of benefits between primary and secondary policies, and automation of patient statements each month.