Understanding the History of ABA Therapy

If you are a parent or caregiver exploring support options for a child with autism, you've probably come across something called ABA therapy, short for Applied Behavior Analysis. Today, ABA is one of the most widely used and researched approaches to help individuals with autism build important life skills, from communication and social interaction to daily routines.

But ABA didn’t develop overnight. Above and Beyond Therapy is here to explain the long history of ABA. Understanding the origins of ABA and evolution can help you feel more confident in ensuring the approach is right for your family, knowing which questions to ask, and choosing the best support for your child.

Who Is the Founder of Applied Behavior Analysis?

When we talk about ABA therapy, two key figures stand out as the applied behavior analysis founders: 

• B.F. Skinner is often called the "father of operant conditioning." His research on how behaviors are shaped by rewards and consequences revolutionized modern behavioral science. Skinner showed that when people receive positive reinforcement for a behavior, they’re more likely to repeat it. This concept of reinforcement is a core principle in ABA and many other modern therapies.

• Dr. Ivar Lovaas took Skinner’s principles and applied them specifically to autism in the 1960s. Lovaas is considered a pioneer in using behavioral techniques to help children with autism. He started the UCLA Young Autism Project, where he demonstrated that children with autism could make measurable improvements in behavior through consistent interventions. His work played a key role in the widespread adoption of behavior analysis for autism treatment.

Together, Skinner and Lovaas helped shift the approach to autism treatment from unproven methods to a science-based, results-driven strategy that is central to ABA today. So while the principles of ABA were developed in the 1930’s by these researchers, when was applied behavior analysis founded formally? 

1960s: The Birth of Applied Behavior Analysis

The history of applied behavior analysis began in the 1960s, largely thanks to Dr. Ivar Lovaas. At the time, there were few effective therapies for children with autism, and Lovaas wanted to change that. He applied behaviorism, which is the idea that behaviors can be learned and changed through reinforcement and repetition, to autism using techniques like Discrete Trial Training (DTT). 

DTT breaks skills down into smaller, more manageable chunks and teaches them one at a time by repeating tasks and rewarding correct responses. For example, a child might be asked to point to a picture of a cat, and if they do, they receive a reward. If they don’t, the trial is repeated until they succeed.

Early ABA interventions focused on teaching skills like language, eye contact, and basic social behaviors, all through structured, step-by-step methods.

While Lovaas' work laid the foundation for modern ABA, it’s important to recognize that early methods were often intense and didn’t always consider children's emotional needs. They focused heavily on behavior change through strict, repetitive routines, which could cause stress. Today, ABA is more individualized and supportive, emphasizing trust, emotional well-being, and motivating rewards. The approach is now more balanced and child-centered.

1970s–1980s: Early Research, Mainstreaming, and Controversy

In the 1970s and 80s, ABA started to grow beyond just a few research labs, it began showing up in more clinics, schools, and therapy programs. The techniques were catching on, especially the idea of using positive reinforcement (such as rewards and praise) to encourage helpful behaviors in children with autism. This was a big step forward and helped ABA start to feel more accessible for families looking for support.

However, some early programs still used aversive techniques like loud noises, restraints, or even electric shocks to reduce unwanted behaviors. The idea behind these techniques was to eliminate certain unwanted behaviors quickly by associating them with negative consequences. However, these methods were often harsh and distressing for the individuals on the receiving end of them.

These techniques were controversial from the start and later faced stronger criticism, especially from autistic individuals who felt their negative effects. Many advocates argued that using punishment-based approaches was dehumanizing. This backlash pushed the field to take a hard look at its practices and begin shifting toward more ethical, respectful ways of doing therapy.

At the same time, ABA was making progress in the scientific world. More studies were being published, and the approach started being recognized as a research-backed, data-driven treatment. This helped it gain acceptance in schools and among healthcare providers.

But as ABA grew, so did the tough questions: Should the goal really be to make autistic kids appear more “typical”? Are we truly listening to what these children need and want? These concerns became the spark for major changes, encouraging the field to evolve into something more thoughtful, person-centered, and supportive.

1990s: Refinement and Professionalization of ABA

By the 1990s, ABA had become more refined. After a few decades of trial, error, and debate, the field began to take a more professional shape, and with that came some much-needed changes.

One of the biggest milestones was the creation of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) in 1998. The BACB was created to ensure ABA practitioners had proper training and followed ethical guidelines. Before that, standards were inconsistent, and anyone could claim to use ABA. The BACB brought regulation, accountability, and clear expectations for education and conduct.

Around this time, there was also a stronger shift toward positive reinforcement and away from harsh or outdated methods. People were realizing that encouraging good behavior worked better (and was a lot more respectful) than trying to stop unwanted behavior through punishment. This was a big turning point in making ABA more child-centered and supportive.

Another important development in the 90s was the growing use of Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs). Instead of just reacting to a behavior, therapists started looking at why it was happening in the first place. For example, if a child yelled during group time, an FBA might show they were overwhelmed or needed a break. This insight led to Behavior Intervention Plans that taught more effective ways to communicate, like using a break card.

It was no longer a one-size-fits-all approach but tailored to each child’s needs and situation.

All of these changes helped lay the groundwork for the more thoughtful and individualized kind of ABA that many families see today.

2000s: Widespread Recognition and Insurance Coverage

The 2000s marked a turning point for ABA as it gained mainstream recognition. The U.S. Surgeon General and CDC endorsed it as an evidence-based autism treatment, boosting its credibility. Another significant development in the 2000s was the growing availability of insurance coverage for ABA therapy. Before then, many U.S. families had to pay out of pocket, which made ongoing treatment hard to afford.

At the same time, ABA started showing up in more places. It wasn’t just offered in private clinics anymore: public schools, early intervention programs, and community centers began using ABA-based strategies, making support available to a much wider range of children.

There was also a growing focus on setting clear goals and tracking progress. Therapists used data to see what was working and what wasn’t, and they adjusted their approach accordingly. This helped make ABA more personalized, more effective, and more accountable. Providers weren’t just following a rigid formula, they were paying attention to each child’s progress and making sure therapy was really helping.

All in all, the 2000s were a time when ABA became more widespread, structured, and results-focused with the goal of helping kids make meaningful progress and giving families more confidence in the support they were getting.

2010s–Today: A More Modern, Respectful Approach to ABA

In recent years, ABA has continued to evolve, this time with a stronger focus on making therapy more respectful, personalized, and supportive of the whole person. Instead of concentrating so much on compliance, there’s now more emphasis on helping children build real-life skills that matter to them, such as communicating their needs, making choices, and becoming more independent in everyday routines.

One of the biggest shifts has been how ABA is becoming more family-centered. Therapists now see the child’s development as a family effort, working closely with parents and caregivers to support progress at home and beyond. By involving families and aligning goals with daily routines, therapy becomes more practical, meaningful, and effective for the entire family.

Another way ABA has changed since the 2010s is how the field has started listening to autistic individuals. Self-advocates and the neurodiversity movement have had a big impact, encouraging providers to prioritize informed consent, respect boundaries, and ensure therapy goals truly support the individual.

Modern ABA has become much more flexible and focused on the individual child. Therapists use techniques like Natural Environment Teaching, Pivotal Response Treatment, and play-based learning. These approaches help children build skills in a way that fits with their everyday lives and interests.

Natural Environment Teaching in ABA Therapy

Natural Environment Teaching (NET) focuses on teaching children in natural settings where they’ll use the skills. For example, instead of using flashcards, a therapist might teach a child to ask for a snack in the kitchen or request help while playing. Learning becomes more natural and meaningful when it’s part of what they experience in everyday life.

Utilizing Pivotal Response Treatment in Applied Behavioral Analysis 

Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) is another approach that focuses on important areas, or “pivotal” behaviors, that can lead to broad improvements in a child’s development. For example, PRT targets skills like motivation, self-management, and social initiation, areas that can affect a child’s ability to learn in a variety of settings. 

The idea is to turn learning into something kids enjoy, not something they have to push through, and this is achieved by building on things the child already enjoys or is interested in. If a child loves playing with cars, for instance, the therapist might use that interest to encourage them to ask questions, take turns, or expand their play in creative ways. PRT is about making learning more dynamic and driven by the child’s interests.

Play-Based ABA Therapy

Play-based therapies build on the concept of using everyday activities by transforming the entire session into a game. Instead of just sticking to structured tasks, therapists use play to teach things like social skills, language, and problem-solving. Whether it’s playing pretend games or doing fun activities together, play-based learning taps into a child’s natural curiosity and love for exploration. 

Together, these methods make ABA a lot more fun and focused on the child. Rather than just repeating drills or following rigid tasks, therapists now bring the child’s world into their learning, which helps make it feel more meaningful, fun, and effective.

Learning from the History of ABA Therapy While Building the Future

What makes ABA truly unique is that it’s an evolving field. The work of clinicians, researchers, and the neurodiversity movement continues to shape and refine its practices, making it more responsive to the needs and experiences of those it aims to help. This ongoing growth shows that ABA isn’t static; it’s constantly adapting based on new insights, feedback, and research.

The future of ABA is full of promise, with the field moving toward more person-centered and neurodiversity-affirming practices. Therapy is becoming more individualized, focusing on each person’s unique identity, preferences, rather than a one-size-fits-all model. There's also growing use of technology like AI and virtual platforms to make therapy more accessible and tailored, especially for families in remote areas.

In the end, while ABA’s past is complicated, its future is full of potential, one that’s more inclusive, more ethical, and even more committed to providing support that truly makes a difference. At Above and Beyond Therapy, we’re proud to be part of that future. We’re deeply committed to providing compassionate, respectful, and loving care that honors each individual’s uniqueness. We’re here for you, don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.