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Pilot in development

UMTC Parent Training & Coaching

Family Alignment Through ABA

Practical support for everyday routines, clearer communication, and working together as caregivers.

Request pilot information →How it will work
Still being finalized: session dates and length, group size, fees, facilitators, and cancellation terms. We'll publish these before enrollment opens.
Who it serves

For caregivers of children receiving ABA

Parents, grandparents, and other caregivers who want practical help with daily routines, communicating with their child, and coordinating care with each other and with their child's ABA team.

Generated Form

Knowing a strategy and using it during a busy or stressful day are different things. We help families identify what gets in the way and practice approaches that fit their daily lives.

What gets in the way

It's rarely just one thing

  • Instructions that were unclear or hard to remember
  • Routines that don't fit the family's real schedule
  • Limited time, help, or rest
  • A plan that needs adjusting with the ABA team
  • Stress and habits that show up in hard moments
The caregiver side

Adults bring their own history too

How each of us was raised shapes how we respond to crying, limits, and stress. Noticing those patterns isn't about blame. It gives caregivers more choices in the moment.

1

Hard moments

Staying steady when a routine falls apart.

2

Different responses

Different responses from caregivers can make expectations harder to understand. We help adults coordinate while staying responsive to the child's needs.

3

Communication

Understanding what a behavior may be communicating, with your child's team.

What families practice

Everyday skills, practiced in everyday moments

Workable routines

Example: a bedtime routine with a few clear steps that fits your evening.

Clear, simple instructions

Example: one short direction at a time, with time to respond.

Supporting communication

Example: responding to the way your child is learning to ask for help or a break.

Staying steady

Example: noticing early signs of your own stress and taking a planned pause.

Caregiver coordination

Example: agreeing on shared words and expectations for one routine.

Partnering with the team

Example: noting what happened so you can share it with your child's BCBA®.

An illustrative example

The tablet is put away at bedtime…

Child
BeforeThe tablet is put away.
BehaviorCries and drops to the floor.
AfterGets the tablet back, and the crying stops.
Caregiver
BeforeLoud crying at the end of a long day.
BehaviorGives the tablet back.
AfterThe crying stops, and the caregiver feels relief.

One possible pattern is that both responses are being reinforced. Only an assessment by your child's BCBA can tell what is actually maintaining a behavior.

What practice might look like, working from your child's individualized plan:
  • Give the bedtime warning the way the plan describes, using your child's visual or timer.
  • Prompt and respond to the communication skill your child is learning, such as asking for "more time."
  • Follow the steps your child's BCBA has recommended for this routine.
  • Note what happened so the team can adjust the plan if needed.
How it works

Starting with a small pilot

This program is being developed. The first step is a planned four-session pilot. What we learn from it will shape the full six-week program.

1

Introductory workshop Planned

A single live session to learn about the approach and ask questions.

4

Four-session pilot Planned

Live, small-group sessions with guided practice. The first version of the program.

6

Six-week program Planned

The intended full offering, refined after the pilot.

Participation expectations Planned

  • Attend live sessions online, with your camera on when you can
  • Try one small practice activity at home between sessions
  • Bring questions about your own routines (no need to share private details)
  • Both caregivers are welcome when possible
Session lengthTo be confirmed
Group sizeTo be confirmed
Dates and timesTo be confirmed
FeesPublished before enrollment
Cancellation termsPublished before enrollment
Session overview

The planned four-session pilot

Session 1

Routines that fit your home

Map a daily routine and make one realistic change.

Session 2

Clear communication

Simple instructions and responding to how your child communicates.

Session 3

Staying steady in hard moments

Notice your own stress and response patterns, and practice a planned pause.

Session 4

Working together

Shared expectations between caregivers and a plan to continue.

A six-week program to practice working together Planned

Week 1

The family is part of the plan

How the home environment supports a child's progress.

Week 2

Your learning history

What you learned about crying, limits, and discipline.

Week 3

Beliefs and automatic patterns

Notice the habits that show up under stress.

Week 4

Staying regulated in a crisis

Early signs, pausing, and responding from your values.

Week 5

Caregivers as one team

Shared expectations, supportive communication, and a plan for handling disagreements and making adjustments.

Week 6

Your family plan

A written plan to keep practicing after the program.

What is included

Tools you can keep using Planned

W

Caregiver workbook

Routine planner, practice card, caregiver coordination agreement, and a continuation plan.

G

Guided practice

Demonstrations and role-play during each session.

T

Take-home tools

Short practice activities for the week.

R

Progress review

A look back at what worked and what to adjust.

Meet the team

Who will lead the program

UM

Team details coming before enrollment

We'll introduce each facilitator and our clinical consultant here, with their current credentials and confirmed responsibilities, before we accept enrollment.

Service boundaries

What the program provides, and when other support fits better

What it provides

  • Caregiver education and guided practice
  • Help with routines and everyday communication
  • Support coordinating between caregivers
  • A space to notice your own response patterns

What it isn't

  • Therapy, trauma treatment, or counseling
  • Diagnosis or a replacement for your child's ABA services
  • A promise to stop crises or produce specific child outcomes
  • A validated treatment model (it is a program in development)
If concerns such as safety at home, abuse, severe stress or trauma, depression, thoughts of self-harm, substance use, or a serious relationship crisis come up, we will help connect you with a licensed professional. If there is an emergency, call 911. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for crisis support.
FAQs

Questions families ask

We plan to offer groups in English and Spanish. Choose your preferred language on the interest form.

Each session builds on the last, so regular attendance helps. Attendance expectations will be confirmed before enrollment.

Fees haven't been set yet. We will share fees and cancellation terms before anyone enrolls. Requesting information is free and doesn't commit you to anything.

Dates and times are still being planned. Tell us which times usually work for you on the interest form.

The first version is designed for families whose child receives ABA services. It works alongside your child's BCBA and team, not instead of them.

We only use the information on the interest form to respond to your inquiry. We don't ask about diagnoses or your child's behavior on the form. News and updates are a separate, optional choice.

No. Submitting the form only asks us to contact you. It doesn't enroll you or require payment.
Request pilot information

Interested in the pilot?

Share a few details and we'll contact you with availability, facilitator information, fees, and next steps.

  • No payment and no commitment
  • No questions about diagnoses or behavior
  • English or Spanish

Prefer to call? 305-770-8945