The Special Abilities

The Special Abilities Board-Certified Behavior Analyst | Listed in OAP Provider List | Empowering families through ABA therapy.

Collaboratively working with families to create acceptance, appreciation, and awareness for individuals with developmental needs, and behavioral health concerns while supporting them to reach their fullest potential. Providing behavior analytic services through telehealth and in-person sessions based on competent, function-based, and empirically proven principles of Applied Behavior Analysis.

07/28/2026

Repetitive play can serve an important purpose for a child. It may provide predictability, enjoyment, sensory regulation, or a familiar way to explore how something works.

Before redirecting the play, pause and observe. Is the child safe? Do they appear calm and engaged? Is the activity preventing participation in essential routines, or is it simply different from how others expect play to look?

Parents can begin by joining the child’s interest without immediately changing it. Copy the action, pause, and allow space for connection. Once the child is comfortable, introduce one small variation, such as a new toy, word, turn, or action.

The goal is not to remove repetitive play. It is to respectfully expand opportunities for communication, shared enjoyment, and flexibility while preserving what feels meaningful to the child.

follow The Special Abilities | ABA Therapy
follow The Special Abilities | ABA Therapy
follow The Special Abilities | ABA Therapy

07/27/2026

Movement is not always a distraction. For some children, it may help the body feel organized enough for the mind to focus.

Brief movement breaks can support attention, participation, and readiness to learn. This may include stretching, standing while working, carrying materials, walking briefly, or completing an active task before returning to seated work.

The most helpful type of movement will look different for every child. Parents and teachers can observe whether movement helps the child return to the activity, follow directions, and participate more comfortably.

An occupational therapist can help identify movement strategies that match the child’s sensory, motor, and learning needs.

The goal is not to keep every child still. The goal is to create the conditions that help each child engage and learn.

follow The Special Abilities | ABA Therapy
follow The Special Abilities | ABA Therapy
follow The Special Abilities | ABA Therapy

07/25/2026

Waiting can be difficult because a child is doing much more than simply being patient. They may be managing uncertainty, controlling an impulse, understanding time, and coping with frustration all at once.

Instead of repeating “wait,” make the delay easier to understand. Use a visual timer, explain what will happen next, and begin with a waiting period the child can complete successfully. Providing a simple activity during the wait can also make the experience feel more manageable.

Notice and reinforce the effort, even when the wait lasts only a few seconds. Those small successes help build confidence and create the foundation for longer waits over time.

Waiting is taught through clarity, consistency, and support, not pressure.

follow The Special Abilities | ABA Therapy
follow The Special Abilities | ABA Therapy
follow The Special Abilities | ABA Therapy

07/20/2026

Unexpected changes can be mentally exhausting for some neurodivergent adults, even when those changes seem small to others.

A last minute schedule change, an unexpected phone call, a cancelled plan, or a change in routine may require significant mental effort to process. This is not about being unwilling to adapt. It is often related to differences in cognitive flexibility, executive functioning, and the need for predictability.

With the right support, flexibility can be strengthened over time. ABA based strategies focus on introducing change gradually, teaching practical coping skills, reinforcing successful adaptation, and providing repeated opportunities to practice flexibility in real life situations.

It is also important to remember that flexibility looks different for everyone. Progress does not mean becoming comfortable with every unexpected situation. It means developing the skills and confidence to navigate change more successfully while respecting individual needs and preferences.

Understanding the reason behind these challenges allows families, employers, educators, and communities to respond with greater empathy and meaningful support.

Follow The Special Abilities | ABA Therapy
Follow The Special Abilities | ABA Therapy
Follow The Special Abilities | ABA Therapy

07/18/2026

A reward that worked yesterday may not be motivating today, and that is completely normal.

In ABA, motivation is not treated as something fixed. It changes based on how often a child has access to an item or activity, their interests, their environment, and even how they are feeling that day. This is why therapists regularly assess preferences instead of assuming the same reward will always be effective.

Parents may notice this at home too. A child who once loved a particular toy, snack, or activity may suddenly lose interest. Rather than forcing the same reward, it is often more helpful to introduce variety, offer meaningful choices, and observe what is currently motivating.

Keeping reinforcement fresh helps maintain engagement, encourages learning, and makes skill building more enjoyable. The goal is not to constantly buy new rewards, but to understand that motivation naturally changes and to respond by selecting reinforcers that are meaningful in the moment.

When reinforcement matches what truly motivates a child, learning becomes more effective and progress is easier to maintain.

Follow The Special Abilities | ABA Therapy
Follow The Special Abilities | ABA Therapy
Follow The Special Abilities | ABA Therapy

07/17/2026

Communication is about much more than talking. It is about giving a child a reliable way to express their wants, needs, choices, and feelings.

The best part is that communication practice does not have to be limited to therapy sessions. Everyday routines such as meals, playtime, getting dressed, bath time, grocery shopping, or bedtime naturally create opportunities for children to communicate in meaningful ways.

Rather than anticipating every need, parents can create simple opportunities for their child to request, choose, comment, or ask for help. When these communication attempts are acknowledged and reinforced consistently, children learn that communication is effective and valuable.

In ABA therapy, these opportunities are individualized to match each child’s current communication skills and goals. Over time, practicing functional communication across different people, places, and routines helps children become more independent and reduces frustration by giving them appropriate ways to express themselves.

Small moments repeated every day often lead to meaningful progress over time.

Follow The Special Abilities | ABA Therapy
Follow The Special Abilities | ABA Therapy
Follow The Special Abilities | ABA Therapy

07/16/2026

It is easy to assume that children will naturally learn from everyday experiences. While this is true for many skills, it is not always the case for every child.

Some children need explicit instruction before they can understand how their actions lead to certain outcomes. This is especially common for children who experience challenges with communication, learning, executive functioning, or generalization. Simply experiencing a consequence may not be enough for them to connect what happened with what they should do differently next time.

That is why ABA therapy focuses on teaching skills intentionally. Instead of expecting a child to “figure it out,” therapists break skills into manageable steps, provide clear instruction, reinforce successful attempts, and practice those skills across different people, places, and situations.

The goal is not to replace natural learning. It is to build the foundation that allows children to eventually benefit from natural learning opportunities with greater independence and confidence.

Every child learns differently. Understanding how your child learns is the first step toward providing the support they need to succeed.

Follow The Special Abilities | ABA Therapy
Follow The Special Abilities | ABA Therapy
Follow The Special Abilities | ABA Therapy

07/15/2026

Flexible problem solving is not about finding the “right” answer every time. It is about learning that there can be more than one way to approach a challenge.

For many children, changing strategies, adapting to unexpected situations, or trying a new approach does not happen automatically. These skills are part of executive functioning and often need to be taught, practiced, and reinforced over time.

In ABA therapy, flexibility is developed through structured teaching, gradual changes, and repeated opportunities to practice in different settings. As children experience success with small changes, they can become more confident, resilient, and better prepared to handle everyday challenges both at home and in school.

Follow The Special Abilities | ABA Therapy
Follow The Special Abilities | ABA Therapy
Follow The Special Abilities | ABA Therapy

07/10/2026

Visual supports do more than organize routines. They help make everyday expectations clearer and more predictable.

Tools such as visual schedules, First Then boards, choice boards, and picture labels can support communication, smoother transitions, and greater independence. In ABA therapy, these supports are individualized to match each learner’s strengths and needs, helping children participate more successfully in daily activities at home, school, and in the community.

When children know what to expect, families often experience calmer routines and more opportunities for successful learning.

Building frustration tolerance is not about avoiding challenges. It is about helping children develop the skills they ne...
07/08/2026

Building frustration tolerance is not about avoiding challenges. It is about helping children develop the skills they need to work through them.

In ABA therapy, frustration tolerance is taught gradually by breaking tasks into manageable steps, reinforcing persistence, and teaching appropriate coping strategies. Over time, these skills can help children stay engaged, recover from setbacks, and approach new challenges with greater confidence.

Every child develops at their own pace. With consistent support from therapists and caregivers, small successes can build resilience that carries over into everyday life at home, school, and in the community.

Address

4230 Sherwoodtowne Boulevard
Mississauga, ON

Telephone

+16474645096

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Special Abilities posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to The Special Abilities:

Shortcuts

Share

Category