AAC and ABA for Nonverbal Children in Union County

How nonverbal autistic children in Union County, NJ can get AAC and ABA: the steps, forms, and people to ask, from age 3 through school.

Published October 13, 2026 · Union County, New Jersey

Why AAC and ABA are often discussed together

If your child is autistic and does not yet use spoken words reliably, you have probably heard two terms again and again: AAC and ABA. AAC stands for augmentative and alternative communication. It means any tool that helps a child communicate without relying only on speech, such as picture boards, a tablet with a speech-generating app, or a simple switch. ABA, applied behavior analysis, is a therapy approach that breaks skills into small steps and teaches them through structured practice. Many families in Union County use both at once: ABA to build the skills of requesting, imitating and taking turns, and AAC to give the child a reliable way to express what they want while those skills develop. Neither one replaces the other, and the right mix depends on your child.

Step 1: Know which system your child enters

Where you start depends on your child's age. For children under 3, the entry point is the New Jersey Early Intervention System, which provides evaluations and services for infants and toddlers with developmental delays. From age 3, the access point is PerformCare, which serves as the single entry to the Children's System of Care. You can contact PerformCare directly to ask about children's services and what documentation they need to open a case. If your child is 21 or older, the relevant agency is the Division of Developmental Disabilities. Ask the agency you reach first to confirm it is the correct door for your child's age, because transfers between systems do happen and you want to know early.

Step 2: Get a written evaluation that names communication needs

An ABA provider will usually want a recent diagnostic evaluation before they start, and an AAC recommendation is stronger when it comes from a speech-language pathologist who evaluates communication specifically. Ask your child's pediatrician for a referral to a speech-language pathologist with AAC experience, and ask that the report state plainly whether the child has functional spoken language, what forms of communication they already use (gestures, pointing, vocalizing, approximations), and whether an AAC system is recommended. A vague report that says only "speech delay" will make it harder to get a device funded. Keep a copy of every report, because you will be asked for them repeatedly.

Step 3: Understand how insurance and Medicaid fit in

Coverage for ABA and AAC is not the same everywhere, and it changes. If your household has income that qualifies, NJ FamilyCare is the state Medicaid and CHIP program, and it works with managed care plans including Horizon NJ Health, Wellpoint, Aetna Better Health of NJ, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan. If you have employer insurance, you will need to call the number on the back of the card and ask specifically whether ABA is covered, whether prior authorization is required, how many hours are approved per week, and whether speech-generating devices fall under durable medical equipment or a therapy benefit. Write down the representative's name, the date, and the reference number for every call. This site cannot tell you what your specific plan covers, so treat the plan itself as the authority on your coverage.

Step 4: Choose an ABA provider with a clear AAC position

Union County has a substantial number of ABA providers. The federal NPPES registry lists 52 ABA providers registered in the county, and 17 of the 21 municipalities have a provider registered in town, with every town within 7 miles of one. The most provider listings are in Union (9), Cranford (7), Clark (6), Westfield (6), Elizabeth (4), and Linden (4). A registry listing does not tell you quality or whether they accept your insurance, so use it as a starting list, not a shortlist. When you call, ask: Do you accept my plan? Do your clinicians work on AAC or only on speech? Will you coordinate with a speech-language pathologist? Can I see a sample treatment plan? A good provider will answer these directly.

Step 5: Ask for AAC inside the ABA plan

An ABA treatment plan should list communication goals with measurable targets, such as requesting a preferred item using a picture or device in a set number of opportunities. Ask that the AAC system be named in the plan, that the child's communication partners (parents, grandparents, teachers, aides) be trained on it, and that the plan says how progress will be measured. Ask how often the plan will be reviewed and who will make changes. Keep the device at home and in every setting where your child spends time, because a device used only in therapy rarely becomes a real communication tool.

Step 6: Bring AAC into school

Your child's school district is responsible for providing services under an Individualized Education Program if your child qualifies. Districts in Union County include Berkeley Heights, Clark Township, Cranford, Elizabeth, Garwood, Hillside, Kenilworth, Linden, Mountainside, and Plainfield. Request an evaluation in writing from the child study team, and state that you want the evaluation to include augmentative and alternative communication. When the IEP meeting is scheduled, ask that the team consider AAC, name the device, and write into the plan who will train staff. You are entitled to bring a speech-language pathologist or an ABA provider to the meeting, and it helps to ask them beforehand what they will say.

Step 7: Keep a simple record

Keep one folder, paper or digital, with evaluations, insurance denials, approval letters, treatment plans, and a dated log of every call. When something is denied, ask for the denial reason in writing and ask how to appeal. Appeals are routine and often succeed when supported by a letter from the treating professional. Track what your child can communicate each month, even in small notes, because that record will be the strongest evidence in any review.

What this guide cannot do

This is an independent guide. It does not provide therapy, diagnose children, or bill insurance, and it does not know your child or your plan. Requirements, coverage rules and program names can change, so confirm each one with the agency or insurer before you rely on it. Start with the step that matches your child's age, and ask the first person you reach to tell you what comes next.