Ask Anne - September 2026

Dear Clinical Director,

My child’s ABA team keeps talking about “generalization,” but I’m not really sure what that means. If my child learns a skill during therapy, shouldn’t they automatically be able to use it at home, at school, and in the community?

- Trying to Understand

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Dear Trying to Understand,

Great question! Generalization means helping a skill move beyond the setting where it was first learned. Learning to request something with an RBT at the center is wonderful—but our ultimate goal is for that skill to be useful in everyday life. That’s why your child’s team may practice skills with different people, in different settings, with different materials, and during different routines. You can also help by looking for opportunities to practice the same skill naturally at home. The goal isn’t just to teach a skill. The goal is to help your child use that skill when, where, and with whom it matters most.

— Anne, Clinical Director