ABA Therapy in Ocean County, NJ
For Ocean County families, ABA usually starts at home. Our BCBAs and RBTs come to you, with our Cherry Hill center on Route 70 available when it makes sense.
Innovative ABA provides in-home ABA therapy across Ocean County, NJ, including Toms River, Lakewood, Brick and Jackson. Because our only center is in Cherry Hill, about 34 miles from Toms River, most Ocean County care starts at home, with school and parent training added. Call (732) 691-1299 for a free consultation.
Clinically reviewed by Charles Knoppel, BCBA · Updated October 2026
At a glance
| Nearest center | 1939 NJ-70, Cherry Hill - about 34 miles from Toms River |
|---|---|
| County seat | Toms River |
| Programs | In-home first, plus school, community & parent training |
| Ages | Toddlers through school-age children |
| Insurance | Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, Tricare, UnitedHealthcare & most major plans; free benefits check |
| Clinical lead | Charles Knoppel, BCBA |
Why does ABA in Ocean County usually start at home?
Our only center is at 1939 NJ-70 in Cherry Hill, about 34 miles from Toms River, the county seat. That is too far for most young children to travel for a full day, several times a week. So for Ocean County, we lead with in-home ABA therapy, where our team comes to your house and teaches skills in the place your child uses them most.
There is a useful geography note here. Route 70 runs all the way from Cherry Hill east through Ocean County toward Brick and the shore, so families who do want to visit the center for an assessment, a parent meeting or a social skills group have a single road to follow. Families farther north or along the barrier island typically use the Garden State Parkway, Route 9, Route 37 or Route 72 to reach Route 70.
We will always be honest about what is practical. If a center-based day is not realistic from your town, we will say so and build a strong home and community plan instead.
Home is also where many of the hardest moments happen, such as transitions, meals, bedtime or getting out the door. In-home ABA lets your BCBA see those moments firsthand and teach skills in the same rooms and routines, which helps them stick.
How do our ABA programs work for Ocean County families?
Here is how each program usually fits when you live closer to the shore than to Cherry Hill:
A typical in-home week might include several RBT sessions, a BCBA supervision visit where the plan is reviewed with you, and a parent training session. Hours depend on your child's assessment and what insurance authorizes. As goals are met, we may add community outings, like a trip to a store or playground, so your child practices in busier settings.
- In-Home ABA Therapythe core of Ocean County care; in-home ABA targets communication, daily routines and behavior right where they happen.
- ABA Therapy for Childrenevery plan in our ABA therapy for children program starts with a BCBA assessment, measurable goals and regular data review.
- Early Intervention ABAearly-stage support for toddlers works naturally at home and alongside NJ Early Intervention visits.
- School & Community-Based ABAschool and community ABA helps skills carry over to classrooms, stores and playgrounds in your own town.
- Parent Training & Supportparent training is especially important here, because you are the one who keeps strategies going between visits.
- Full-Day Center-Based ABAfull-day center-based ABA in Cherry Hill is an option for some western Ocean County families, but most choose home-based care.
- Social Skills Developmentour social skills groups meet at the center; some families plan occasional visits once home goals are on track.
How do Early Intervention and the Child Study Team work in Ocean County?
New Jersey's Early Intervention System, run by the NJ Department of Health, serves children from birth to age 3, mostly in the home. That lines up well with in-home ABA, and we can coordinate with your EI providers.
At age 3, your school district's Child Study Team evaluates your child and, if eligible, writes an IEP. Ocean County has districts of very different sizes, from large districts like Toms River Regional Schools to small shore-town districts, so timelines and program options can vary. Ask your district about the age-3 transition early. With your permission, our BCBA can share assessment results and progress data with the team.
If your family moves to another New Jersey district, the new district must provide services comparable to your child's current IEP while it reviews or replaces it. Keeping copies of evaluations and ABA progress reports makes that move easier.
Does insurance cover in-home ABA in Ocean County?
Often, yes. New Jersey's 2009 autism insurance mandate requires many state-regulated plans to cover medically necessary behavioral interventions such as ABA, and in-home sessions are a common way that care is delivered. Self-funded employer plans follow federal rules, so we check every family's benefits for free before starting.
We accept most major plans, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Tricare and UnitedHealthcare. Tricare may matter to families connected to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, which reaches into Ocean County at Lakehurst.
Once your benefits are confirmed, your BCBA completes an assessment and we submit the treatment plan for authorization. You will know the approved hours before regular sessions begin.
Which Ocean County towns do you serve?
We serve families across Ocean County, with town pages for Toms River, Lakewood, Brick Township and Jackson Township. We also serve Berkeley Township, Manchester, Lacey, Stafford, Barnegat, Little Egg Harbor, Point Pleasant, Seaside and the Long Beach Island communities.
In-home availability depends on where our therapists are scheduled, so the best next step is to contact us and ask about current openings in your town.
If you are just beginning, you do not need to know which program you want. Tell us your child's age, any diagnosis or evaluation you have, your insurance and your town. We will check benefits for free, explain in-home availability near you and outline the steps to a first assessment.
ABA programs for Ocean County
Full-Day Center-Based ABA
Structured, full-day programming at our Cherry Hill center, with school-readiness built in.
Learn more →ABA Therapy for Children
One-on-one, play-based ABA that builds communication, social and daily-living skills.
Learn more →In-Home ABA Therapy
Therapy in your home, where routines like meals, bedtime and play happen.
Learn more →Early Intervention ABA
Support for toddlers and preschoolers during the years skills grow fastest.
Learn more →School & Community-Based ABA
Help carrying skills into classrooms, playgrounds, stores and outings.
Learn more →Social Skills Development
Turn-taking, conversation, play and friendship skills, practiced with peers.
Learn more →Feeding Therapy (ABA)
Help with picky eating, food selectivity and mealtime behavior, coordinated with your child's doctors.
Learn more →Ocean County towns with their own pages
Innovative ABA – Cherry Hill, NJ
Innovative ABA
1939 NJ-70
Cherry Hill Township, NJ 08003
(732) 691-1299
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week
On Route 70 on the east side of Cherry Hill, near the Marlton line. Center-based care happens here; our in-home and community team travels across South Jersey and the Philadelphia area.
Charles Knoppel, BCBA
Clinical Director — Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Charles leads our clinical team and oversees every child’s treatment plan. He reviewed this page for clinical accuracy in October 2026. Meet our team →
Frequently asked questions
Do you have an ABA center in Ocean County?
No. Our only center is at 1939 NJ-70 in Cherry Hill, about 34 miles from Toms River. For Ocean County families, we provide in-home, school and community ABA, plus parent training, and we are clear about which services are practical from your town.
Is Route 70 really the way to your center from Ocean County?
For many families, yes. Route 70 runs west from the Brick area through Ocean County to Cherry Hill, where our center sits on the same road. Families farther north or south often use the Garden State Parkway or Route 9 first. We never quote drive times.
How many hours of in-home ABA will my child get?
Hours are based on your child's assessment and what your insurance authorizes. After a skills assessment, your BCBA recommends a weekly schedule and goals. We then request authorization and build a home schedule that works around school and family routines.
Do you serve Long Beach Island and the shore towns?
We serve Ocean County, including Long Beach Island communities, Seaside and Point Pleasant. Availability on the barrier island depends on therapist schedules, especially in summer, so ask about current openings. Parent training helps keep progress steady between sessions. We will tell you plainly what we can offer.
Can ABA help my child at school in Ocean County?
Yes, when the district and your family agree. Through school and community-based ABA, our team can support skills in a classroom, and with your permission our BCBA can share data with the Child Study Team to inform your child's IEP.
How do we start in-home ABA from Ocean County?
Call (732) 691-1299 or use our contact page. We offer a free consultation and a free insurance benefits check, help with authorization, then schedule an in-home skills assessment with your BCBA. We often have openings and can start quickly; ask about availability.
What should I ask my pediatrician about ABA?
Ask whether a developmental evaluation for autism spectrum disorder makes sense and who can do it, such as a developmental pediatrician or psychologist. Ask for a copy of the report, since insurance usually needs it before ABA. You can call us at the same time to start the free benefits check.
In-home ABA for Ocean County families
Ask about current in-home openings in your town and get a free insurance check. Call (732) 691-1299.