ABA Therapy for Philadelphia Families
In-home and community ABA across the city, plus full center-based days at our Cherry Hill clinic, about 12 miles away across the Delaware River.
Innovative ABA provides ABA therapy for Philadelphia children with autism through in-home, school and community sessions, led by BCBAs and delivered by RBTs. Families who want full center-based days can cross the Delaware River to our Cherry Hill center, about 12 miles away. Start with a free consultation and benefits check at (732) 691-1299.
Clinically reviewed by Charles Knoppel, BCBA · Updated October 2026
At a glance
| Nearest center | 1939 NJ-70, Cherry Hill, NJ - about 12 miles away |
|---|---|
| Programs | In-home, school & community ABA in the city; full-day center-based ABA in Cherry Hill |
| Ages | Toddlers through school-age children |
| Insurance | Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, Tricare, UnitedHealthcare & more - free benefits check |
| Clinical lead | Charles Knoppel, BCBA |
Can a Philadelphia family really use a center in Cherry Hill?
Yes, and Philadelphia is the Pennsylvania county where it is most practical. Our center at 1939 NJ-70 is about 12 miles from the city, reached over the Ben Franklin, Walt Whitman, Betsy Ross or Tacony-Palmyra bridges depending on which part of Philadelphia you live in. Some families decide a structured day at the center is worth the trip across the river, especially for younger children who are not yet in full-day school.
Most Philadelphia children we serve, though, get their ABA where they live. A Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) comes to your home, and when it fits the treatment plan, to community settings, under the supervision of a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). We would rather tell you honestly which setup fits your schedule than sell you a commute that wears your family out. You can contact us to talk it through.
- Center-basedfull, structured days in Cherry Hill for families willing to cross the bridge - see Full-Day Center-Based ABA
- In-homesessions in your row home, apartment or house - see In-Home ABA Therapy
- Mixedsome families combine center days with home sessions as goals change
Which ABA programs are available to children in Philadelphia?
Every child starts with an assessment by a BCBA: a skills assessment, and when challenging behavior is part of the picture, a functional behavior assessment. From that, we write a treatment plan with measurable goals, and your RBT collects data every session so progress is visible and the plan can change when it needs to.
Philadelphia families can use our full program list. ABA Therapy for Children covers communication, daily living and behavior goals. Early Intervention ABA works with toddlers who are newly diagnosed. School & Community-Based ABA helps skills carry over to real settings, and parent training and social skills development round out the plan. Teaching mixes discrete trial training with natural environment teaching, using reinforcement your child actually cares about.
Does insurance cover ABA therapy in Philadelphia?
Often, yes. Pennsylvania's Act 62, passed in 2008, requires many state-regulated group health plans to cover the diagnosis and treatment of autism, including ABA, for people under 21. Self-funded employer plans follow federal rules instead, so two Philadelphia families with the same insurer name on their cards can have very different benefits. We check yours for free.
We accept most major plans, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Tricare and UnitedHealthcare. Pennsylvania's Medical Assistance program can also cover ABA for eligible children through Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS), and some families carry both private insurance and Medical Assistance. Medical Assistance billing depends on specific provider enrollment, so ask us directly and we will tell you plainly what we can and cannot bill.
What does a full day at the Cherry Hill center look like?
A center day gives your child a predictable structure that is hard to recreate at home. The day mixes one-to-one teaching with an RBT, play, snack and meal routines, transitions between activities and, when your child is ready, practice alongside other children. Each part of the day is tied to goals in the treatment plan, and data is taken throughout so your BCBA can see what is working.
Philadelphia families who choose center days often have a child who is not yet in a full school day, a child who is ready to practice skills with peers, or a schedule where a set drop-off works better than a therapist at home. Others start at home and add center days later. Neither path is better in general; the right one is the one your family can keep up week after week.
How does ABA fit with Early Intervention and IEPs in Philadelphia?
Pennsylvania Early Intervention, overseen by the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), serves children from birth to age 5, which is longer than New Jersey's birth-to-3 system. For school-age children, the School District of Philadelphia evaluates and writes an Individualized Education Program (IEP). ABA through insurance is separate from both, and the two can run side by side.
With your permission, your BCBA can share goals and data with Early Intervention or school staff so everyone is teaching the same skills the same way. That consistency is what helps a skill learned at home show up in a classroom, which behavior analysts call generalization.
ABA programs for Philadelphia 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 →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
How far is your center from Philadelphia?
Our only center, at 1939 NJ-70 in Cherry Hill, is about 12 miles from Philadelphia in a straight line. Which bridge you use depends on your neighborhood. Many city families never make the trip because their child's ABA happens at home and in the community, while others choose center-based days. We will help you decide which makes sense.
Do you have a clinic in Philadelphia?
No. Our one physical location is in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. In Philadelphia, our therapists travel to families for in-home, school and community ABA. Families who want full center-based days come to Cherry Hill. We would rather be clear about that up front than have you discover it after an intake call.
Do I need an autism diagnosis before starting ABA in Pennsylvania?
For insurance to cover ABA, you will almost always need a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder from a qualified clinician, such as a developmental pediatrician or psychologist, and often a prescription or recommendation for ABA. If you are still waiting on an evaluation, call us anyway. We can explain the steps and check your benefits in the meantime.
Will my child have the same therapist every session?
That is our goal. Innovative ABA is small by design, so BCBAs keep low caseloads and we work to keep the same RBT with your child session to session. Consistency matters for young children with autism, and it lets your BCBA, overseen by Clinical Director Charles Knoppel, see clearly what is and is not working.
Can ABA sessions happen outside our home in Philadelphia?
Yes, when it serves the treatment plan. Community-based sessions might practice waiting in line, crossing a street safely or ordering food, skills that are hard to teach only at a table. Your BCBA decides with you which settings make sense, and school-based support depends on coordination with your child's school.
How quickly can we start?
It depends on insurance authorization and therapist availability in your part of the city. We often have openings and can start quickly, so ask about current availability. The fastest path is a free consultation, where we gather your diagnosis paperwork and insurance details and begin the authorization process the same week.
Can my child do some center days and some home sessions?
Often, yes, when it fits the treatment plan and your insurance authorization. Some Philadelphia families use center days for structured learning and peer practice and keep home sessions for routines like bedtime or meals. Your BCBA will recommend a mix based on your child's goals, and we will check how your plan authorizes different settings before anything is scheduled.
Talk with us about ABA in Philadelphia
Book a free consultation and insurance check. We will tell you honestly whether in-home, center-based or a mix fits your family.