ABA therapy in Saint Cloud, Florida
ABA Spot is a BCBA-owned practice. We start by getting to know your child, then build a plan around what they need and what matters at home.
At ABA Spot, we are dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for individuals through Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services.
Educating and equipping families with effective tools to support lasting change is what we do and achieving milestones one behavior at a time is how we do it.
Meet the people behind your child’s care.
If you made it this far down the page, you’re probably wondering who’s actually behind ABA Spot. Here we go.
My name is Harry Salaman-Bird and I’m a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. I graduated from Florida Institute of Technology with an MS in Applied Behavior Analysis, possibly the best life choice I could have ever made. I’ve been in this field for over 20 years and I still completely love it.
Years ago I had a client whose toys I was always fixing so we could keep using them in session. One day the office AC went out, and he told another therapist they needed to find me. I do ABA, not HVAC, but I’ve never forgotten it. That’s the part of this work that never gets old.
“We need to find Mister Harry. He’s the bestest fixer, he can fix anything.”
Here’s what I tell parents on our first call: every behavior has a purpose. It’s in your child’s repertoire because it’s doing something for them. Our job is to figure out what that purpose is and then replace it with something that works better and actually sticks.
My goal is that you eventually don’t need me. ABA isn’t meant to be a lifelong intervention. My job isn’t to hand you a list of instructions, it’s to help you understand your own child well enough that when something new comes up, you already know how to read it.
Fair warning: when I start talking about ABA I get passionate and I talk fast. Feel free to ask me to slow down or repeat myself.
I’m Bianca Torres, a Florida-licensed Speech-Language Pathologist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and I’ve been doing this work for 18 years.
I earned both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Speech-Language Pathology from Carlos Albizu University, then completed my behavior analysis certification coursework at Florida Institute of Technology. I work with children in early intervention and clinical settings, including kids with autism and a range of speech, language, communication, and behavioral needs, and I’ve also worked in school settings along the way. I’m fluent in English and Spanish, so I can work with your family in whichever language feels most like home.
Here’s what keeps me in this after 18 years: a lot of the kids I work with are already talking, they’re just not being understood yet. Somewhere along the way I picked up an ear for it, and there’s nothing like being the first person who actually gets what a kid is saying. It’s just as big a moment for them. Kids who are used to being talked over, or working twice as hard to be heard, suddenly have someone who understands them and can keep up with them.
From there, my job is to help that go further, so your child isn’t only understood by me, but by family, teachers, and friends too. I start by listening, then work closely with your family, then back it all with methods that actually hold up, so your kiddo can connect with a bigger world, not just one room.
Most people are a little surprised when I tell them that behavior analysis is my second career, following more than twenty years as a classroom teacher. For me, however, it was a natural progression. Throughout my teaching career, I earned a Master of Education from Northern Arizona University and gained certification in several areas, including elementary and special education. Still, behavior was one area I had always wanted to study in greater depth.
A colleague encouraged me to study Applied Behavior Analysis, and when I considered the needs of the students I served, I knew it was the field I had been looking for. I returned to graduate school to continue my learning, not yet realizing that I would eventually become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Achieving that certification changed my life.
I have a deep love of teaching, and behavior analysis allows me to build upon that foundation in an especially meaningful way. As a behavior analyst, I work with individuals to develop skills that support greater success and independence. Whether I am helping someone learn to communicate what they need, develop important social skills, or participate more fully in everyday life, I find a true sense of purpose in doing work that matters to the individuals and families I serve.
Four ways we work with families, each one built around your child.
Our ABA Therapy services use evidence-based practices to promote positive behavior change and skill development. We tailor each therapy plan to your child's unique needs, delivering compassionate, data-driven support that fosters growth in communication, social skills, and independence.
Empowering caregivers is at the heart of what we do. Our parent training equips families with practical strategies and tools to support their child's progress at home and beyond. We partner with you to build confidence and consistency, making everyday learning opportunities truly meaningful.
We offer professional consultation services, working side-by-side with families, educators, and healthcare providers to design effective, individualized strategies. We will ensure that your child receives coordinated, evidence-based support that targets their unique developmental and behavioral goals.
Navigating the education system can be challenging. Our educational advocacy service empowers families by guiding them through school processes and securing the support their child deserves. We collaborate with schools and professionals to ensure each child's educational rights and needs are recognized and met.
Progress in ABA is built out of small, specific steps. We pick the ones that matter most to your family, teach them until they hold, and then move on to the next one.
The road from your first call to your first session.
Call us or send a message and tell us a little about your child.
We take your insurance information and send your plan the documents it needs to authorize an assessment.
Once your insurance approves it, a BCBA completes the assessment.
We submit the assessment and the treatment plan to your insurance, then wait for them to approve the plan.
Once the plan is approved, therapy and parent training start.
Steps two and four wait on your insurance company, so how long the whole thing takes depends on your plan. If you are using Step Up For Students or paying privately, there is no authorization to wait on and we can begin right away.
Every plan covers things differently. Call us and we'll check your benefits for you.
The things families usually ask us first.
Applied Behavior Analysis is the study of how behavior works and how people learn. In practice, it means we take data on what's actually happening and use it to teach skills your child can use in real life. That might be asking for what they want, or getting through a morning routine without a meltdown. The plan is built around your child, not a set curriculum.
Aetna, Cigna, Curative, Florida Blue, Humana Military and TRICARE, and Step Up For Students. What each plan actually covers varies, so call us and we'll check yours.
We're at 816 Pennsylvania Ave in Saint Cloud, FL 34769, and we're open Monday through Friday from 9am to 6pm, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 2pm. Everything is by appointment, so call first.
Call 407-907-1111 or send us a message using the form below. Either one reaches us.
All three. We provide services in the clinic, in your home, and at your child's school. We can talk through which setting makes the most sense when you call.
It depends on how you are paying. Every insurance plan sets its own rules, so the quickest way to find out is to call the number on your card and ask what they require for ABA services.
If you are using the Step Up For Students scholarship or paying privately, you do not need a diagnosis or a referral and we can begin right away. You can read about the scholarship on the Step Up For Students Unique Abilities page.
We have a spot for you. Call us or send a message and we'll get back to you.
