The Educational Scholarship Accounts (ESA) program in Indiana is a school choice program that provides eligible Indiana families with state-funded scholarships to pay for the cost of tuition and fees at private schools and certain educational expenses such as therapeutic services. The ESA program also allows families to tailor their child’s education to their individual needs, including special education services, tutoring, curriculum materials, therapies, and more. In addition to the ESA program, Indiana also offers other school choice options such as vouchers and tax credits.
Contact Mindful & Modern ABA Therapy to learn how ESA funds can be applied to service your child with autism.
Who is eligible for ESA?
The Indiana Education Scholarship Account Program will provide students with disabilities throughout the state of Indiana access to the educational environment that best meets their learning needs.
Eligible student
- Their family must be a legal residency in Indiana.
- The student must be between the ages of 5 and 22 by August 1st of the upcoming school year.
- The student must have an active Individualized Education Program (IEP), service plan (SP), or Choice Special Education Plan (CSEP).
Consequently, the amount of the ESA is determined by the Indiana Department of Education based on each student’s family income and household size. Furthermore, students with disabilities may be eligible for additional funding. ESA funds can be accessed through an approved provider or parent/guardian-directed account and can be used at any approved vendor or provider across Indiana.
What is the difference between an ESA and a 529 plan?
The difference between an Educational Savings Account (ESA) and a 529 plan is that an ESA is a tax-advantaged savings account for educational expenses while a 529 plan is an investment plan with the same purpose. An ESA can be used to cover expenses like tuition fees, books, tutoring, therapies, and other qualified educational costs. However, contributions to an ESA are not tax-deductible but withdrawals made for qualified expenses are tax-free. A 529 plan is a more complex investment vehicle that works similarly to a retirement account in that it allows parents or guardians to save money over time in order to pay for qualified education expenses. Of course, withdrawals from a 529 plan are also tax-free as long as they are used for eligible educational purposes.
Mindful & Modern Therapy for autism is an ESA Approved Provider
What is an advantage of an ESA over a 529 plan?
The main advantage of an ESA over a 529 plan is the flexibility of the account. With an ESA, you can use the funds to pay for tuition and fees, books and supplies, tutoring services, or even room and board. For example, Mindful and Modern ABA Therapy in Zionsville, IN accepts the ESA to help pay for the student’s therapeutic services. Additionally, parents can set up multiple accounts for different children in their family. Another benefit is that if your child decides not to pursue higher education after all, you can withdraw your funds without any penalty.
The Educational Savings Account (ESA) program in Indiana is designed to help families save for the educational expenses of a student. In fact, the ESA program provides parents with tax-free, government-backed accounts which can be used to pay for any type of education-related expense up until the child turns 22.
The funds saved in the ESA are invested in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and other financial products.
What counts as an eligible expense for an ESA?
The Indiana Educational Scholarship Account (ESA) program allows families to use public funds to pay for expenses such as:
- private school tuition
- textbooks
- online learning programs
- tutoring services
- therapeutic services
- co-pays not covered by insurance
- educational therapies
- curriculum materials
- extracurricular programs
- assessments
- college entrance exam fees
- educational technology devices such as computers and tablets
- fee for service transportation, up to $750 annually
- payment for the use of a paraprofessional or educational aides
- other educational resources that are necessary for a student’s success
This list is not all-inclusive, but a reference on how the program helps support the student and their learning needs.
Mindful & Modern ABA uses ESA for therapeutic services such as speech, OT, insurance reimbursement, etc.
Which organizations are Participating Entities in the ESA Program?
A participating entity is an educational provider who has applied, and been approved, for participation in the ESA Program, and can be paid with ESA funds. According to S/B IC 20-51.4-5-2, the following entities are eligible to become a participating entity:
Qualified school:
- Individual or tutoring agency providing private tutoring.
- Individual or entity that provides services to a student with a disability in accordance with the student’s IEP or SP.
- Individual or entity who offers a course or program to an eligible student.
- Licensed occupational therapist.
- Entities who provide assessments.
Mindful & Modern ABA Therapy is proud to announce that we are now an ESA approved provider. Our team of highly experienced professionals specializes in providing comprehensive treatment plans tailored to each individual child according to their unique needs.
You can find a detailed list at the Indiana Department of Education.
ESA questions can be directed to
Dina Matthews, Operations Manager
317-233-9101 or dimatthews@tos.in.gov
How is Payment/Award distributed in the ESA Program?
Payments for the ESA Program will be made in quarterly disbursements into the ESA Program account. Payment for tuition & fees and special education funding will be prioritized for payment and paid directly to participating qualified schools when applicable. Any remaining funds will be deposited into the ESA Program account and may be used to pay for eligible expenses from participating entities.
Payments must be made directly from the ESA account; there is no reimbursement for expenses. If the cost of services exceeds the amount of funds in the ESA account, account holders will be responsible for any remaining or additional costs. Likewise, if a service or provider is deemed ineligible for payment, the account holder will be responsible for payment.
Disbursement schedule set by the Treasurer of State:
Quarter 1: July
Quarter 2: October
Quarter 3: January
Quarter 4: April
Who uses ESAs?
The Indiana Education Savings Account (ESA) program is a school choice program administered by the Office of the Indiana Treasurer and sponsored by the Indiana General Assembly. The ESA program allows eligible Indiana families to use public education funds for qualified education expenses. Eligible families are households with a student enrolled in an accredited public, charter, or private K-12 school. The ESA program is designed to help families fund their students’ educational expenses, giving them more control over their children’s education. Through ESAs, parents can customize their child’s education and access funding for tuition, textbooks, tutoring, online instruction, therapies, career and technical education courses, and other approved educational services or products.
Necessary Information
Application available – https://intos.my.site.com/parentess/s/login/?language=en_US
ESA guide – https://www.in.gov/doe/files/Provider-Application-Guide-.pdf
General ESA Questions?
Available: M-F 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
Email: esa@tos.in.gov
Phone: (317)232-0723
Mindful & Modern Therapy provide autism spectrum disorder assessments
Get started with ABA services for Autism in Zionsville, IN
The first step towards enrolling your child in a program is to take a tour of the Mindful and Modern ABA Therapies facility nearest you to see if our facility is a good fit for your family. If you decide that MMAT is the right place for your child, then you must schedule an assessment with us to get a clinical diagnosis. During the assessment, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst will spend 60-120 minutes working with and observing your child in order to determine whether they have ASD. Once your child has been diagnosed, the process of being approved by your insurance company begins, and once you are approved, you may enroll your child in therapy. Once your child is enrolled, the BCBA will create a treatment plan specific to your child, and they will be paired with an RBT for their treatment.
Unlock the doors of opportunity for your child’s education with Indiana’s ESA program – a revolutionary school choice initiative that empowers eligible families with state-funded scholarships to cover the costs of private school tuition and select educational expenses.
Frequently asked questions about ABA services in Zionsville, IN
ABA therapy works on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis. That means that therapy is one-on-one, with a strong, ongoing emphasis on “pairing” the child with one dedicated therapist so that they develop a secure, long term relationship. ABA therapy methods are data-driven, meaning that they are highly individualized to fit with the needs of each child on a case-by-case basis.
Our Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) perform assessments and create personalized therapy plans for each child that match their ability levels. On a day-to-day basis, each child is paired with their own Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), who is with them throughout the day. All of our therapy providers have years of experience and love what they do.
A Registered Behavior Technician (RBT®) is a paraprofessional certification in behavior analysis. All RBTs have undergone 40 hours of training, taken and passed an exam, and must renew their certification annually.
Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analysts (BCaBA®) possess an undergraduate-level certification in behavior analysis. BCaBAs are required to complete continuing education and apply for recertification every two years.
Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA®) possess a graduate-level certification in behavior analysis. BCBAs are also required to complete continuing education and apply for recertification every two years.
There is no prescribed duration of time for a child to receive ABA therapy. While our technicians love watching your kids learn and grow, they understand that the ultimate goal of therapy is to prepare children for moving on to school successfully. Most children spend 2-3 years with a therapist.
MMAT is for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) whose families want them in an environment that cultivates social skills, language development, and increased independence. Because we are a sister institution to Maria Montessori International, we are able to provide one-on-one therapy for children right alongside their typical developing peers. This allows children to interact socially in a typical setting, make friends, and build a solid foundation for success when they transition to school.
Many people know Maria Montessori as a pioneer in the education field, but her revolutionary education style began after working with children who had various disabilities. The Montessori focus on personalization in education coupled with natural approaches lends itself to teaching children of all abilities. Mindful and Modern Therapies was inspired by seeing many of our students with ASD flourishing in Montessori education. By bridging the gap we saw in connecting traditional therapy to learning, we found an effective way to treat students with ASD in a natural environment.
For us, we see Montessori as bringing purpose to therapy.
A natural environment includes objects such as real dishes that children learn how to use, clean, and put away. These small details prepare them for functioning in the world. A garden area allows children to learn about nature and how they fit into the picture, as well as helping a child to see beyond their immediate surroundings. A natural environment for your child helps them to learn the skills they need to become life-long learners. This follows the principles of Montessori education, and encourages your child to develop their whole self – physically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually.
Yes! We believe children of all abilities can learn together and from one another. We create an environment where everyone can learn at their own pace, and benefit from their peers, regardless of ability.
The Mindful and Modern therapies we use are suitable for children from as young as birth to as old as 9 years old.
While the number of children in ABA therapy sessions varies from day to day and session to session, each child is always paired with their therapist. The therapy facility is separate from the Maria Montessori by a door. On the Montessori side, there may be as many as 25 children at a time, but children receiving ABA therapy will be accompanied when they visit and join the Montessori students.
We have three options for sessions for therapy work: a Full-Day and two (2) Half-Day programs.
Our Full Day program is from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, while our half-day programs are either 8:30 am – 12:30 pm or 1:30 am-5:30 pm.
Our lunch is from 11:30 am – 12:30 pm.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to ABA therapy, as each child is different. We approach every child on a case-by-case basis and make recommendations accordingly. Some of our children attend a half-day session in combination with a half-day at school.
To ensure lasting benefits for the whole family unit, we encourage family participation in therapy. By continuing therapeutic practices in the home, children can adopt new habits and behaviors more easily. Our Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) work with parents to guide them through how to mirror therapy methods at home. Additionally, we host interactive events that are open to both parents and children.
If you believe your child may be autistic, we can help by providing ADOS testing– the first step in obtaining an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis. In 60-120 minutes, we can observe your child in a series of social interactions to determine whether they may have ASD. This test may be covered by your insurance, please check with us beforehand.
The first step we suggest is a visit to our facilities to see for yourself whether it is a good fit for you and your child. After a facility tour, you can schedule an assessment and diagnosis and begin the process of getting approval from your insurer. Once your paperwork is processed, your child can begin therapy.
Due to the process required for insurers to approve billing and claims for diagnostic assessments and to approve MMAT services, it can take up to 90 days from the first visit to begin therapy.
Yes, all of our therapeutic services are covered by certain insurers, and we process all of our claims in-house. From the initial intake to patient statements and claims submissions, our knowledgeable staff takes care of all insurance matters. If your insurance company is not listed on our provider list, you may still inquire with them to see if it is possible to get into our network.
Our therapy is currently covered by the following insurers:
- Indiana Medicaid
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Anthem Medicaid
- CareSource Medicaid
- MDWise
- Cenpatico/MHS
- Aetna
- Cigna
- Optum/UBH
- Tricare
If you are low-income and have a child with ASD, we encourage you to look into the various Medicaid options you may qualify for. These programs are designed to help low-income families gain access to medical care and therapy, and there is a good chance that you will qualify.
We do offer speech therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Our speech therapist addresses speech, language, social, play, and cognitive skills as well as help children who have feeding and swallowing challenges.
Our speech therapy will begin with an assessment to identify the type of communication disorder and the best way to treat it.
Speech therapy might include:
- interacting through talking and playing, and using books, pictures other objects as part of language intervention to help stimulate language development
- modeling correct sounds and syllables for a child during age-appropriate play to teach the child how to make certain sounds
- providing strategies and homework for the child and parent on how to do speech therapy at home
We do offer occupational therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Our occupational therapist work with you and your child to provide individualized treatment plans that best meet your child’s evolving needs. The treatment plan might include skills like Self-Care, Feeding, Visual Motor, Fine Motor, Social, and Interacting with Peers. The plan is designed for the child to become school ready and to succeed in life.
The main difference between occupational therapy and physical therapy is that OT focuses on improving the child’s ability to perform activities of daily living and PT focuses on improving a child’s ability to perform movement of their body.
While we currently do not offer physical therapy for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, we are looking into adding it as a service in the near future, so stay tuned and do not hesitate to inquire with us about it.