Therapy Decision Guide

Discrete Trial Training (DTT) for Autism in Ontario

Discrete Trial Training is a structured ABA method that breaks complex skills into small, teachable steps. Each trial has five components: cue, prompt, response, consequence, and inter-trial interval. Research supports its use for skill acquisition in autism. DTT is used as part of comprehensive ABA programs.

Evidence review in progressCheck current OAP eligibility

DTT, Quick Summary

  • This page is general information, not an individualized treatment recommendation.
  • Evidence labels summarize the page sources and should not replace clinical judgment.
  • Confirm provider credentials, coverage, goals, monitoring, alternatives, and fees before starting.

General information only—not a diagnosis, treatment plan, crisis service, or individual estimate. Confirm your next step with the linked source or a qualified professional.

At a glance

Evidence level
Evidence review in progress
OAP funding
Eligible under OAP core clinical services
Typical cost
Provider fees vary by setting; request a current written quote
Typical frequency
Individual plan varies; confirm the schedule with a qualified clinician
Target age range
Age suitability varies; confirm fit with a qualified clinician

OAP Coverage Note

OAP eligibility depends on current program rules, the funded service category, and the provider's credentials. Confirm coverage with AccessOAP or your service coordinator before committing to care.

Who provides this therapy

Ask any prospective provider which of these credentials they hold, and confirm the credential with the relevant regulatory college before starting.

BCBARBTIBI Therapist

How Discrete Trial Training Works

Each discrete trial follows a precise five-part sequence. The therapist presents a clear instruction or cue. A prompt helps the child respond correctly if needed. The child produces a response. The therapist delivers a consequence — reinforcement for correct responses or correction for errors. A brief inter-trial interval separates consecutive trials.

DTT is highly effective for teaching foundational skills. These include matching, imitation, receptive and expressive language, and pre-academic concepts. Skills are taught in massed trials to build fluency. Once mastered in structured settings, skills are generalized to natural environments through planned transfer procedures.

Data collection during every trial drives clinical decisions. Therapists graph response accuracy, prompt levels, and rate of acquisition. This precision allows rapid identification of effective teaching strategies and early detection of skill plateaus requiring program modification.

Research Evidence

Lovaas (1987) published the landmark study demonstrating that a study-specific rate of young autistic children receiving an individualized schedule of DTT-based intervention achieved typical intellectual and educational functioning. Smith, Groen, and Wynn (2000) replicated these findings in a controlled trial published in the American Journal on Mental Retardation.

The National Autism Center National Standards Project (2009, updated 2015) classified DTT as an "established" evidence-based practice. The National Clearinghouse on Autism Evidence and Practice (NCAEP, 2020) similarly identifies DTT as meeting criteria for evidence-based status across multiple skill domains.

DTT in Ontario Service System

In Ontario, DTT is the primary teaching methodology within Intensive Behavioural Intervention programs. IBI has been funded through Ontario autism services since 2000. Under the current OAP framework, families access DTT-based services through their childhood budget allocation.

Ontario regulates behaviour analysts through the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario (CPBAO). Behaviour analysts and registered behaviour technicians deliver therapy. Families can verify provider credentials in the CPBAO public register.

Evidence and sources

1

Lovaas (1987)

Behavioral treatment and normal educational and intellectual functioning in young autistic children. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55(1), 3-9.

2

Smith, Groen & Wynn (2000)

Randomized trial of intensive early intervention for children with pervasive developmental disorder. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 105(4), 269-285.

3

National Autism Center (2015)

Findings and conclusions: National Standards Project, Phase 2. Randolph, MA: National Autism Center.

Before you commit

Questions worth asking any provider

  • What certification or regulatory college licenses you to deliver this therapy, and can I verify it?
  • How will you measure progress, and how often will you share results with our family?
  • What does a typical session look like, and can we observe one before committing?
  • How does this approach get adjusted if it is not working after a few months?
  • What happens to our data, our schedule, and our funding if you leave or the practice closes?

Signs to slow down

  • The provider cannot name a regulatory college or certifying body, or asks you not to check it.
  • You are asked to sign a long-term contract before seeing a session or meeting the therapist.
  • Progress is described only in general terms, with no way to see or measure it over time.
  • The provider discourages you from getting a second opinion or asking about other approaches.
  • Fees, cancellation terms, or what OAP funding covers are unclear or change after you sign up.

Frequently asked questions

Verified References & Sources

Updated:

Government Reports & Data

  • [2023]
    Exclusion of Students With Disabilities — 2023 SurveyVerified FAO Data
    Community Living Ontario • Report • 2023-10-01
    View
  • [2024]
    Inclusion Without Proper Support Is AbandonmentVerified FAO Data
    Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario • Report • 2024-06-01
    View
  • [2020]
    Autism ServicesVerified FAO Data
    Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) • Report • 2020-07-21
    View
  • [2024]
    Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services: Spending Plan ReviewVerified FAO Data
    Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) • Report • 2024-06-05
    View
  • [2026]
    Ontario Autism Program figures as of May 13, 2026 (MCCSS, released under Freedom of Information to the Ontario Autism Coalition; published in the OAC "OAP At A Glance" update, July 2026)Verified FAO Data
    Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (Ontario), obtained by the Ontario Autism Coalition • Report • 2026-05-13
    View

Your Child's Health

Where the waitlist stands

Families navigating autism services in Ontario face a documented multi-year wait. Here is the Ontario data — and a two-minute way to push back, when you are ready.

See where the waitlist standsEmail Your MPP

Related Resources

About This Article

Written by

Founder & Autism Advocate

Parent of autistic child navigating OAP system