Multidisciplinary Pediatric Therapy — Orange County
Little ScholarsCares.
About reaching milestones — through ABA, Speech, Occupational, Educational Therapy, Diagnostic Evaluations, and IEP/504 Consultations. All services coordinated across one interdisciplinary team.
(951) 268-0489What We Offer
Six ways we support your child
All services coordinated across one interdisciplinary team — no siloed providers.
ABA Therapy
Individualized behavior analysis targeting communication, learning, and daily living through naturalistic, play-based intervention.
Learn more →Speech-Language Therapy
Communication and language development, social pragmatics, and articulation with licensed speech-language pathologists.
Learn more →Occupational Therapy
Fine motor skills, sensory processing, self-care, and school-readiness skills to help children participate fully in daily routines.
Learn more →Educational Therapy
Targeted academic support addressing learning differences, executive function, and academic skills to help children access the curriculum.
Learn more →Diagnostic Evaluations
Comprehensive psychological and behavioral assessments to clarify diagnosis and guide an effective, individualized treatment plan.
Learn more →IEP / 504 Consultations
Expert guidance navigating school plans from eligibility and initial IEP development to annual reviews and school-based advocacy.
Learn more →Applied Behavior Analysis
The gold standard in autism intervention, ABA uses data-driven, individualized strategies to build meaningful skills and reduce barriers to learning — all grounded in decades of peer-reviewed research.
What is ABA Therapy?
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a scientifically validated approach to understanding and improving behavior. At Little Scholars, ABA is always naturalistic, play-based, and centered around your child's individual goals — not a one-size-fits-all program.
What we target
- Communication and language development
- Social skills and peer interaction
- Daily living and self-care skills
- Reduction of interfering behaviors
- Academic readiness and learning skills
- Emotional regulation and flexibility
How sessions work
Each child receives an individualized treatment plan developed and supervised by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Therapy is delivered by trained Behavior Technicians (BTs) in clinic, home, or community settings, with ongoing BCBA supervision and regular parent training built in.
Schedule a ConsultSpeech-Language Therapy
Every child deserves a voice. Our licensed SLPs work to unlock communication potential — from first words to complex conversation — in a warm, engaging environment.
What we address
- Expressive and receptive language delays
- Articulation and speech clarity
- Social communication and pragmatics
- Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
- Feeding and swallowing concerns
- Fluency and voice disorders
Our approach
Sessions are child-led and play-based, designed to feel natural and engaging. Our SLPs collaborate directly with our ABA and OT teams so communication goals are reinforced across every setting — clinic, home, and school.
Who we serve
We provide speech-language therapy to children ages 2–18, including children with ASD, developmental delays, apraxia, Down syndrome, and other conditions affecting communication.
Schedule a ConsultOccupational Therapy
OT helps children participate meaningfully in the everyday activities that matter — from getting dressed to holding a pencil to playing with friends.
What we address
- Fine motor skills and handwriting
- Sensory processing and regulation
- Self-care and daily living skills
- Visual-motor integration
- School-readiness and classroom participation
- Play skills and peer interaction
Our approach
Our occupational therapists use a sensory-informed, strengths-based approach. We evaluate each child's unique sensory profile and functional needs, then design individualized intervention plans that carry over into home and school environments.
Schedule a ConsultEducational Therapy
When traditional academic support isn't enough, Educational Therapy bridges the gap — addressing the root causes of learning difficulties with individualized, evidence-based strategies.
What we address
- Reading, writing, and math difficulties
- Executive function and organization skills
- Study skills and academic independence
- Learning disabilities including dyslexia
- Attention and focus strategies
- School transition and advocacy support
Our approach
Educational Therapists at Little Scholars work closely with families, teachers, and the clinical team to ensure each child's academic goals are aligned with their IEP and broader treatment plan. Sessions are individualized and progress is tracked through measurable outcomes.
Schedule a ConsultDiagnostic Evaluations
Understanding your child begins with a comprehensive picture. Our evaluations clarify diagnosis, identify strengths and needs, and provide a clear roadmap for treatment.
What we evaluate
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- ADHD and attention concerns
- Intellectual and developmental disabilities
- Learning disabilities and academic difficulties
- Behavioral and emotional concerns
- Adaptive behavior and daily living skills
The evaluation process
Our Director of Behavioral Health, Dr. Brandon Morrison, PsyD, oversees all diagnostic evaluations. Each evaluation includes a clinical interview, standardized assessments, behavioral observations, and a comprehensive written report with diagnosis (when applicable) and treatment recommendations.
After the evaluation
We provide a feedback session to walk families through findings and connect them directly to the appropriate services — whether within Little Scholars or through community referrals.
Schedule an EvaluationIEP / 504 Consultations
Navigating the school system can feel overwhelming. Our consultants help families understand their rights, prepare for meetings, and advocate effectively for their child.
How we help
- IEP eligibility evaluations and initial development
- Annual IEP review preparation and attendance
- 504 Plan development and accommodations review
- Parent training on procedural safeguards and rights
- School team communication and collaboration
- Transition planning (preschool to K, K-12, post-secondary)
Who this is for
Any family whose child has or may qualify for special education services, a 504 plan, or related services through the public school system. You do not need a diagnosis to request an IEP evaluation from your school district.
Working with your school
Our team collaborates directly with school districts across Orange County to ensure your child's clinical goals translate meaningfully into their educational environment.
Schedule a ConsultHow We Work
Our approach
Clinician-led, evidence-based, and built around your child's whole picture. We believe no single discipline tells the full story.
Start the ConversationWhole-child understanding
We evaluate communication, learning, behavior, and daily functioning together — never in isolation.
One coordinated team
Your child's BCBA, SLP, OT, and Educational Therapist communicate directly with each other so care never falls through the cracks.
Evidence-based practice
Every intervention is grounded in peer-reviewed research and continuously monitored using measurable data and clinical outcomes.
School & IEP partnership
We collaborate with educators and school teams to ensure consistency between clinic goals and the classroom environment.
Family as partners
Parents receive direct training and support so they feel confident and empowered to reinforce progress at home every day.
Our Leadership Team
The people behind the care
Our leadership combines direct clinical experience with operational excellence — because we believe the best organizations are led by people who have sat where our families sit.
Richard founded Little Scholars Services as an active practitioner who still provides direct care. His mission is to improve access to quality behavioral health services for families who have experienced firsthand how difficult it can be to find consistent, expert support across BCBAs, SLPs, OTs, and Psychologists.
Edson oversees day-to-day operations and ensures everything behind the scenes runs smoothly so our clinical teams can focus on what matters most — the children. He also leads family services and community resource programs.
Rosa is often the first friendly face new families and staff connect with. She manages scheduling, onboarding, and keeps clinical operations organized and running on time.
Diana leads the ABA clinical team, providing supervision and support to behavior technicians and ensuring every child receives high-quality, individualized therapy grounded in data.
Michelle oversees training and development, ensuring clinical staff are equipped and growing. She also provides direct parent training so families feel fully supported and confident reinforcing progress at home.
Dr. Morrison brings deep expertise in behavioral health and psychology, overseeing complex cases, providing clinical consultation to the team, and directing our Diagnostics and Evaluations program.
Dr. Cabanilla leads speech-language pathology services at Little Scholars, working closely with families and the interdisciplinary team to support communication development in every child we serve.
About Little Scholars
Built by practitioners, for families.
Little Scholars Services was founded with one clear belief: every child deserves access to high-quality, coordinated behavioral health care — and every family deserves a team that truly understands what they are going through.
Our founder, Richard Bernal, built this agency from his direct experience as a Special Education Teacher and ABA practitioner. He saw firsthand how fragmented care — multiple providers who never speak to each other, long waitlists, confusing insurance processes — made it harder for families to get the help their children needed.
Little Scholars was created to be different. Our interdisciplinary model means your child's BCBA, SLP, OT, and educational therapist work as one unified team — collaborating, communicating, and building toward the same goals.
Get Started TodayLicensed & Credentialed
All clinical services are provided by licensed and board-certified clinicians, including BCBAs, SLPs, OTs, and a licensed psychologist.
Insurance Accepted
We accept Blue Shield, Aetna, CalOptima Medi-Cal, Kaiser, HealthNet, and CHOC Health Alliance with more added everyday — and we handle all authorizations for you.
Se habla Español
We proudly serve bilingual families and offer services and communications in both English and Spanish.
Serving Orange County
We serve families across Orange County & LA County, with clinic-based, in-home, and community-based therapy options.
Insurance & Authorizations
We handle the paperwork
so you can focus on your child.
Our team manages authorizations, billing, and coordination directly with your insurance provider from start to finish.
We currently accept the following insurance plans. If you do not see your plan listed, please call us — we are continuously adding new payers and may still be able to serve your family.
How the process works
Contact us
Call or fill out our enrollment form. We collect your insurance information during the initial call.
We verify your benefits
Our team contacts your insurance company to verify ABA and therapy benefits and confirm coverage details.
We handle authorizations
We submit all prior authorization requests on your behalf and communicate directly with the insurance company throughout the process.
Services begin
Once authorized, we schedule your child's first session and handle all ongoing billing and claims.
Enroll Your Child
Start the conversation today.
Fill out the form below and a member of our team will reach out within one business day to schedule your free consultation.
Phone
(951) 268-0489Location
Orange County, California
Clinic-based, in-home, and community-based services available
Hours
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday by appointment
Languages
English & Spanish (Se habla Español)
Request a Free Consultation
Click the button below to complete our enrollment interest form. A member of our team will follow up within one business day.
Complete Enrollment FormYou will be taken to a secure Microsoft Form. Prefer to call? (951) 268-0489.
By submitting this form you consent to being contacted by Little Scholars Services. Your information is kept strictly confidential in accordance with HIPAA.
Have questions? We are here to help.
Call us directly or schedule a free consultation — no commitment required.
Legal
Privacy Policy
Overview
Little Scholars Services, LLC ("Little Scholars," "we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of our clients, families, and website visitors. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information.
Information We Collect
We collect information you provide directly to us, including name, contact information, insurance information, and health-related information necessary to provide clinical services. We may also collect limited information automatically when you visit our website, such as browser type and pages visited.
How We Use Your Information
- To provide, coordinate, and manage clinical services for your child
- To process insurance authorizations and billing
- To communicate with you about appointments, progress, and services
- To comply with legal and regulatory requirements
- To improve our services and website
HIPAA Compliance
All protected health information (PHI) is handled in strict accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). We maintain appropriate administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect your PHI. A full HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices is available upon request.
Information Sharing
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share information with insurance payers for billing purposes, with school teams when you have provided written consent, and with other healthcare providers involved in your child's care, as permitted by HIPAA and California law.
Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at info@scholars-services.com or call (951) 268-0489.
Last updated: 2025. Little Scholars Services, LLC. All rights reserved.
Legal
Terms & Conditions
Agreement to Terms
By accessing this website or enrolling in services provided by Little Scholars Services, LLC, you agree to the following terms and conditions. Please read them carefully.
Services
Little Scholars Services provides pediatric behavioral health services including ABA therapy, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, educational therapy, diagnostic evaluations, and IEP/504 consultations. All services are provided by licensed and credentialed clinicians.
Client Responsibilities
- Provide accurate and complete information during intake and throughout the course of services
- Maintain current and accurate insurance information
- Provide at least 24 hours notice for appointment cancellations
- Actively participate in the treatment process, including parent training components
Financial Responsibility
Clients are responsible for any costs not covered by insurance, including deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. We will verify benefits prior to initiating services and communicate estimated out-of-pocket costs. Payment is due at time of service unless otherwise arranged.
Limitation of Liability
Little Scholars Services provides clinical services in accordance with evidence-based standards of practice. We do not guarantee specific outcomes. Our liability is limited to the amount paid for services rendered.
Contact
Questions regarding these terms may be directed to info@scholars-services.com or (951) 268-0489.
Last updated: 2025. Little Scholars Services, LLC. All rights reserved.