As awareness and understanding of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) continue to evolve, the need for specialized therapy and support services grows. Autism care accessibility has become a priority, with leading therapy providers across the United States making significant strides to expand their reach and offer families greater access to high-quality care. Through opening new clinics, merging divisions for streamlined services, or integrating early intervention into primary care settings, these efforts reflect a nationwide commitment to improving autism services. In this blog, we’ll explore the latest expansions from ABS Kids, Caravel Autism Health, Keystone Human Services, and Akron Children’s Hospital, all of which are driving critical changes in the accessibility of autism therapy and support services.
ABS Kids Expands Across Utah and the U.S.
ABS Kids, a Salt Lake City-based provider of family-centered Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, continues to grow rapidly in 2024. The company’s latest milestone is the opening of its new clinic in Ogden, Utah—the first in this city. This expansion brings ABS Kids’ total number of clinics in Utah to 13, further cementing the company’s position as a leader in the state’s autism therapy landscape. To mark the occasion, ABS Kids celebrated the clinic’s opening with a sensory-friendly summer festival. This event was designed to create an inclusive, welcoming environment for families, reinforcing ABS Kids’ commitment to supporting children with autism and their families through engaging, fun activities that cater to sensory needs.
The new clinic in Ogden is part of ABS Kids’ broader expansion strategy. The company’s growth in 2024 follows a rapid expansion in 2023, where the company nearly doubled its number of locations. ABS Kids now operates a total of 35 clinics across multiple states, including Utah, California, North Carolina, and Tennessee. With this ambitious growth trajectory, ABS Kids is preparing for even further expansion, with plans to open new locations in South Carolina later this year.
“Our vision at ABS Kids is to make high-quality, family-centered ABA therapy accessible across the country,” said Jeff Skibitsky, President and Founder of ABS Kids. This goal is clearly reflected in the company’s rapid expansion and dedication to ensuring families across the U.S. can access expert care for their children with autism. The company is not only increasing its footprint but also enhancing the quality of its services, ensuring that every location offers a full suite of ABA therapy options tailored to the unique needs of each child and family. ABS Kids is a prime example of how Autism Care Accessibility is becoming a national priority, making it easier for families to access essential services, no matter where they live.
Caravel Autism Health Expands in Iowa
Caravel Autism Health, based in Green Bay, Wisconsin, has also been expanding its presence across the U.S. Recently, the company opened a new clinic in Bettendorf, Iowa, marking the second Caravel center in the Quad Cities area. The first location opened in nearby Davenport, Iowa, and the new Bettendorf clinic expands the company’s reach in this important region.
Caravel Autism Health is focused on providing comprehensive autism services, including behavior therapy, mental health support, and family assistance. The new Bettendorf clinic will continue Caravel’s mission to improve Autism Care Accessibility for families across the northern and central U.S. Caravel currently operates 62 locations across states such as Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Washington, and Wisconsin. The new Bettendorf clinic will offer a broad range of services designed to support children with autism and their families, with a special emphasis on holistic, family-centered care.
Founded in 2009, Caravel Autism Health is one of the largest autism therapy providers in the country. It has continued to grow rapidly in recent years, with the addition of multiple centers across key regions. The company is also reportedly in the process of being acquired by GTCR, a private equity firm, which could further accelerate its growth and expansion. Caravel’s commitment to Autism Care Accessibility is evident in its nationwide expansion, ensuring that children and families have access to the services they need, no matter where they are located.
Keystone Human Services Merges Autism and Mental Health Divisions
In a significant move to streamline its operations, Keystone Human Services, a nonprofit behavioral health and intellectual/developmental disability services provider based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, has merged its autism services division with its mental health division. Effective July 1, 2024, Keystone Autism Services will now fall under the umbrella of Keystone Service Systems, which encompasses a broad range of services, including mental health care, intellectual disability support, vocational services, and more.
This merger is designed to improve efficiency and coordination across Keystone’s services. By integrating autism services with mental health support, the company aims to create a more comprehensive, holistic approach to care. This is especially important for individuals who experience co-occurring mental health and autism diagnoses. Through the merger, Keystone can better address the complex needs of individuals and families while ensuring that services are tailored to each person’s unique circumstances. This approach supports the goal of improving Autism Care Accessibility, ensuring that families are provided with the full spectrum of care they need in a seamless, integrated way.
Keystone Autism Services, founded in 2007, has been providing support to individuals with autism across several counties in Pennsylvania. The company’s services include health, behavioral, vocational, recreational, educational, and family support. By merging its autism services with its mental health division, Keystone is reinforcing its commitment to providing integrated care, ensuring that individuals and families receive the best possible treatment and resources. Keystone’s approach to integration highlights how Autism Care Accessibility can be maximized by offering services that go beyond just autism therapy, addressing the holistic needs of individuals and families.
Akron Children’s Hospital Integrates Early Autism Intervention into Primary Care
In another important development, Akron Children’s Hospital in Ohio is launching a new pilot program to incorporate early autism intervention into its primary care services. Funded by a $100,000 grant from the American Endowment Foundation, the program will hire a licensed independent social worker to work directly in the clinic alongside the primary care physicians.
The social worker will play a key role in the process of evaluation, diagnosis, and care coordination for children suspected of having autism. This approach is designed to streamline the process, making it faster and easier for families to access the support they need. The social worker will work closely with clinical subspecialists and help connect families with other community resources that can offer additional support. By integrating early autism intervention into primary care, Akron Children’s Hospital is helping to ensure that Autism Care Accessibility is a seamless part of routine care, eliminating the need for families to navigate multiple systems or wait for long periods for specialized services.
The program will handle an estimated 900 visits per year, and the social worker’s role will be critical in ensuring that children receive timely assessments and families are connected to appropriate services. This pilot program marks a significant shift toward integrating early autism intervention directly into primary care settings, which could become a model for other hospitals and clinics across the country. By reducing the wait times often associated with specialized autism services and connecting families to resources early in the diagnostic process, Akron Children’s Hospital aims to improve the overall experience for families navigating the complex autism care system, further enhancing Autism Care Accessibility.
The Future of Autism Services: A Nationwide Push for Accessibility
As organizations like ABS Kids, Caravel Autism Health, Keystone Human Services, and Akron Children’s Hospital continue to expand and innovate, the future of autism services in the U.S. looks brighter than ever. These efforts represent a collective push to make Autism Care Accessibility more efficient, effective, and inclusive. The focus is on providing families with the support they need to navigate the challenges of autism, offering specialized care that is both comprehensive and family-centered.
With continued growth, these organizations are not only increasing their geographical footprint but also transforming the way autism care is delivered. By making services more accessible through new clinics, merging divisions to offer integrated care, and incorporating early intervention into primary care, the autism therapy and support sector is setting a new standard for what is possible in the field. The future promises a more inclusive, coordinated, and supportive system for individuals with autism and their families, one that ensures no one is left behind.
These ongoing expansions and innovations reflect a broader trend toward improving the quality of care for individuals with autism and making that care available to a wider range of families. With continued investment in services, resources, and infrastructure, the autism therapy community is moving closer to achieving the goal of making Autism Care Accessibility a nationwide reality.
