Provides expanded early diagnosis and therapy services for children with ASD
SALT LAKE CITY; Dec. 19, 2023 – ABS Kids, a leading provider of services to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), announced the openings of its newest applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy centers in Concord, North Carolina, and Tooele, Utah, making it 13 centers ABS Kids has opened nationally in 2023. In total, ABS Kids has 31 ABA therapy centers and early autism diagnosis clinics to support families across California, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Utah.
The need for access to this kind of care is growing across the U.S., highlighted this year by a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, in partnership with Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network. The report noted an increase in ASD diagnoses in 8-year-olds, from 1 in 44 children (2.3%) to 1 in 36 (2.8), as well as ASD being underdiagnosed in children in some areas.
“As clinicians are getting better at diagnosing, there is an increasing need to support the 1 in 36 children that are being diagnosed in the U.S. with ASD annually,” said Jeff Skibitsky, MA, BCBA, LBA, president of ABS Kids. “It has been clinically proven that early intervention helps children affected by ASD have positive long-term outcomes, so having more access to care and support options in more communities is vital for children and their families. Our vision is to make high-quality ABA care accessible to children and families with ASD across the nation, and we’ll continue to grow toward that vision.”
All ABS Kids centers across California, North Carolina, Tennessee and Utah are purpose-built to provide unique learning and development opportunities for children with ASD. These centers feature themed rooms for specific skill development, socialization and sensory control. Equipment — such as rock walls, trampolines with handles, and art and music resources — supports motor skill development while giving children the chance to try new things. ABS Kids also regularly hosts sensory-friendly events and structured playtimes, and it partners with local organizations to bring group learning opportunities needed for the autism communities.
“ABS Kids advocates for the autism community and we’re working to bring more care options to help families and children affected by ASD,” said ABS Kids CEO Adam Singer, M.D. “Center-based therapy offers great opportunities for children to develop important social skills by meeting others and participating in group learning activities, all under close supervision of professional Behavioral Analysts. Personalized, one-on-one care is critical for skill and behavioral development to help them reach goals and milestones, whether those be in school, at home or transitioning into adulthood.”
For more information, ABS Kids has a variety of helpful resources for both parents/caregivers and physicians, including information about early signs of autism and center-based therapy.
