is a growing 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children with autism spectrum disorder by providing scholarships for life-changing ABA therapy. The number of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has continued to rise in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1 in 31 children are identif
ied with ASD, compared with 1 in 36 in 2020 and 1 in 44 in 2018. Although the prevalence of ASD has increased over time, researchers suggest that this trend is influenced by factors such as greater awareness, improved screening and diagnostic practices, broader diagnostic criteria, and increased access to evaluation and intervention services. The CDC also states that ASD, “occurs in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups, but is about 4 times more common among boys than among girls.” They add: “There is currently no cure for ASD. However, research shows that early intervention treatment services can improve a child’s development” (www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/facts.html). It involves difficulty understanding and interpreting social communication and is often combined with restricted interests and/or repetitive behaviors. An inability to function successfully at home and school often compromises social and academic progress and is disheartening to all. ABA is a treatment approach that focuses on increasing appropriate behaviors, celebrating successes, and minimizing attention and energy on inappropriate behavior. ABA therapy is a data-driven system of teaching that emphasizes breaking down skills into their component parts and teaching each one through prompting and reinforcement. By building skills in a coordinated fashion, ABA has been shown to "rewire" brain circuitry in individuals with autism spectrum disorder. However, a typical protocol costs as much as $3,000 - $10,000 per year, making this powerful intervention out of reach for many families. Autism provides hope and evidence-based services by providing ABA scholarships to families without sufficient resources to cover the costs. In 2025, scholarships were awarded to 94 Houston area children with autism totaling $337,660.
