AnswersNow

Heading to CalABA 2025? Be sure to stop by Booth #50 and meet Kristin Peterson, BCBA, LMFT and Kali Thomas, M.A., BCBA, LBA! Come learn how AnswersNow connects families with dedicated BCBAs for high-quality, accessible ABA therapy and enter to win a raffle basket! #CalABA2025 #ABAtherapy #AutismSupport #AnswersNow

I’ve spent the past few days at #ViVE2025, where I was blown away by the passionate and creative approaches to solving some of the nation’s most urgent health challenges. Then I read this Bloomberg piece on designing places for neurodivergent people and it was another powerful reminder of how much thoughtful innovation is still needed. I?love the impulse and the execution captured in this story about a pilot program for The Neurodiverse City (https://lnkd.in/eU3STBXk) in which architects first gathered input from students with autism and then put it into action designing a better, more pleasing outdoor playground. We have a lot to learn from them and their capabilities and must work to meet them where they are. When we do, we can gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the world around us. I’m excited to see what comes out of the larger Neurodiverse City project and how its insights will shape public spaces writ large. I need one of those sound pods! https://lnkd.in/etHmjTzw

The goal of ABA therapy is to build social, behavioral, and communication skills that empower individuals with greater independence and quality of life. At AnswersNow we make sure each care plan is carefully tailored to the most immediate needs and goals of our families. Seeing daily growth and progress is what our approach to ABA therapy is all about! ??

"To me the most rewarding aspect of being a BCBA is seeing my clients’ progress - through both observation and data - and hearing a caregiver’s excitement and relief over their child’s growth." Meet Hylary, one of our incredible BCBAs who works 1:1 with families to help them meet their goals. https://lnkd.in/gkpzyUeW

Many families start with concerns about telehealth, but after experiencing AnswersNow’s expert-led, personalized approach, they see the real benefits: easier access, more flexibility, and more confidence in their child’s care.

Valentine’s Day can be tricky for children with autism. From overwhelming school parties to social expectations around cards and candy it's a lot to navigate. Our BCBA,?Sydney Berkman, helped put together 5 ways to make the day smoother: ??? Talk to your child’s teacher or school ?? Use social stories and role-play likely interactions ?? Make Valentine’s prep easy with stickers or pre-made cards ?? Create a fun Valentine’s mailbox together ?? Celebrate at home in a way that feels comfortable Read more:?https://lnkd.in/g9Kq_kcd

Mollie is an incredible parent who was determined to find the right support for her son. She shared how her son's experience with AnswersNow has helped him to develop life skills that promote independence, self-sufficiency, and long-term success. At AnswersNow, we're committed to helping families achieve these milestones through personalized, virtual therapy. Read her family's story: https://lnkd.in/gj9hzAfX

This Forbes piece by Alison Escalante, MD FAAP on the cognitive strengths of people with autism is must-read. We’ve long-known the power of neurodiversity through our work at AnswersNow with autistic children and their families, but it’s great to see it documented here in a new study and explored in this article. While many people dismiss the way autistic individuals view the world as something to be “corrected”, we understand that it means they have something unique to offer to the world. In fact, we’ve repeatedly found that our kids display impressive on-task persistence when they are curious about an activity, a trait that was well-documented by this research and called a “super skill” by the author. To tap into that superpower and then tailor their sessions accordingly, providers need to develop a strong rapport and sense of trust with their clients. That becomes possible when therapists are thoughtfully matched with patients based on their needs and goals, and then given time together. It’s why we embrace virtual therapy and only hire Master’s- and PhD-level therapists...making the best trained people available to families online creates the space necessary to foster connections and build personalized therapy plans.??? ? As we all continue to learn more about autism, that personalization will be key to not only helping individuals better learn to manage the world around them but to unlocking their inherent gifts and actually thriving within it. https://lnkd.in/e26_chWC

A recent article in the The New York Times and a resulting LinkedIn post: https://lnkd.in/eNVA3DNg by Dana Udall, Ph.D. at Included Health on access to virtual therapy by underserved communities struck a chord with me. The NYT piece cited research and individuals showing that telehealth is simply perpetuating care for higher earners. In response, Dr. Udall leaned on findings from the Urban Institute and her own company to show that virtual services were indeed being used by more non-whites, females, younger people, patients in lower income zip codes and those with varying sexual orientations and gender identity. I was glad to hear this as it aligned with what we’ve seen at AnswersNow. We provide virtual applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy for autism patients that cannot access traditional in-person options. As part of this, we also offer cellular-connected tablets at no additional cost for those families without access to technology or reliable WiFi. The results have been promising with our data showing that more than 70% of our patients are fully covered by Medicaid and 11% speak Spanish as their primary language. This is important as we know that for families and children with autism, speed to diagnosis and subsequent access to ABA therapy is critical to making progress in behavioral skills and communication. Unfortunately, underserved populations experience significantly greater difficulty in accessing the already limited off-line services available to other patients. (A shortage of clinicians and centralized in-person therapy options already force most families to wait up to a year and travel long distances at inconvenient times for therapy.) Being able to reach Medicaid and Spanish-speaking patients is an important signal that our virtual ABA therapy is working as intended. But we can’t take a victory lap. There are still millions of people who need access to therapy - whether for autism or other conditions. In addition to the suggestions offered by Dr. Udall, we should be working with regulators to streamline current state-by-state licensing requirements for telehealth providers and partners with payors to identify best practices for value-based care contracts that will expand virtual therapy options. https://nyti.ms/40vH1lg

I can't count the amount of times I've been asked - what is causing this rise in autism? Is it just more diagnosing? As this recent The New York Times story highlights, the answer isn't binary. In parallel to the increase in diagnostics is perhaps the real challenge- how do we effectively support the kids who’ve been diagnosed - and those who are still waiting? ? There’s a shortage of clinicians - both those who provide diagnoses and those who deliver therapy. ? Payors are uncertain about how to administer payments for treatment. ? Families are waiting months, many over a year, for their first appointment with a clinician. ??Access to insurer-covered care hinges on a diagnosis. This resource gap is even more pronounced in underserved communities. White families with means are routinely seen and diagnosed faster than families of color or those without financial resources. A difference of even a few months can lead to setbacks that delay progress in critical communication and life skills. The solution is embracing new technologies and new approaches. We’ve got to move beyond centralized, private equity-financed in-person clinics as our first and only line of support for families. These centers are difficult to access for people who don’t live nearby and for anyone who is busy from 9-5 (which includes working parents). And, as part of the cash optimization strategy employed by PE, they are routinely staffed by therapists with only a high school diploma and minimal training. This approach to therapy requires that families devote dozens of hours to therapy each week. As a clinician turned entrepreneur 7 years ago, I experienced the unmet need and glaring gaps in service for families first-hand. This journey with AnswersNow has always been about delivering families the care they deserve, when they need it, and in environments better suited to their needs. As an industry, we can - and must - do better. The industry must adapt.