Autism Business Association

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California Bills Sponsored by the Autism Business Association

This bill ensures that parents can access their full authorization for services without weekly limitations. With ongoing workforce shortages and children occasionally missing sessions due to illness, it is critical that makeup hours are available. This measure guarantees that every child has an equal opportunity to achieve their maximum potential by allowing families to utilize their full authorized hours.

This bill empowers families by ensuring access to telehealth services for direct care, should they choose it. Additionally, it strengthens consumer safety protections by increasing the qualifications required for practitioners performing telehealth services. This ensures that families receive high-quality care from certified professionals.

SCC Behavior Technician Program Approved by RSCCD

The Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD) Board of Trustees approved Santiago Canyon College’s (SCC) proposed curriculum for an (Autism) Behavior Technician certificate program. The program will now be submitted to the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office for state approval. The District and SCC plan to offer the certificate program to students once this approval is secured.

“The partnership is a great example of how our colleges work with industry to address vital community needs. The Behavior Technician certificate program is a win for our students, our colleges, the industry and most importantly our community’s autistic children and their families.”

— RSCCD Chancellor Raúl Rodriguez, Ph.D.

The Autism Business Association is leading a groundbreaking statewide initiative in collaboration with community colleges and state agencies to expand the behavior technician program, addressing critical workforce shortages and improving access to quality care for individuals and families affected by autism. This program aligns with the rigorous standards of nationally accredited behavior technician certifications, including those from the BACB, QABA Credentialing Board, and BICC. 

By the end of the course, students are fully prepared to meet certification requirements and take their exams. The overarching goal of this statewide expansion is to address the growing treatment needs of Californians diagnosed with autism, ensuring that quality care standards are upheld as the program scales to meet increasing demand.

Educational Advocacy

Laws are ever changing and our industry is evolving so we monitor the legislation to assure changes will not affect access to quality programs. The association actively works with the Department of Education to ensure children have access to high quality ABA programs.   

Tony Thurmond was sworn in as the 28th California State Superintendent of Public Instruction on January 7, 2019. 

Protection

The Autism Business Association is dedicated to protecting federally funded programs for individuals with autism and related disabilities.

Preserving the Medicaid system and preserving mental health parity benefits for the autism population.   

Advocating for Equitable Access to Autism Services

The Autism Business Association is dedicated to ensuring every individual with autism spectrum disorder has fair and equal access to medically necessary services, including Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy. We believe quality care should not be determined by socio-economic status and actively work to close gaps in access.

Advocacy in Action

Policies and Partnerships that Drive Change

Through persistent advocacy and strategic collaboration, we fight for better access, improved quality of care, and fair coverage for essential therapies across the autism community.

Long-Term Access

Securing Sustainable ABA Services

A landmark achievement was our successful effort to remove the sunset provision for ABA services in California, securing long-term access to autism treatment for countless individuals and families statewide.

Modernization

Expanding Telehealth Options

As healthcare evolves, we ensure autism services keep pace by working with the Department of Healthcare Services and legislators to include ABA in critical telehealth updates.

Reducing Barriers

Eliminating Unnecessary Delays to Care

Our collaboration with state assemblymembers has helped address excessive rediagnosis requirements that previously disrupted continuity of care and delayed essential services.

A Collaborative Approach to Quality Care

Health Plan Collaboration Quarterly meetings with health plans to resolve access issues and improve quality of care.
Statewide Initiatives Development of scalable models designed to expand ABA therapy access statewide.
Coalition Membership Active participation in the Lanterman Coalition to amplify advocacy efforts.
National Support Advocacy for ABA therapy coverage across all health insurance plans nationwide.
Education Advocacy

Protecting Access to Quality Educational Programs

We remain at the forefront of evolving educational law, advocating for consistent access to high-quality, evidence-based ABA programs that support positive student outcomes.

Affiliated Entities

ABEDI Inc.
Autism Behavior Services Inc.
A Change in Trajectory
Autism Learning Partners
Autism Spectrum Interventions
Autism Spectrum Therapies
Behavior Frontiers
Behavioral Interventions for Autism
Behavioral Support Partnership
Bloom Behavioral Health
360 Behavioral Health
Hearts ABA
Intercare
Star of California
TASKids
Butterfly Effects ABA

Join us in our mission to support families and individuals with autism. Together, we can create brighter futures and ensure access to the care they deserve.