The Center for Autism and Related Disorders

What The Center for Autism and Related Disorders does

The Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD®) is a US provider of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy services for individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, founded in 1990 by Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh and headquartered in Plano, Texas. CARD delivers evidence-based ABA therapy through center-based, home-based, school-based, community-based, and telehealth modalities, supported by a proprietary treatment curriculum known as the CARD® Model, a web-based CARD e-Learning and Skills platform, and the Skills® Global parent resource portal. Its service portfolio includes Early Intervention, a Learning Readiness Program, Social Skills Groups, a Skills for Parents (S4P) caregiver program, ME-ABA mobile/community services, and a Teen & Adult Program, alongside a Fieldwork Fellowship Program that trains future BCBAs and a research program that has produced 117 publications.

CARD operates across 17 states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, and Washington) and is in-network with major commercial insurers and government payors including Aetna, Anthem, BlueCross BlueShield, Carelon, Cigna, Mercy Care, Optum, TRICARE, and United Healthcare. Revenue is generated primarily through insurance reimbursement for recurring therapy services billed monthly, supplemented by intake, insurance-navigation, and caregiver-support services. Following Blackstone's approximately $700 million acquisition in 2018, CARD closed more than 100 sites across 10 states and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June 2023; it has since emerged and resumed active operations, reopening and expanding centers including four new Phoenix locations in February 2026 supported by 200+ new hires.

Name

The Center for Autism and Related Disorders

Legal name

Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc.

Website

https://centerforautism.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

CARD is a US provider of evidence-based Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy for children, teens, and adults with autism, operating across 17 states with in-network coverage from major commercial and government insurers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Autism Behavioral Health Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Autism Early Intervention (Educational) (EDAKAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Autism Executive Functioning & Academic Skills Intervention (EDAKAKAI), Autism Parent/Caregiver Education & Training (School-Linked) (EDAKAKAJ), Autism Assistive Technology & Learning Tools (Educational) (EDAKAKAM)

Keywords

• Applied behavior analysis
• Autism therapy services
• Behavioral health care
• ABA therapy programs
• Autism spectrum treatment

Headquarters

HQ city

Woodland Hills

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. ABA Therapy Services: CARD generates revenue through providing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy services to individuals with autism. Services are delivered at centers, in homes, schools, and via telehealth. The company accepts major insurance plans and works with families to navigate coverage.
2. Insurance Contracts: Revenue is primarily derived from insurance reimbursements for therapy services. CARD is in-network with multiple major insurers including Aetna, Anthem, BlueCross BlueShield, Carelon, Cigna, Optum, TriCare, and United Healthcare.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD) provides evidence-based Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy services for children, teens, and adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Services are delivered through a proprietary CARD Model curriculum across center-based, home-based, school-based, community, and telehealth settings, supplemented by digital tools such as the CARD e-Learning and Skills Platform and the Skills Global parent resource portal.

Product overview

The Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD®) offers a comprehensive suite of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy services built around the proprietary CARD® Model developed by Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh since 1990. The core offering consists of center-based and home-based ABA therapy services, supplemented by specialized programs including the Learning Readiness Program, Skills for Parents (S4P), Social Skills Group, and Teen & Adult Program. CARD e-Learning and Skills provides web-based training, assessment, and progress tracking, while the Fieldwork Fellowship Program supports staff professional development toward BCBA certification. The company operates over 11 centers across multiple U.S. states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, and Washington), delivering evidence-based autism therapy to children, teens, and adults with no current waitlist for services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Skills®: A web-based training, assessment, curriculum and progress tracking platform for children with autism
• CARD Skills®

Products and services

• Center-Based ABA Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Research demonstrates children may double their rate of skill acquisition in center environment compared to home-based services
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Capella UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership offering tuition discounts to CARD employees pursuing degrees relevant to ABA certification and career advancement.
• The Chicago School of Professional PsychologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership offering tuition discounts to CARD employees pursuing degrees relevant to ABA certification.
• Daemen UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership offering tuition discounts to CARD employees pursuing degrees relevant to ABA certification.
• Florida Institute of Technology (Florida Tech)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership offering tuition discounts to CARD employees pursuing degrees relevant to ABA certification.
• National UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership offering tuition discounts to CARD employees pursuing degrees relevant to ABA certification.
• Adia Nutrition Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdia Nutrition is hosting a live Zoom presentation in collaboration with UCF CARD (Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at University of Central Florida) to inform families about its ongoing 24-month clinical trial (NCT07304440) evaluating AdiaVita for children ages 3-12 with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Note: UCF CARD is distinct from the Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD).

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BlueSprig Pediatrics: One of the largest US ABA therapy networks operating center-based clinics across multiple states. Directly comparable to CARD in clinical modality (ABA), payer-mix (insurance-reimbursed), and PE-backed operating model.
• Hopebridge: Multi-state ABA and pediatric therapy provider with a center-based delivery model, similar payer relationships, and overlapping focus on early intervention for children with autism.
• Centria Autism (Centria Healthcare): National ABA provider serving children with autism across multiple states with center-based and home-based services. Closely comparable in service mix, payer strategy, and PE ownership profile.
• Autism Learning Partners (ALP): PE-backed ABA therapy provider offering center-based and home-based services to children and families across multiple states, with similar insurance-driven revenue model.
• Behavioral Innovations (BI): Multi-state ABA provider with center-based clinics for children with autism, comparable to CARD in clinical approach, payer mix, and geographic footprint strategy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/centerforautism
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Centerforautism
• Facebookfacebook.com/centerforautismandrelateddisorders
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-center-for-autism-and-related-disorders-inc--card-
• Instagraminstagram.com/centerforautism
• TikToktiktok.com/@centerforautism

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Center for Autism and Related Disorders