ABC of NC

What ABC of NC does

ABC of NC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2002 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, that delivers comprehensive autism services to individuals aged 18 months through 26 years across the Piedmont Triad region. It operates as both a behavioral health clinic and a DPI-approved non-public school, integrating center-based Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, accredited K-12 educational programming (Aspire Classes, Preschool Inclusion Classes, and Exceptional Children's Classes), mental health counseling, and family support services under a single Friedberg Church Road campus that includes the SECU Autism Clinic and Burress Activity Center. The organization is led by Executive Director Selene Johnson, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA, and employs 51-100 staff including BCBAs, BCaBAs, licensed counselors (LCMHC, LCSW), teachers, and behavior technicians.

Its service methodology is grounded in evidence-based clinical assessments including VB-MAPP, ABLLS-R, Structured Play Assessment, PICS, and Autism Social Skills Profile, with continuous data-based program revision. The organization's electronic medical record system is being integrated with NC HealthConnex, North Carolina's state-designated health information exchange, to support value-based care reimbursement models. ABC of NC holds Cognia accreditation (since 2011), DPI approval as a non-public school, BACB continuing education provider status, and CASP Service Provider designation, and operates the ABSNAP advocacy alliance promoting neuro-affirming ABA practice.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid model combining commercial insurance reimbursement (Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, United Healthcare), NC Medicaid managed care (AmeriHealth Caritas, Healthy Blue, United Health, Wellcare, plus LMEs/MCOs including Partners Health Management, Trillium Health Resources, and Vaya Health), tuition and fees, state-funded NC Early Intervention Program slots, and donations channeled through the separately incorporated ABC of NC Foundation (formed 2014, EIN 91-1963813). Donor-supported financial aid is available on a sliding fee scale for families with household income under $150,000, and NCSEAA Scholarships are accepted. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, relying on referral networks from healthcare providers and schools, parent and caregiver word-of-mouth, virtual information sessions and tours, monthly parent connection groups, and ongoing capital campaigns.

Name

ABC of NC

Legal name

ABC of NC

Website

https://abcofnc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

ABC of NC is a Winston-Salem-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides comprehensive autism services—including center-based ABA therapy, DPI-approved K-12 education, mental health counseling, and family support—for autistic individuals aged 18 months to 26 years across the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Autism Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Behavioral Therapy (ABA/ESDM/Positive Behavior Support) (EDACAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Autism Behavioral Support (School-Based ABA/PBIS) (EDAKAKAE), Autism Early Intervention (Educational) (EDAKAKAB), Parent/Caregiver Training & Family Consultation (ABA) (EDAKAHAG)

Keywords

• Applied behavior analysis
• Autism services
• Special education
• Behavioral therapy
• Mental health counseling

Headquarters

HQ city

Winston-salem

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Insurance Reimbursement (Commercial): Accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, and United Healthcare for ABA therapy services. The organization verifies benefits, reviews coverage requirements, explains deductibles and out-of-pocket costs, and manages the authorization process on behalf of families.
2. Medicaid Managed Care: Accepts NC Medicaid managed care plans including AmeriHealth Caritas of NC, Healthy Blue of NC, United Health of NC, and Wellcare of NC. Also works with Local Management Entities (LMEs) and Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) including Partners Health Management, Trillium Health Resources, and Vaya Health.
3. Tuition and Fees: School tuition and fees charged for educational services. Financial aid available for families with household income under $150,000. NCSEAA Scholarships accepted. Monthly invoicing for tuition portions not covered by financial aid.
4. Donations and Foundation Support: ABC of NC Foundation (501(c)(3), EIN 91-1963813) formed in 2014 supports the mission and holds endowment funds. Accepts tax-deductible donations, grants, and community contributions. Capital campaigns funded facilities including SECU Autism Clinic and Burress Activity Center.
5. NC Early Intervention Program: State-funded program partially funded by the state for clients 60 months or younger, providing 20-30 hours per week of intensive group instruction.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ABC of NC is a nonprofit behavioral health clinic and DPI-approved non-public school that provides center-based Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, accredited K-12 student classes, mental health counseling, and family support services for autistic individuals aged 18 months to 26 years and their families. The organization operates an integrated clinical-educational-family support model on its Winston-Salem campus, including the SECU Autism Clinic and Burress Activity Center.

Product overview

ABC of NC operates as a nonprofit behavioral health clinic and DPI-approved non-public school providing a comprehensive suite of autism services centered on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). The organization offers four primary service lines: Center-Based ABA Therapy providing intensive one-on-one and small group instruction; Student Classes offering K-12 accredited education through Aspire Classes, Preschool Inclusion Classes, and Exceptional Children's Classes; Mental Health Counseling Services for individual, family, and couples support using evidence-based approaches; and the NC Early Intervention Program for children 60 months and younger. Supporting these core services are the Financial Aid Program, ABSNAP neuro-affirming advocacy initiative, ABC of NC Foundation for fundraising and endowment management, client forms and resources, and community events/webinars. All programs are grounded in neuro-affirming practices and data-driven intervention methods.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ABSNAP: Aligning Behavioral Services with Neuro-Affirming Philosophies (ABSNAP) Alliance aims to facilitate just and socially valid change in the field of ABA to reflect neuro-affirming philosophies.

Products and services

• Center-Based ABA Therapy Applied Behavior Analysis therapy providing one-on-one intensive instruction (1-6 hours per day), small group instruction, and center-based programs for autistic children. Includes individualized curriculum development, community outings, and ongoing BCBA supervision. Insurance authorization and verification support provided.
• Student Classes DPI-approved non-public school offering small group classes and individualized K-12 support, including Aspire Classes for near-grade-level students, Preschool Inclusion Classes, and Exceptional Children's Classes for highly individualized instruction.
• Mental Health Counseling Services Individual, family, and couples counseling services for autistic and neurodivergent individuals using evidence-based approaches including CBT, DBT, and collaborative problem-solving. Services available both in-person and via telehealth.
• NC Early Intervention Program State-funded program providing 20-30 hours per week of intensive group instruction for clients aged 60 months or younger at intake, offered on a first-come-first-served basis.

Quantifiable outcome

• 89% of clients meet their IEP goals at school
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NC HealthConnex (NC Health Information Exchange Authority)coreTechnology or IntegrationABC of NC is connecting their electronic medical record system with North Carolina's state-designated health information exchange, operated by the NC Health Information Exchange Authority housed in the NC Department of Information Technology. This enables sharing data for value-based care reimbursement models. Additional training and resources will be provided to employees and clinicians with direct patient contact to educate patients about NC HealthConnex.
• Stadium (Merch Store Platform)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorABC of NC's merchandise store is hosted on Stadium's e-commerce platform, enabling online sales of branded merchandise to raise awareness and support the mission.
• NCSEAA (North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority)coreOthersABC of NC accepts NCSEAA Scholarships including the Disabilities Grant, Education Savings Account, and Opportunity Scholarship for tuition coverage, expanding financial accessibility for families.
• United Way of Forsyth CountyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerABC of NC can be designated through the United Way of Forsyth County giving campaign (#2652), enabling workplace giving donations.
• NC State Employee Combined CampaignminorGTM or Marketing PartnerABC of NC can be designated through the NC State Employee Combined Campaign (#1801), enabling state employees to make payroll deductions to support the organization.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Autism Society of North Carolina: Statewide nonprofit serving autistic individuals and families across North Carolina with advocacy, training, and direct services. Highly comparable to ABC of NC as a mission-aligned nonprofit operating in the same state and overlapping on family support, education, and community programs.
• The Arc of North Carolina: North Carolina chapter of The Arc, a nonprofit providing advocacy, education, and direct services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Comparable as a similarly structured nonprofit serving overlapping IDD populations in the same region.
• GiGi's Playhouse: National nonprofit network of achievement centers delivering free educational, therapeutic, and family-support programs for individuals with Down syndrome and their families. Comparable as a similarly structured nonprofit delivering center-based, family-inclusive programs for a specific developmental disability population.

Broad incumbents

• May Institute: National nonprofit providing ABA, educational, and clinical services for autistic individuals and those with other developmental disabilities across multiple states. Comparable as a multi-service nonprofit competitor in the broader autism services space, though much larger and geographically broader than ABC of NC.
• Easterseals UCP: Large national nonprofit offering autism services, ABA therapy, early intervention, and family support across many states. Comparable as a similarly mission-driven nonprofit delivering an integrated clinical and family-support portfolio, but at significantly greater scale.
• BlueSprig Pediatrics: One of the largest U.S. providers of center-based ABA therapy for autistic children, operating clinics across multiple states including the Southeast. Comparable as a direct provider of the same core service (center-based ABA) but at national scale and as a for-profit.
• Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers: Multi-state operator of autism therapy centers delivering ABA, occupational, and speech therapy with integrated diagnostic services. Comparable for the same center-based multidisciplinary therapy model ABC of NC offers, though at substantially larger scale.
• Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD): Large national ABA therapy provider offering center-based and home-based services for autistic children. Comparable for the same ABA therapy core service and insurance-based delivery model, but at much broader geographic and corporate scale.
• Centria Autism: National provider of center-based and home-based ABA services for children with autism, with active expansion in the U.S. Comparable for the same ABA therapy delivery model and payer mix (commercial insurance + Medicaid), but at substantially larger scale.
• LEARN Behavioral: National network of ABA therapy providers serving autistic children across multiple states. Comparable for delivering the same evidence-based ABA therapy using similar assessment frameworks (VB-MAPP, ABLLS-R) to overlapping populations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 ABC of NC