Step Forward ABA

What Step Forward ABA does

Step Forward ABA is a Miami Beach-headquartered, founder-owned pediatric behavioral healthcare provider delivering Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy to children ages 2-18 with Autism Spectrum Disorder, behavioral concerns, and developmental disabilities. Founded in 2015 by Diah Askari, MS, BCBA, the company operates 11 clinic locations across eight U.S. states (Florida, North Carolina, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Virginia, Texas, and an Illinois-adjacent reference in the contact form) following its January 2026 acquisition of MySpot's North Carolina and Virginia clinics. The service portfolio comprises five core offerings: In-Home ABA Therapy, In-School ABA Therapy, In-Center ABA Therapy, Behavior Interventions (BIPs and functional behavior assessments), and Parent ABA Training, all delivered by Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) with bilingual English/Spanish capability.

The company's underlying technology stack is operationally conventional rather than proprietary: clinical delivery relies on standardized ABA methodologies (functional behavior assessments, behavior intervention plans, EIP development), and the technology disclosed is the typical practice management layer needed to run an in-network ABA provider — insurance verification, scheduling, and clinical documentation. There is no software product, mobile application, API, or AI component identified in the source data. Differentiation rests on clinical talent (bilingual BCBAs), in-person service delivery across multiple settings, and founder-led positioning around family-first care.

Step Forward ABA generates revenue through insurance reimbursement for clinical billable hours delivered in-home, in-school, and in-center. The company is in-network with major commercial payors including Optum, Aetna, Oscar, Magellan, United Healthcare, BlueCross BlueShield, and Cigna, plus state Medicaid programs. Customer acquisition is sales-led and combines direct-to-consumer outreach (parent education via a 70+ article blog and organic social on Facebook/LinkedIn/Instagram) with referral channels from doctor offices, school systems, and direct website inquiries. The pricing model is not publicly disclosed and varies by payor contract. The business is privately held with no institutional funding disclosed; growth has been a mix of greenfield clinic openings and one material tuck-in acquisition (MySpot NC/VA), and the company employs between 11-50 people.

Name

Step Forward ABA

Legal name

Step Forward ABA

Website

https://stepforwardaba.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Step Forward ABA is a multi-state pediatric behavioral healthcare provider delivering Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy to children ages 2-18 with autism and developmental disabilities through 11 clinics across 8 U.S. states, serving families via insurance reimbursement.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pediatric Autism Therapy Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420)

SIC

Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

ABA Therapy Providers (Clinic-Based) (EDAKAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

ABA Therapy Providers (Home-Based) (EDAKAHAB), ABA Therapy Providers (School-Based) (EDAKAHAC), Parent/Caregiver Training & Family Consultation (ABA) (EDAKAHAG)

Keywords

• Applied behavior analysis
• Autism therapy services
• Pediatric behavioral therapy
• Developmental disability services
• Board certified behavior analysts

Headquarters

HQ city

Miami Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. ABA Therapy Services: Healthcare services revenue generated through insurance reimbursement for ABA therapy services provided to children with autism. Services delivered in-home, in-school, and in-center settings. Billable hours covered by in-network insurance providers including Optum, Aetna, Oscar, Magellan, United Healthcare, BlueCross BlueShield, Cigna, and state Medicaid programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Step Forward ABA delivers Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy services for children ages 2-18 with Autism Spectrum Disorder, behavioral concerns, and other developmental disabilities. Services are provided by Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) across in-home, in-school, and in-center settings, and include behavior intervention programs and parent training. The company is in-network with multiple major insurance providers and serves families across eight states.

Product overview

Step Forward ABA offers a unified Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy service portfolio for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and developmental disabilities. The company provides five core service offerings: In-Home ABA Therapy, In-School ABA Therapy, In-Center ABA Therapy, Behavior Interventions, and Parent ABA Training. These services are delivered by Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) across multiple states including Florida, Illinois, Colorado, North Carolina, Washington, Oregon, Virginia, Texas, and Utah. Services serve children ages 2-18 and are tailored to individual needs through personalized therapy plans.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• In-Home ABA Therapy Home-based Applied Behavior Analysis therapy delivered by Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) in the child's home environment, using positive reinforcement and evidence-based strategies to address behavioral and social challenges for children with autism.
• In-School ABA Therapy School-based ABA therapy providing one-on-one support for children with autism within educational settings, including training and education for school staff, functional behavior assessments, IEP development support, curriculum modifications, and staff consulting services.
• In-Center ABA Therapy Center-based ABA therapy delivered at company-owned clinics in a structured environment focused on social skills, transitions, group settings, play skills, and school readiness for children who benefit from clinical facility-based interventions.
• Behavior Interventions Targeted behavior intervention programs developed by BCBAs to address challenging behaviors and reinforce positive ones, including customized Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs) and assessments of environmental factors influencing behavior.
• Parent ABA Training Parent education and coaching service that equips parents and caregivers with knowledge and practical strategies to support their child's development at home, covering communication, decreasing interfering behaviors, and increasing independence.

Quantifiable outcome

• Most learners receive between 15-25 hours of therapy per week, with programs designed for 10-40 hours based on individual needs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• MySpot (Pine Tree Equity Partners)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 January 2026Step Forward ABA acquired the North Carolina and Virginia locations of MySpot, a pediatric therapy provider backed by private equity firm Pine Tree Equity Partners. This acquisition significantly expanded Step Forward ABA's footprint from 6 states with 7 clinics to 8 states with 11 clinics. Spectrum of Hope, a Houston-based autism therapy organization formerly integrated under MySpot, became independent after separation from the parent platform.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Autism Learning Partners: Multi-state ABA provider delivering center-based, home-based, and school-based therapy for children with autism. Comparable to Step Forward ABA across service modalities and payor-driven revenue model.
• Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD): Large ABA therapy provider serving children with autism across multiple states. Overlaps directly with Step Forward ABA on home, school, and center-based ABA, parent training, and insurance-based billing.
• Hopebridge: Multi-state pediatric ABA and behavior therapy provider with a clinic-heavy delivery model. Comparable to Step Forward ABA across home, center, and school settings, with overlapping payer mix and pediatric autism focus.
• Trumpet Behavioral Health: Multi-state ABA therapy provider offering center-based and home-based services for children with autism. Operates a similar model to Step Forward ABA with overlapping payor relationships and service offerings.
• Cortica: Multi-state pediatric neurodevelopment provider offering ABA therapy alongside other developmental services. Overlaps with Step Forward ABA on ABA service lines and payor mix, though broader in scope.
• Lighthouse Autism Center: ABA provider operating a network of autism centers across multiple US states. Comparable to Step Forward ABA's clinic-based delivery model and pediatric autism focus, though more concentrated in the Midwest.
• Behavior Frontiers: ABA provider offering in-home, in-clinic, and school-based services for children with autism. Direct competitor to Step Forward ABA in delivery model and payor mix, with comparable clinical staffing approach.
• ACES ABA (California Autism Center & Education Services): ABA therapy provider offering home, school, and clinic-based services for children with autism. Direct competitor to Step Forward ABA in delivery modalities and patient population.
• BlueSprig Pediatrics: One of the largest US ABA therapy providers, operating multi-state clinics focused on children with autism. Directly comparable to Step Forward ABA in modality (clinic, home, school) and payor mix, though materially larger and PE-backed.

Emerging players

• Pine Tree Equity Partners (MySpot platform): Private equity firm that previously controlled MySpot, the pediatric therapy provider whose NC and VA assets Step Forward ABA acquired. Relevant as the prior owner of one of Step Forward's recent targets and an active investor in the ABA space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=100087571414309
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/step-forward-aba
• Instagraminstagram.com/stepforwardaba

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Step Forward ABA