Ama - Associaço De Amigos Do Autista

What Ama - Associaço De Amigos Do Autista does

AMA – Associação de Amigos do Autista is a Brazilian nonprofit organization founded on August 8, 1983, in São Paulo, by parents of children with autism. It provides 100% free specialized educational and therapeutic services to approximately 300-500 children, youth, and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (TEA) across three physical facilities in São Paulo (Setor Lavapés, Setor Luis Gama, and Unidade Parelheiros). Access to services is exclusively mediated through referrals from the São Paulo State Health Secretariat (for children up to 6 years) and the Education Secretariat (for individuals over 6 years), followed by PEP-R clinical evaluation to match candidates with available vacancies.

The organization's core technology is its proprietary SETA (Sistema Educacional e Terapêutico da AMA) methodology, developed over 40+ years by combining TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children) and ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) approaches. SETA organizes services into six progressive levels from preparatory through elementary education, supported by individualized educational and therapeutic plans (PETI) and a behavior problem treatment protocol (PTPC). The Centro de Conhecimento (CCA), founded in 2008, serves as a knowledge dissemination arm housing a library, training programs, and the virtual store.

AMA's revenue model is diversified across five streams: partial operational funding from two São Paulo State government partnerships (Secretaria da Saúde and Secretaria da Educação), individual donations (single and recurring from R$10 to R$10,000), corporate sponsorships through the Empresa Amiga program (20+ partners including Microsoft, Motorola, and Mattos Filho), Nota Fiscal Paulista tax credit donations, and commercial revenue from online and in-person courses sold via the virtual store. The organization is led by President Carlos Alberto de Oliveira Mendes and Superintendent Ana Maria S. Ros de Mello, with approximately 280 collaborators including employees and interns.

Name

Ama - Associaço De Amigos Do Autista

Legal name

Associação de Amigos do Autista

Website

https://ama.org.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Short description

AMA is a Brazilian nonprofit founded in 1983 that provides free specialized educational and therapeutic services to approximately 300-500 individuals with autism in São Paulo, using its proprietary SETA methodology combining TEACCH and ABA approaches, funded by government partnerships, donations, and course sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Autism Care and Special Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Autism-Specific Schools & Programs (EDAKAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Autism Classroom & School Program Support (Inclusion/Resource) (EDAKAKAC), Autism Parent/Caregiver Education & Training (School-Linked) (EDAKAKAJ), Autism Diagnostic & Educational Assessment Services (EDAKAKAA)

Keywords

• Autism care services
• Special education therapy
• Nonprofit health services
• ABA TEACCH therapy
• Disability support services

Headquarters

HQ city

São Paulo

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Partnerships: Two major agreements with São Paulo State Secretaries - Secretaria da Saúde and Secretaria da Educação. These partnerships provide partial funding for operations.
2. Individual Donations: Recurring and one-time donations from individuals, both Brazilian residents and international donors. Options range from R$10 to R$10,000 for single or monthly recurring donations.
3. Nota Fiscal Paulista Donations: Citizens can donate their Nota Fiscal Paulista tax credits to AMA by registering CNPJ 52.802.295/0001-13 or Sítio Nova Esperança.
4. Virtual Store - Course Sales: Sale of online and in-person courses on autism topics, training materials, and educational resources. Includes courses on preference assessments, functional communication training, and school inclusion.
5. Corporate Partnerships: Support from companies through the 'Empresa Amiga' program, providing financial contributions and sponsorship.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

AMA provides 100% free specialized educational and therapeutic care for children, youth, and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (TEA) across three facilities in São Paulo, Brazil. Services are delivered through the proprietary SETA (Sistema Educacional e Terapêutico da AMA) methodology, a six-level system based on TEACCH and ABA approaches with individualized treatment plans (PETI). The organization also disseminates autism knowledge through the Centro de Conhecimento, offering in-person and online courses, lectures, and free downloadable resources for parents, caregivers, and professionals.

Product overview

AMA operates as a non-profit autism association offering a comprehensive therapeutic and educational service ecosystem centered on its proprietary SETA (Sistema Educacional e Terapêutico) methodology, based on TEACCH and ABA approaches. The organization provides individualized services through the PETI (Plano Educacional e Terapêutico Individualizado) plan, supplemented by the Centro de Conhecimento which disseminates knowledge via in-person and online courses, lectures, and free materials. A virtual store enables commercialization of educational products. Services are delivered across three units in São Paulo (Setor Lavapés, Setor Luis Gama, and Unidade Parelheiros) to approximately 300-500 children, youth, and adults with autism free of charge.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Centro de Conhecimento da AMA (CCA): Knowledge center responsible for organizing lectures, courses, and scientific events, training and selection of interns, continuing education of AMA professionals, and establishing partnerships for autism research.
• SETA
• Programa Empresa Amiga

Products and services

• SETA - Sistema Educacional e Terapêutico da AMA A six-level educational and therapeutic system (Preparatório, Inicial, 1, 2, 3, 4) from pre-school through fundamental education, providing individualized treatment for persons with autism based on TEACCH and ABA methodologies.
• Diagnostic Evaluation Services Clinical diagnostic evaluation using PEP-R (Perfil Psicoeducacional Revisado) profile to determine candidate compatibility with available vacancies for AMA services.
• Centro de Conhecimento (CCA) Knowledge center organizing lectures, courses, and scientific events; training and selection of interns; continuing education of AMA professionals; and partnerships for autism research. Includes a library with books, videos, films, and electronic journals.
• Online and In-Person Courses on Autism Virtual and in-person educational content including courses on autism topics such as 'Avaliações de Preferências, Reforçadores e Estímulos Competitivos' (R$200) and 'Treino de comunicação funcional (FCT)' (R$100), targeted at professionals and caregivers.
• Meu Filho Tem Autismo Lecture Program In-person lecture program providing support, orientation, and guidance to parents and caregivers of persons with autism, whether assisted by AMA or not.
• Virtual Store (Loja Virtual) E-commerce platform selling books, DVDs, t-shirts, courses, training materials, and educational resources related to autism information and awareness.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving 300-500 individuals with autism across three facilities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sweden (Government)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000Ten-year technical and financial partnership (2000-2009) including financial support and scientific/technical exchange. Swedish specialists visited AMA and AMA staff visited Swedish institutions. Partnership funded the creation of Centro de Conhecimento (CCA).
• NECC - New England Center for ChildrencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership maintained for over 10 years with one of the most renowned autism institutions in the USA for technical exchange and professional development.
• TEACCH - Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped ChildrencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMethodological partnership with the TEACCH program at UNC School of Medicine. Dr. Eric Schoppler and team provided guidance on methodology adaptation. Foundation for AMA's proprietary SETA system.
• Africa Advertising AgencyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership in 2022 where Africa donated an advertising piece relating autism and artificial intelligence, which won the Bronze Lion at Cannes Lions.
• Instituto Mauricio de SousaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership creating André, a character with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Monica's Gang universe since 2001, to promote autism awareness and early diagnosis.
• Instituto Futuros CraquesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for Running Brasil 2025 sporting and charity event. AMA participated with lecture on Inclusion and development in autism.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• APAE - Associação de Pais e Amigos dos Excepcionais: Brazil's largest network of civil society organizations serving people with intellectual disabilities, including autism, across 2,000+ municipalities. Comparable as a long-established Brazilian nonprofit providing educational, therapeutic, and social services to a similar population, though at much larger scale and broader disability scope.
• AACD - Associação de Assistência à Criança Deficiente: Major Brazilian nonprofit providing rehabilitation and therapeutic services, including for individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Comparable in operating model (nonprofit, multidisciplinary care, São Paulo roots) and beneficiary profile, though with broader disability focus including physical rehabilitation.
• Autism Speaks: Largest US autism advocacy and research organization, operating awareness campaigns, funding research, and providing family services. Comparable as a high-profile autism-focused nonprofit with global brand recognition and government-engagement capabilities, though primarily advocacy-led rather than direct-service-led.
• Pestalozzi (Federação Nacional das Associações Pestalozzi): Brazilian civil society network supporting people with intellectual disabilities including autism through education and social assistance. Comparable as a long-established Brazilian nonprofit in the same beneficiary population, though with broader disability scope and federation structure.

Direct peers

• TEACCH Program (University of North Carolina): The foundational structured-teaching program for autism on which AMA's SETA methodology is explicitly based. Directly comparable as a service-delivery and training program serving individuals with autism through evidence-based intervention, and the source of AMA's core methodological partnership.
• New England Center for Children (NECC): US-based autism education and research institution that has been AMA's 10+ year technical exchange partner. Comparable as a specialized autism school and ABA-based service provider with a strong training and research arm — the closest methodological peer to AMA's service-plus-knowledge model.
• Instituto Jô Clemente: Brazilian nonprofit (formerly APAE São Paulo) dedicated to people with intellectual disabilities including autism, providing health, education, and social inclusion services. Closest Brazilian operational peer with similar São Paulo roots, public utility status, and free service-delivery model.

Emerging players

• BlueSprig Pediatrics: US-based provider of ABA therapy services for children with autism across multiple states, operating clinic-based delivery model. Comparable in ABA-based service delivery methodology, though structured as a commercial healthcare provider rather than a nonprofit.
• CARD - Center for Autism and Related Disorders: Major US provider of ABA therapy and diagnostic services for individuals with autism, with hundreds of locations. Comparable in evidence-based (ABA) intervention methodology and assessment services, though structured as a for-profit commercial healthcare provider.

Regional players

• André vanliga (Sweden) / Autism & Asperger Forbundet: Swedish national autism association and partner of AMA's Centro de Conhecimento, providing advocacy and support services for individuals with autism. Comparable as a European autism-focused nonprofit with strong government and family-service orientation, though serving a different national jurisdiction.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ama-associacaodeamigosdoau4150
• Facebookfacebook.com/amigosdoautista1
• Instagraminstagram.com/associacaoamigosdoautista

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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