PALS Autism School

What PALS Autism School does

PALS Autism Society (operating as PALS Autism School) is a registered Canadian non-profit charity (BN 84393 9760 RR0001) founded in 2007 and headquartered in a heritage building at 101 Third Street, New Westminster, British Columbia. It operates a Ministry of Education designated Special Education School providing year-round K-12 schooling for children and adolescents with autism, accompanied by a licensed before/after-school care program, a five-week PALS Summer Program, and the PALS Adult Services Society (PASS) for adult clients. The school's core methodology is Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) integrated with occupational therapy and speech therapy delivered through individualized instructor-to-student ratios of 1:1, 2:3, or 1:3, following an adapted BC curriculum.

The institution differentiates on regulatory designation, low ratios, and integrated therapy within a single school-day model, supported by the proprietary PALS In Touch app that shares student progress (photos, reports, assessments, milestones) with families. Its marketing and donor-acquisition channel is dominated by parent referrals, community events, and an annual gala program (the Imagine... Gala for Autism, held every year since 2008), supplemented by corporate sponsorships (TELUS Friendly Future Foundation, CCSF Autism Foundation, Autoworld, Regency Auto), foundation grants, and matching-donor campaigns.

PALS funds operations through a mix of tuition and program fees, before/after-school care fees, individual donations, corporate sponsorships and foundation grants, and large-scale fundraising events (galas, high teas, car washes, dinner events). The school has historically raised $110,000-$375,000 per Imagine Gala, including over $370,000 in 2017, $375,000 in 2019, and over $360,000 in the 2021 virtual Armchair Gala. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Katy Harandi and is not owned by or affiliated with any parent or private-equity entity.

Name

PALS Autism School

Legal name

PALS Autism Society

Website

https://palsautismschool.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PALS Autism School is a BC Ministry of Education designated non-profit special-education school providing year-round K-12 education and integrated ABA, occupational, and speech therapy for children with autism, serving families in British Columbia from a single New Westminster campus.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Autism-Specific Schools & Programs (EDAKAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Autism Classroom & School Program Support (Inclusion/Resource) (EDAKAKAC), Autism Communication Support (AAC, Pragmatics & Language) (EDAKAKAG), Autism Sensory & Occupational Support (School-Based) (EDAKAKAH), Autism Executive Functioning & Academic Skills Intervention (EDAKAKAI), Autism Assistive Technology & Learning Tools (Educational) (EDAKAKAM)

Keywords

• Special education services
• Autism education
• Applied behaviour analysis
• Occupational therapy
• Speech language therapy

Headquarters

HQ city

New Westminster

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Program Fees: Revenue from tuition for the specialized autism education program serving kindergarten to grade 12 students. Families are burdened with heavy living expenses for autism care, and the school fundraises for bursaries to make enrollment accessible regardless of economic background.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Extensive fundraising through annual Imagine... Gala events, car washes, dinner events, winter high tea fundraisers, and direct donations. The school operates as a non-profit registered charity (84393 9760 RR0001).
3. Grants and Corporate Sponsorships: Support from corporate sponsors and grant-making foundations including TELUS Friendly Future Foundation, CCSF Autism Foundation, and various corporate sponsors for gala events.
4. Before and After School Care: Licensed before and after-school care program providing additional revenue stream.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

PALS Autism School is a Ministry of Education designated Special Education School in British Columbia that delivers year-round K-12 education for children and adolescents with autism using an Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) based approach with integrated occupational and speech therapy. Instruction is provided at individualized instructor-to-student ratios of 1:1, 2:3, or 1:3, supplemented by a licensed before/after-school care program, a five-week summer program, and the PALS In Touch family communication app.

Product overview

PALS Autism School operates as a unified educational offering comprising a Ministry of Education designated special education school for children with autism (kindergarten to grade 12), accompanied by a licensed before and after-school care program. The organization provides year-round programming with specialized therapies (applied behaviour analysis, occupational therapy, and speech therapy) delivered through low instructor-to-student ratios (1:1, 2:3, or 1:3). The product portfolio includes the core school program, a summer program for continued learning and therapies, and the PALS In Touch family communication app.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PALS Autism School (K-12 Special Education Program)
• Before and After-School Care Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Student able to learn to read after being told it would not be possible
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Greenfoot Energy SolutionscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 31 December 2025Installation partner for the Cozy & Cool Campaign heating and cooling system upgrades. Provided a generous community discount that helped maximize donated funds for classroom comfort improvements.
• CCSF Autism FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Winter High Tea Fundraiser organizer benefiting PALS. Events held at Sea Harbour Restaurant (Richmond) and Hy Tea Lounge (Vancouver) with $200 tickets generating tax-deductible donations.
• Regency AutominorGTM or Marketing PartnerQ1 2024 Fundraiser partner raising funds for PALS Autism Society. Donors of $50+ received a ReggieFromRegency Panda Plushie. Operated from January 1 to March 31, 2024.
• Autoworld (De Silva Autoworld)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerHost venue for annual PALS Car Wash Fundraiser at 19987 Fraser Highway, Langley. Provides location and support for community fundraising event.
• Seth RogenmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerActor and Vancouver native who appeared at 2021 virtual Gala to thank PALS and encourage donations. Stated 'PALS makes a difference. So donate now or you're an asshole' during the event.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Pacific Autism Family Network: British Columbia-based autism services network providing assessment, treatment, and family support. Operates in the same BC autism-services ecosystem as PALS and shares the same parent/funder pool, making it a directly comparable regional peer.
• Canucks Autism Network: BC-based non-profit providing sports, recreation, social, and community programs for individuals with autism. Operates in same BC market with overlapping donor base; comparable in non-profit model and target families, though focus is recreation rather than education.
• Sinneave Family Foundation: Calgary-based non-profit focused on autism transition to adulthood, with skills and employment programming. Comparable to PASS in its adult-services orientation and to PALS in its non-profit fundraising model.

Others

• Autism Society of British Columbia: BC provincial non-profit providing information, resources, and community programs for individuals with autism and their families. Comparable mission and BC non-profit status, but operates as an umbrella rather than a school.
• Behaviour Analysis & Therapy Services (BATS): BC-based ABA therapy provider serving children with autism. Overlaps with PALS in therapeutic modality (ABA) and BC market, though not a school operator. Useful as a therapy-services comparables reference.
• Autism Speaks Canada: National autism advocacy and services organization in Canada. Not a direct competitor but operates in the same autism-services ecosystem, with overlapping donor pool and similar advocacy and information missions.

Direct peers

• Kerry's Place Autism Services: Ontario-based non-profit providing autism education, residential, and community services across the lifespan. Operates school-day programs and adult services similar to PALS and PALS Adult Services Society (PASS).
• Geneva Centre for Autism: Toronto-based non-profit offering autism-specific educational programs, ABA services, and family support. Most closely comparable Canadian peer in terms of integrated school + therapy model and non-profit funding structure.
• Surrey Place: Toronto-based non-profit providing clinical, educational, and community services for individuals with developmental disabilities including autism. Comparable non-profit model with integrated therapy and education.
• Children's Autism Services of Edmonton: Alberta-based non-profit delivering early intervention, school-age, and adolescent autism programs using ABA and related therapies. Closely comparable service mix and model to PALS, though regionally focused on Alberta.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PALSAutismBC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCWqTkgb1ksY6pPpLkM-ZoHA
• Facebookfacebook.com/PALSAutismSchool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pals-autism-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/palsautismsociety

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 PALS Autism School