Founded in 2019, Individualized Intervention began offering in-home applied behavioral analysis, or ABA, therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic in Houston, founder and behavioral analyst Shamim Juma said. As demand grew with families returning to work, she opened a clinic in the Energy Corridor, followed by a Katy location in 2022. A third clinic is set to open in Brookshire in June.
“There’s been exponential growth in the field along with awareness of ABA therapy because there’s just simply a rise in the [autism] prevalence rate,” Juma said. “Our growth has been guided by where families live, work and attend school—especially elementary schools—since we specialize in pediatric therapies.”
ABA is a goal-driven, data-based therapy that uses positive reinforcement, gaining popularity for its personalized, one-on-one approach—especially for children with autism, said David Wahlquist, behavioral analyst and center director for BlueSprig Katy-South.
Despite there being nearly 40 centers in the Katy-Fulshear area, providers say demand for these centers still exceeds capacity. Juma said staffing shortages and high insurance-related costs remain major barriers to families who live in areas with these centers.
What's happening
In 2000, approximately 1 in 150 children had autism nationwide, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Since then, CDC data shows the prevalence has grown to 1 in 31 children nationwide in 2022. Texas has higher rates, with an estimated 1 in 28 children receiving the diagnosis.
At the local level, Texas Education Agency data shows a rise in the number and percentage of Katy and Lamar CISD students receiving behavioral health services, with the number of students receiving autism services doubling from 2016-17 to 2023-24 school years.
How it works
Digging deeper
Registered behavioral technicians, or RBTs, provide individualized attention in one-on-one or two-on-one settings with clients, making it hard to meet the demand without compromising quality, Juma said.
