A group of seven leading Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) organizations today announced the presentation of clinical outcomes aligning with findings from a recent meta-analysis by Eldevik et al. (2026), as referenced in the Council of Autism Service Providers’ (CASP) White Paper, Evidence About ABA Treatment for Young Children with Autism: The Impact of Treatment Intensity on Outcomes.

The analysis was presented as part of a broader discussion about how providers can strengthen outcomes measurement while maintaining high standards for compliance, documentation, supervision, and medically necessary care. This initiative reflects a collective commitment to advancing industry standards and strengthening data transparency across applied clinical settings, and reinforcing a call to action for continued progress in quality and transparency across the field.

To support scientific comparability and methodological cohesion with published research, the participating organizations independently aligned their methods to the Eldevik et al. (2026) framework. Each organization analyzed its own data using generally accepted scientific methods, without coordination of analytic decisions or exchange of competitively sensitive information.

Participation was limited to the analysis of the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales – Third Edition (Vineland-3; Sparrow, Cicchetti, & Saulnier, 2016), a norm-referenced measure of communication, socialization, and daily living skills, which were consistently collected across all contributing organizations and referenced in the Eldevik et al. (2026) publication. While organizations employed multiple approaches to assess clinical outcomes within their own independent evaluations, the use of the common, pre-established measure (Vineland-3) enabled alignment of insights without compromising analytical independence or competitive safeguards.

The participating ABA organizations emphasized that this effort is rooted in a shared belief in data transparency as a driver of quality. By openly examining outcomes and aligning methodologies, the independent organizations voluntarily participating in a non-exclusive collaboration aim to set a precedent for increased accountability and collaboration across the field.

“Families, clinicians, payors, and communities all benefit when our field is willing to examine outcomes openly and learn together. This collaboration is rooted in the belief that transparency drives quality,” commented Dennis Dixon, Chief Clinical Officer at 360 Behavioral Health.

The results of this effort supported the applicability of the CASP treatment intensity benchmarks within real-world, applied service delivery environments. Participating organizations found that, when examined under consistent parameters, their outcomes were generally consistent with previously published benchmarks, reinforcing the relevance of these standards in guiding effective care.

“This effort reflects a shared dedication to validating the scientific and clinical assumptions that guide our work,” said Leah Felty, Chief Clinical Officer at ACES. “With each organization independently evaluating its performance against publicly available benchmarks, we can continuously improve, elevate the standards in the treatment of autism, and strengthen our ability to deliver high-quality, evidence-based care.”

“While there is more work to be done, this collaboration represents a concrete step toward building consensus in established outcome sets,” noted Kristine Rodriguez, Chief Clinical Officer for Autism Learning Partners. “This iterative process elevates the standard of care that families can expect from ABA services.”

The organizations applied similar analytical approaches consistent with published research standards, prioritizing integrity, consistency, and comparability across individual datasets. This alignment enabled meaningful cross-organizational discussion while maintaining the highest standards for data stewardship.

“By aligning around sound methodologies and sharing what we learn, we can help set a higher bar for accountability, continuous improvement, and evidence-informed care across ABA,” noted Hanna Rue, Chief Clinical Officer at LEARN Behavioral.

“Advancing clinical outcomes in autism care requires a shared commitment across the entire ecosystem of support surrounding a child. When stakeholders collaborate, we create a stronger foundation for measuring meaningful progress, accelerating innovation, and delivering the highest quality care. Collaboration is not simply a strategy—it is essential to improving the lives and long-term outcomes for children,” said Adam Hahs, Chief Clinical Officer at Caravel Autism Health.

This initiative underscores a broader mission shared by the participating organizations:

  • To create conversations around quality within the field of ABA

  • To advance data transparency and comparability while maintaining strict data privacy, aggregation, and independence safeguards

  • To further the science of ABA through applied, real-world data

  • To contribute to the broader scientific discussion around industry benchmarks

“Field advancement depends on our willingness to learn from real-world data. Efforts like this allow us to move beyond isolated findings and toward a more practice-informed understanding of what drives meaningful outcomes,” said Jana Sarno, Chief Clinical Officer of Hopebridge.

The contributors hope this effort will encourage additional organizations to engage in similar transparency initiatives, ultimately strengthening outcomes for individuals receiving ABA services and enhancing trust across consumers. Jeanine Weichelt, CCO of Helping Hands Family, emphasized that “the future of autism care relies on our ability to prove that our services produce tangible meaningful improvements by rigorously measuring clinical outcomes and ensuring high-quality care.”

This initiative is limited to independent, retrospective analysis of de-identified data for research and quality improvement purposes. Participating organizations remain independent competitors and did not coordinate on pricing, service offerings, reimbursement strategies, or other competitively sensitive business practices.

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