In conjunction April’s Autism Awareness Month, Propel Autism announced the opening of its Midtown Atlanta location to serve children who have been diagnosed on the autism spectrum with behavioral therapy.
Propel Autism CEO and cofounder Ryan Lewis said he has a close connection to autism, and he started the company “to change people’s lives for the better.” In late 2021, Lewis left a corporate job in New York, moved to metro Atlanta, and pursued his mission to serve children living with autism.
“What we learned very quickly reviewing the trajectory of the industry is that companies are more focused on financial outcomes than clinical outcomes for the kids. And when you look at the job that we are doing, which is focused on supporting children with autism first, above profit, that to us, is so motivating,” Lewis said.
Propel Autism provides Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA therapy), which is considered the gold standard of therapy for autism. According to Autism Speaks, an advocacy and education agency, ABA therapy identifies challenging behavior and carries out a treatment plan to change that behavior.
Lewis explained that a child may be nonverbal, have self-injurious behavior, tantrum regularly, or have difficulty communicating their needs. Propel Autism evaluates a child and designs a detailed plan for each child “to support each of their unique needs on a one-on-one basis,” he said.
Propel Autism clients work with board-certified behavior analysts and registered behavior technicians to deliver holistic treatment plans tailored to each child’s developmental needs. The company accepts most insurance plans.
In the state of Georgia, Ava’s Law covers ABA therapy as a treatment for autism. The young woman behind the law is Ava Bullard, who graduated from Toombs County High School in Lyons, Ga., and attended the University of Georgia.
“[Ava’s Law] is truly transformational for families because without it, if a family is getting full time services, the cost … would be really expensive. Most families wouldn’t be able to afford the care,” Lewis said. “The beauty of the business serving children with autism is that therapy is life changing.”
