Center for Autism and Related Disorders
The Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD) is among the largest autism treatment organizations in the world. Founded in 1990 by Doreen Granpeesheh, CARD provides a range of services for children and adults on the autism spectrum. These services include home-based, early intensive behavioral interventions based on the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA), as well as diagnostic and psychological assessments. History. Granpeesheh studied under Psychology Professor Ivar Lovaas, a pioneer in autism studies, credited with first applying applied behavioral analysis (ABA) to autism treatment. In 1987 at UCLA, while Granpeesheh  was a graduate student, Lovaas published a seminal study in the field of autism and behavioral intervention. In the study, Lovaas, Granpeesheh and their colleagues developed intensive one-on-one behavioral interventions for children with autism. Those in the test group received 40 hours per week of treatment, along with 10 to 15 hours of home-based intervention led by their parents. Granpeesheh used the concepts to found CARD in 1990. Initially, CARD was one of the only autism treatment providers in the nation to offer intensive ABA interventions. The study - formed the theoretical basis for CARD's treatment program . CARDs philosophy and behavioral approach summarized: While Granpeesheh believes that all people with ASDs are capable of learning and recovery, she states there is currently no way to predict the outcome of treatment for any individual. She claims that over the years, “several hundred” clients -- out of many thousands treated -- have progressed to the point that they no longer meet the criteria for an autism diagnosis. The Blackstone Group, a private equity firm, acquired CARD in 2018. Granpeesheh and the management at CARD invested in the company alongside Blackstone, and Granpeesheh remains the CEO of CARD. As of 2021, CARD  is currently the largest autism treatment provider in the world, with 235 clinics across 27 states. Behavioral treatment. CARD applies Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), as a form of autism intervention therapy pioneered by Ivar Lovaas called the Lovaas technique that focuses on encouraging appropriate behaviors while discouraging destructive behaviors. CARDs treatment is commonly referred to as early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI). Most of the clients treated at CARD enter the program at the age of two and receive intensive services over the course of four years, with the ultimate goal of recovery at age six. For these children, the first  year of treatment consists of intensive work on language and behavior with progression into social skills in the second year, more abstract cognitive and executive functioning skills in the third, and a gradual fade-out of services in the final year. The intensive services are usually provided initially in the child's home, with a transition to the child's school and community as the child's age allows. For older clients, aged ten to twenty-one, CARD focuses on independent living skills, successful employment, development of leisure activities, friendships and attending school. CARDs curriculum, as described by Granpeesheh, addresses  all areas of human functioning across the following eight domains: language, play, social skills, motor, academic, adaptive skills, cognition and executive functioning. A 2021 evaluation of autism research concluded that thousands of studies have demonstrated positive outcomes of ABA-based interventions and procedures for individuals diagnosed with ASD. Further ABA-based intervention is widely recognized as the most effective intervention and has endorsements from multiple organizations including Autism Speaks, The Association for Behavior Analysis International, the United States Surgeon General, National Institute of Mental Health and the American Psychological Association. Documentary. Staff members at CARD, as well as four families  whose children received treatment from them, were featured in the documentary "". It was directed and edited by Michele Jaquis in collaboration with Granpeesheh. The film won the Best Documentary award at the 2008 Director's Chair Film Festival.