Autism therapy demand grows From the cover
What’s happening?
Local autism services 1 Autism House 2 Thrive Center for Success 3 Success On The Spectrum 4 Lone Star College-Tomball 5 Texas Autism Academy
2978
149
Magnolia
3
6 13
The number of children diagnosed with autism and the demand for related therapy services is growing in Tomball and Magnolia, local providers said. Over the last decade, the number of students with autism spectrum disorder enrolled at Tomball and Magnolia ISDs increased by 236% and 192%, respectively. During that same time frame, total enrollment increased 62% in TISD and 15% in MISD, per the Texas Education Agency. TISD officials attributed the increase to improved identification methods, increased overall enrollment and a broadened definition of “educational need” following the removal of a state cap on special education enrollment in 2017. “We don’t see [the] increase as a negative,” Chief Academic Officer Michael Webb said. “We have more kids that need services, and we provide those services.” MISD also attributed its increase to overall growth. “This year alone, we have grown by over 4%. This trend is projected to continue, and we see the growth in other programs within the district,” MISD Chief Communications Officer Denise Meyers said in an email. At least 13 businesses and nonprofits around Tomball and Magnolia offer services for people with autism. Ly Beckham, co-owner of Success on the Spectrum in Magnolia, said she believes there are still not enough clinics to address the need. “Clinics have waitlists,” Beckham said. “We have a waitlist, … but we’re not equipped yet to be able to handle them all.”
1488
5 11 12
1
2
1774
6 MySpot 7 MySpot
DOBBIN- HUFFSMITH RD.
8 Action Behavior Centers 9 Success on the Spectrum 10 Action Behavior Centers 11 BlueSprig 12 Therapy and Beyond 13 Action Behavior Centers
249
7
Tomball
4
2978
8
10
THIS LIST IS NOT COMPREHENSIVE.
9
99
N
Tomball and Magnolia ISD students diagnosed with autism
TISD MISD
500
Percentage change between 2015-16 and 2024-25 TISD +236% MISD +192% *Region 4 (TISD) +167%
*Region 6 (MISD) +193%
400
300
200
100
0 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23
2024-25 2023-24
*THESE REGIONS ARE EDUCATION SERVICE CENTERS, WHICH ASSIST SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN ATTAINING THE GOALS SET BY THE TEA.
SOURCES: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, VARIOUS LOCAL APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS CENTERS/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Diving in deeper
Something to note
ABA therapy, specifically Discrete Trial Training—which targets behavior changes using rewards and punishments—has garnered criticism about the method’s strictness, per a 2012 study published on the National Library of Medicine’s website. Cordova said she understands concerns about ABA therapy. “At the same time, I’ve also seen it change so many lives that it’s hard to think about it negatively,” Cordova said. “I do think that we’re doing it differently. We’re trying to bring play into it so much more than I was taught 20 years ago.” At Autism House, children can work on their therapies while engaging in activities such as baking or playing outside.
Symptoms of autism vary in severity and can include delayed communication, per the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Autism House owner Jessica Cordova said a diagnosis is needed for insurance coverage, which can be time-consuming. “Someone shouldn’t even say we have a two- year waitlist,” Cordova said. Medical providers can treat autism symptoms through behavioral therapy, developmental therapy and classroom programs, among other methods, per the CDC. Many local centers offer Applied Behavior Anal- ysis therapy, Cordova said. Integrating communi- cation is also important. “If your communication needs are met, ... then the behavior will go down,” Cordova said.
Treatment options The symptoms of autism spectrum disorder can be treated through a variety of methods, including:
Pharmacological Psychological Complementary and alternative
Behavioral Developmental Educational Social-relational
Applied Behavior Analysis is a type of behavioral therapy that:
Encourages desired behaviors Discourages undesired behaviors
SOURCE: U.S. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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