Georgia State Senator John Albers (R-56) and members of the Atlanta community gathered to celebrate the grand opening of Early Autism Project's new state-of-the-art Atlanta clinic located in the Shops of Dunwoody at 5500 Chamblee Dunwoody Road.

The clinic provides children between the ages of 20 months and 21 years with the highest quality intensive, research-based behavioral treatment for autism spectrum and related disorders. For more than a decade, Early Autism Project has been a leading provider of Applied Behavior Analysis therapy, which is widely recognized as an effective, evidence-based treatment for autism. Early Autism Project provides ABA services to families across the country. ABA is endorsed by the U.S. Surgeon General and American Academy of Pediatrics as the treatment of choice for autism. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in 68 children has been identified with an autism spectrum disorder. ABA therapy is covered by many private and government insurance providers.

In 2015, Senator Albers played a key role in the passing of Ava's Law, which made Georgia the 41st state to mandate insurance for children six years and younger with autism. "We worked hard to pass Ava's Law to ensure children with autism throughout Georgia have access to life-changing therapy in the home and in clinics like the one we are opening today," said Senator Albers. "Providing ABA therapy to children with autism is an important investment in their futures and the future of our community because early intervention helps children become more independent and dramatically reduces the cost of lifelong care."

"The opening of the Early Autism Project Clinic demonstrates how Ava's Law is positively impacting children with autism throughout Georgia," said Anna Bullard, vice president of government, community and business relations for Early Autism Project and mother of Ava Bullard, for whom Ava's Law is named. "The additional insurance coverage provides children with autism access to critical early intervention therapy that is typically paid out of pocket by most families. Early intervention helped Ava progress from a two-year-old who we were told would never speak or be in a regular classroom to a successful seventh-grader who is thriving in a general education classroom and no longer requires intensive treatment. The new clinic will allow Early Autism Project to provide more children in the Atlanta area with customized ABA therapy programs to help ensure children like Ava reach their full potential."

Guests at the grand opening toured the clinic, which includes a large therapeutic play area with a trampoline, slide and other items used in therapy, and individual therapy rooms with skill-building games, books and computers.