Autism Support Brings Services, Careers to Small Towns

At Woodlands Community Lenders, our mission is to support small businesses and foster economic growth in rural communities. One of our standout success stories this year comes from Mountainside ABA, a therapeutic service provider for children with autism. Their journey showcases the transformative impact of our assistance on local job creation and service expansion.

Rather than being underserved, or having to travel to urban areas for specialized treatment, many rural residents with autism in West Virginia are now being served by Mountainside. This company, led by board-certified behavior analyst Liz Simons, provides Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy for children with autism in a growing number of smaller communities.

A Mission to Serve

According to Simons, “There is not a ton of access to autism services in general, but specifically ABA in the state of West Virginia. When we started in 2017, I was the only Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) for about a 75-mile radius from the Elkins area,” she recalls. On our twisty highways, of course, 75 miles could easily mean over two hours of driving to access basic treatment needs.”

Since its inception, Mountainside ABA has expanded from Elkins into four more regions: Fairmont, Winchester, and Inwood in West Virginia, and Winchester, VA. Simons has managed to maintain a family-feel at ABA through the growth. “Each of our regions has a team of about 10. It feels very tight-knit and accountable and team-oriented, but we have the backup leadership support of a 45 to 50-person company,” says Simons.

Creating Jobs and Opportunities

Another result of this expanded access to vital services for children with autism is additional job opportunities in rural communities. Simons shares, “The model that we use, which is pretty typical with ABA, is we have BCBAs that are supervising technicians, and the BCBAs, these people who have grown into these leadership roles are providing more job opportunities for their community because they can supervise other technicians.”

Liz recounts the journey of a mother, Erin, who was seeking services for her two sons with autism. “When I moved to the area and opened up Mountainside, I was put in contact with a family in Elkins. The mom said, ‘I’ve been waiting, I’ve been looking for ABA for years. I’m in.’” Erin’s dedication to her children led her to pursue further education, and she eventually became a supervisor at Mountainside ABA.

Mountainside’s model, with its mix of in-home and center-based services, provides stable employment opportunities. The transition to more center-based services has increased the stability and hours available to employees, contributing to higher retention rates and fostering a sense of career growth and security among staff.

Woodlands Community Lenders: A Pillar of Support

The success and growth of Mountainside ABA would not have been possible without the support of Woodlands Community Lenders. Simons expresses her gratitude for their assistance: “Lenders helped us purchase properties, but they also helped us with a couple of other really big projects over the last few years.” Their involvement has been multifaceted, including financial support and business coaching.

Lenders technical assistance played an important role in helping Mountainside ABA with marketing and outreach. Simons admits, “I have always been really bad at outreach, like very bad at it. Lenders provided funding for us to work with a marketing agency so we were able to get a new logo and mission statement, a marketing plan, and some amazing connections. We would not have been able to do that without Lenders.”

Additionally, Lenders offered vital assistance during challenging times. Simons recalls, “Lenders assisted in funding for us to work with a business coach who consults on the development and growth of ABA agencies. We would not have grown with the stability that we have without Lenders supporting us in that way.”

Most recently, Lenders provided collateral support on two mortgages, enabling Mountainside ABA to purchase properties and expand their center-based services. Simons notes the immediate impact: “We saw this huge increase in what we were able to provide to our clients, simply because we could be available more hours of the day. That in turn creates more jobs. If I can employ someone who’s going to see clients in their homes for less hours, that’s a part-time job versus the stability of a full-time job at an office.”

Looking Ahead

The future is bright for Mountainside ABA, with plans to continue expanding services and job opportunities in rural West Virginia. Simons emphasizes the importance of retaining staff: “We want this to be a career position that they feel confident in staying in for years and years and growing in whatever way they want to.”

Mountainside ABA’s journey is a testament to the power of community support and the impact of organizations like Woodlands Community Lenders. As Simons reflects, “To get support from Lenders, even just on an emotional level of, we believe in what you’re doing, and we’re going to help you get there, was so incredible.”