Summary

A peer-reviewed study, published in JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting, evaluated AnswersNow's fully virtual, BCBA-delivered ABA care model in 504 children and families. This is the largest study to date of this care model. Among the findings: 76% of children showed clinically meaningful improvement in adaptive behavior, and 95.1% of surveyed caregivers rated the therapy effective. The study establishes that this care model is feasible at scale and well received by families who use it. 

Introduction: AnswersNow’s Virtual, Focused ABA Care Model 

Families seeking ABA therapy for autism often face barriers to accessing care. Long waitlists are common, and are often cited as a top reason why families never access ABA care at all. Geography is another factor, with services concentrated in larger metropolitan areas and many families facing long drives to the nearest provider. And comprehensive, center-based programs typically require 30-40 hours of therapy per week, a commitment that can be difficult to fit around school and family life.

At AnswersNow, we’ve built a radical new model of care: a fully virtual, focused treatment model in which all services including assessment, direct therapy, therapy protocol modification, and caregiver training are delivered directly by a Master’s or PhD-level trained Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).

We partnered with Clemson University's Center for Behavior Analysis to evaluate this model. The study, titled "Fully Virtual, Focused Applied Behavior Analysis Services: Acceptability and Feasibility Study," was conducted by researchers Dr. William H. Edwards of Clemson University and Brittany C. Wierzba of AnswersNow. It was published in JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting on June 10, 2026, and it is the largest study to date of this specific care model.

Methodology: How the Study Evaluated AnswersNow's Virtual ABA Model

This retrospective analysis examined deidentified clinical data from 504 children who received ABA services through AnswersNow between October 2021 and October 2025. Families in the study received an average of 2.6 hours of BCBA-delivered therapy per week.

The study tracked outcomes using standardized assessment tools:

• Adaptive and maladaptive behavior, measured with the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Third Edition (Vineland-3)
• Child and family quality of life, measured with the Child and Family Quality of Life, Second Edition (CFQL-2)
• Caregiver satisfaction, captured through a voluntary 4-question survey completed by 162 families

Findings: Outcomes Across 504 Families

Across these measures, many participating families showed positive change during their time receiving ABA care with AnswersNow, and caregivers reported high satisfaction with the experience.

• 76% of children (383 of 504) made clinically meaningful progress in at least one key area (communication, social skills, daily living skills, or overall adaptive functioning).
• 81.5% of children (411 of 504) showed at least some improvement in one or more of these areas, and 29.4% (148 of 504) improved across every area measured.
• 40.9% of families with repeat quality-of-life assessments (122 of 298) reported their quality of life improved during the time they received services.
• 95.1% of caregivers who completed a satisfaction survey (154 of 162) rated the therapy very effective or effective, and 84% (136 of 162) said they'd be extremely likely to recommend the services.

Why These Results Matter for the Future of Autism Care

Autism prevalence has risen to 1 in 31 children, up from 1 in 36 in 2020, and families need care options that are accessible to them from the comforts of home and at times that fit their schedule. This study is the largest to date of its kind and shows that a fully virtual, BCBA-direct, focused model is feasible to deliver at scale. The results of the study support that it's an acceptable, workable option for the families using it, as it produces meaningful improvements with fewer hours of therapy. 

"Autism therapy is under immense pressure. Families, providers, and payors all need more flexible options to meet rising demand with fewer BCBAs," said Wierzba. "This study shows that virtual therapy, when led by BCBAs, can effectively bridge that gap to produce meaningful progress, avoid escalations in care, and support a stable quality of life for families."

We're grateful to Clemson University for their partnership, and to the families whose data made this research possible.

Read the full, open-access study here.