Serving Underserved Communities: MATS’ Mission and Commitment to Accessible ABA
Published by Myers Assessment and Therapeutic Services (MATS)
At Myers Assessment and Therapeutic Services, our mission goes beyond providing excellent ABA therapy. We’re committed to making quality services accessible to ALL families, regardless of background, location, or resources.
This commitment is central to everything we do. Here’s why equity matters and how we’re actively working to break down barriers to care.
The Problem: Systemic Barriers to ABA Services
Despite ABA being the gold standard treatment for Autism, many families in underserved communities face significant obstacles:
1. Geographic Barriers
Most ABA providers cluster in affluent areas, leaving rural communities and urban centers with limited access. This often results in families driving 1-2 hours each way, leading to delayed treatment and missed critical early intervention windows.
2. Financial Barriers
The high cost of ABA is prohibitive. Even with insurance, high deductibles and copays create a burden. Critically, we recognize that not all providers accept essential plans like Medicaid, which is a lifeline for low-income families.
3. Cultural and Language Barriers
The lack of providers with cultural competence and the prevalence of language barriers can make families feel unwelcome, leading to inappropriate assessments and treatment plans that do not align with family values.
4. Knowledge Barriers
Many families lack awareness of early signs of Autism, the benefits of ABA therapy, or how to navigate the complex insurance and authorization process, resulting in delayed diagnosis and treatment.
MATS’ Commitment to Accessibility
We actively work to address these barriers through our service model:
Geographic Accessibility: We Come to You
We prioritize Natural Environment Teaching, which means our therapists come to your home, school, or local community settings.
- Home-based services eliminate transportation barriers.
- We are actively expanding our service area to communities like Tyrone and McDonough, serving historically underserved and rural areas of Georgia.
- We offer flexible scheduling to accommodate working families.
Financial Accessibility: Serving All Families
| Insurance Plans We Accept | Commitment |
| Medicaid (Georgia) | Serving low-income families is a core part of our mission. |
| Major Private Payers | Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), UnitedHealthcare (UHC), Amerigroup, Cigna, Aetna, etc. |
| Commitment | We verify benefits at no cost and actively assist families in navigating the complex insurance authorization process. |
Cultural Responsiveness & Family Partnership
Our practice is rooted in cultural humility. We ensure:
- Family input drives treatment planning to ensure goals are socially significant and honor family values and traditions.
- Staff receive continuous training in cultural competence.
- We seek partnership, not prescription, recognizing that families are the experts on their child.
Education and Advocacy
We help break down complexity by offering:
- Free consultations to explain the ABA process.
- Support with insurance documentation and paperwork.
- Educational Support and Advocacy for families navigating the IEP process.
- Community outreach to raise awareness about Early Signs of Autism.
Real Stories of Access and Impact
Our commitment is best illustrated by the families we serve:
- Rural Access: The Martinez Family, living 45 minutes from any provider, now receives 25 hours of home-based therapy weekly, eliminating the transportation burden.
- Working Parents: Single Mom Sarah receives Medicaid-covered services scheduled around her two jobs, ensuring her daughter gets care without compromising family stability.
- Cultural Trust: The Johnson Family, initially hesitant about ABA, built trust with MATS through transparent, culturally respectful collaboration, and have been with us for two years.
The Bigger Picture: Why This Matters
Every child deserves access to evidence-based treatment. When barriers based on geography, income, or race prevent families from receiving care, we fail them. Early Intervention changes trajectories. Missing critical early years due to access barriers has lifelong consequences.
At MATS, we believe quality ABA therapy should be accessible to all families who need it. Period.
Ready to Access Services? We’re Here for You
If you’re worried you won’t qualify or can’t access services, contact us anyway. Let’s discuss your situation and see how we can help.
Contact MATS Today:
- Phone: (770) 629-4660
- Email: intake@myersassessment.com
- Website: www.myersassessment.com
No family should face Autism alone. Quality care should be accessible to everyone. That’s not just our mission—it’s our daily commitment.
