At ACES, we’ve always believed that caregiver involvement is one of the most powerful drivers of progress for children with autism. Now, new findings from our own team are reinforcing just how crucial the type of caregiver training can be in shaping those outcomes.

Our latest research shows that children experience greater developmental gains when their caregivers participate in team-based training through our Caregiver Collaboration Network (CCN), rather than traditional one-on-one sessions. This approach is making a measurable difference—not just in clinical outcomes, but in the lives of entire families.

Why Team-Based Training Matters

For years, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) research has shown that caregivers play a vital role in their child’s development. But our study, led by Stephanie Scheer, ACES’ Senior Director of Research and Innovation, dug deeper into how caregivers learn—and what helps them apply that learning at home.

“The key is making sure the training is practical and usable in daily life,” Scheer explains. “When caregivers learn in a more collaborative, supportive environment, they’re more confident and more likely to put that training into action.”

That’s exactly the idea behind our Caregiver Collaboration Network. Established in 2021, the CCN brings caregivers together in a workshop-style setting, guided by specialists whose sole focus is caregiver education and empowerment.

From Anecdote to Evidence

Our team analyzed the experiences of families who had received traditional one-on-one caregiver training before the CCN launch, and then transitioned into the network-based model. The results were striking: these families increased their use of authorized caregiver training hours from just 55% to 75%.

“That’s a big jump,” said Scheer. “Families found the group format more engaging and supportive. It created a sense of shared learning that just wasn’t there before.”

Real Progress You Can Measure

Beyond participation, the CCN also appears to be driving stronger clinical results. In a broader study of 500 clients, children whose caregivers were part of the CCN saw an average improvement of 3.9 points on the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS-ABC)—a standardized tool that measures how well individuals function in daily life. That’s compared to a 2.5-point gain for children whose caregivers received traditional training.

Every point of progress matters, and the difference we’re seeing here is meaningful.

Supporting Families, Empowering Change

At ACES, our mission has always been about enhancing the quality of life for the individuals and families we serve. The Caregiver Collaboration Network is just one example of how we’re innovating to meet that mission—by listening, learning, and evolving to provide the best possible support.

We’re proud of these results, and we’re excited to continue building on this momentum. Because when caregivers thrive, children do too.

Read the full Press Release on Business Wire.

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