A new autism clinic for kids opened in this Salt Lake County suburb, meant to meet a ‘rapidly growing need’

Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital opened a new autism clinic in Riverton this week, aiming to meet the “rapidly growing need” for autism services in northern Utah communities.

The new Applied Behavior Analysis Clinic is in the outpatient building of Intermountain Riverton Hospital, and it serves children ages 2 to 6, with goals to eventually expand the age range.

The location was chosen because it’s relatively central to Utah County, Davis County and Weber County, said Dr. Casey Clay, program director of applied behavior analysis services at Intermountain Children’s Health.

The clinic provides behavioral assessments, personalized therapy and group therapy, according to a news release. Its applied behavioral analysis approach is considered the “gold standard” for autism intervention, Clay explained, helping providers understand a child’s behaviors and build on them to develop communication and pre-kindergarten skills, like responding to questions and hand-washing.

“There are greater gains if children can get services before the age of 5. That really helps them to avoid barriers down the road,” Clay said. “We hope to eventually expand that age range, as there are definitely those individuals who maybe have received a diagnosis later.”

Historically, there has been an autism “care gap” in states across the Intermountain West, where families can’t access providers who can diagnose autism and aren’t able to receive the treatment and support their children need, according to the news release. About 1 in 36 children nationally have autism, equating to about 25,000 children in Utah alone.

All along the Wasatch Front, there are wait lists for services offered through the Utah Division of Services for People with Disabilities, as well as other providers, Clay said.

Those wait lists “sometimes take up to a year, or multiple years, for children with autism services,” Clay said.

The new clinic, he said, is a “huge milestone.”

“It’s completely natural for parents to feel overwhelmed after an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis,” Clay said in a statement. “But they’re not alone. With expanded services and the new ABA center, we can help families better connect to the supports and treatments children need to reach their full potential.”

Intermountain opened the facility as part of its multiyear effort to improve services for children diagnosed with autism. A $3 million gift from Sandi Summer Hendry, along with her family and company, Minky Couture, helped fund it.

“We want children with autism and their families to know that we’re with you on this journey,” Katy Welkie, CEO of Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital and vice president of Intermountain Children’s Health, said in a statement. “With expanded autism services, we can help children thrive.”