Center for Autism and Related Disorders

The Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD) is an organization that provides a range of services based on applied behavior analysis (ABA) for children and adults on the autism spectrum.

Center for Autism and Related Disorders

Company type	Incorporation
Founded	1990
Founder	Doreen Granpeesheh, Ph.D., B.C.B.A.-D.
Headquarters	Los Angeles, California , United States
Area served	Worldwide
Services	ABA-based therapies, including early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) and social skills training
Divisions	Autism Care and Treatment (ACT) Today! CARD Academy
Website	centerforautism.com

CARD was founded in 1990 by Doreen Granpeesheh. The Blackstone Group, a private equity firm, acquired CARD in 2018. Granpeesheh and the management at CARD invested in the company alongside Blackstone,^[1][2] and Granpeesheh remained the CEO until December 2019, when she was replaced by Anthony Kilgore and moved into the role of executive director.^[3] In February 2022, Kilgore resigned for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Jennifer Webster.^[4] On June 12, 2023, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.^[5] The following month, an agreement was reached to sell the company back to a consortium headed by Granpeesheh for $48.5m.^[6]

Documentary

CARD produced and distributed Recovered: Journeys Through the Autism Spectrum and Back, a 2008 documentary about four children that the organization claims completely "recovered" from the autism spectrum as a result of CARD treatment, despite the fact that there is no known cure for autism.^[7][8] The film was directed and edited by Michele Jaquis in collaboration with Granpeesheh and won the Best Documentary award at the 2008 Director's Chair Film Festival.^[9]