Smart Start Autism Therapy Center

Available Now

You don't have to wait on insurance.

Private-pay ABA is available today, in your home anywhere in the greater Phoenix metro or at our North Phoenix center. Every program is designed and supervised by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and built into your child's daily routines. When our insurance contracts activate, we help your family transition to insurance funding.

Get in Touch Call 602-753-8443

Transparent Rates

One-on-one therapy with a Registered Behavior Technician, BCBA-supervised$85 to $90 / hour

Direct BCBA services, including parent training$150 / hour

Initial assessment with a written treatment plan$600 to $750 flat

Every family receives a written Good Faith Estimate before therapy begins. No surprises.

Our Story

Built by a family — for families like yours.

Smart Start was founded by Ray and Ashley Brown, a Phoenix couple who believe that the right early intervention can change a child's trajectory for life. We're building the kind of therapy center we'd want for our own family.

That means small caseloads, attentive clinicians, transparent communication with parents, and a space where your child is known, not processed.

"We started Smart Start because we kept seeing children at our school and in our neighborhood who needed real help and weren't getting it. We're here to change that."

How we work

Every program at Smart Start is designed and supervised by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Our therapists work in close collaboration with our occupational and speech specialists, so your child's progress is measured across every dimension, not just behavior. We coordinate directly with local pediatricians and developmental specialists to keep care aligned across every setting your child is in.

Leadership Background

Ashley Brown

CEO of one of Arizona's largest privately-owned preschool and childcare operations, where she leads operations and modernization across the business. Previously held teacher, Head of School, VP of Schools, and executive team roles at the country's top-ranked charter school platforms, with prior experience in public finance.

Ray Brown

Family co-founder who runs the business side of Smart Start, from facilities and insurance to systems and staffing support, so clinicians can stay focused on children. His background: two decades leading complex real estate development projects, and he brings that same care and rigor to building a therapy center families can count on.

Together with our incoming Clinical Director (a Board Certified Behavior Analyst), Ashley and Ray lead Smart Start as a family business: clinical care directed by a BCBA, backed by owners with decades of experience running schools and building lasting spaces for children.

Our Care Model

Integrated Early Intervention.

Evidence-based ABA therapy at the core, supported by a coordinated set of clinical and family services tailored to each child and unified under one BCBA-led plan.

Tier 1 · Clinical Foundation

The evidence-based core of every Smart Start program

The Smart Start Core

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy

One-on-one, BCBA-supervised therapy delivered in-center or in-home. Every program is built around Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention principles for children ages 18 months to 12 years. This is the window where evidence-based intervention drives the strongest long-term outcomes.

In-Center ABA: structured environment, peer interaction, school readiness. Available now on a private-pay basis
In-Home ABA: embedded in the family's daily routines. Available now on a private-pay basis across the greater Phoenix metro
School Shadowing: bridges therapy gains into the classroom

12:1 Maximum BCBA caseload

Tier 2 · Integrated Clinical Services

Coordinated specialty care, available when clinically indicated

Occupational Therapy

Sensory, motor, and self-regulation goals addressed alongside the behavior plan: feeding, dressing, play, and daily living skills.

Speech Therapy

Building communication clarity, social language, and functional expression, through words, signs, or assistive technology.

Diagnostic & Assessment Support

Comprehensive intake assessment by our BCBA, plus coordination with diagnosing pediatric and developmental specialists.

Tier 3 · Family & Community Programs

Programs that extend therapy gains into every part of life

Parent Workshops

Practical training so progress continues at home, with a minimum of two hours of family guidance every month.

Group Social Classes

Small-group, therapist-guided practice in turn-taking, conversation, and cooperation with peers.

School Transition Support

Coordinated handoff into school settings, including IEP collaboration and shadowing during transitions.

Music Therapy

Rhythm and song to support language, motor coordination, regulation, and joyful connection.

The Smart Start Standard

High standards. Published for everyone to see.

The Integrated Early Intervention model is built on operational standards we publish, because what gets measured is what gets delivered.

Maximum 12:1 BCBA caseload

Every BCBA at Smart Start manages a maximum caseload of twelve clients, a published commitment to the level of clinical attention each child deserves.

BCBA-led, integrated team

Each child's care is directed by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst working alongside coordinated OT, speech, and social specialists. One plan, one team.

90%+ authorization fulfillment

If your child's plan calls for 20 hours a week, our job is to actually deliver them. We target 90% or better of authorized hours, and we staff and schedule to hit it.

2+ hours of monthly family guidance

Every family receives a minimum of two hours per month of direct collaboration with their BCBA, because parent partnership is how progress carries home.

About the Practice

Built for quality. Run with care.

Smart Start exists to give North Phoenix families high-quality, BCBA-led ABA care from a team that answers to your child's progress. We are family-owned and operator-run, and we hold ourselves to standards we publish for everyone to see.

We plan to grow carefully, and never faster than those standards allow.

12:1

Maximum BCBA caseload, a published commitment to clinical depth

Major payors in active credentialing

2026

First location opening, North Phoenix

Getting Started

A clear path forward.

From your first call to your child's first session, we keep things simple and human.

Connect

Call or send a message. We'll set up a free 20-minute consultation to understand your child and your goals.

Verify

We handle insurance verification on your behalf and walk you through any out-of-pocket costs in plain language. Prefer to start right away? Ask about our private-pay program, in your home or at our center, with a written Good Faith Estimate up front.

Assess

Our BCBA conducts a comprehensive assessment to design a treatment plan tailored to your child's strengths and needs.

Begin

Therapy begins, typically within 2–3 weeks. You receive regular progress updates and direct access to your clinician.

Now Building Our Team

Hiring BCBAs, RBTs, and integrated specialists who care about doing this work the right way.

If you're a BCBA, RBT, OT, or SLP who's tired of high-throughput environments and ready to help build something thoughtful from day one, we want to talk.

Careers at Smart Start

A clinical home for clinicians who want to grow.

The single biggest constraint in autism care today is talent. The single biggest reason talent leaves is environments that prioritize throughput over quality. Smart Start is being built to solve both problems.

Manageable caseloads

A published maximum of twelve clients per BCBA. Real time for assessment, planning, and supervision.

Structured career pathways

RBT → Lead RBT → BCBA → Senior BCBA → Clinical Director, with mentorship at every step.

Continuing education support

CEU stipends, supervision toward BCBA certification, and tuition support for advanced credentials.

Integrated team culture

OT, speech, and behavior specialists work shoulder-to-shoulder, not in silos.

Express Interest

Common Questions

Answers for parents.

Do we need an autism diagnosis before starting?

For insurance-funded ABA therapy, a diagnosis is typically required. If you are still in the evaluation process, call us anyway. We can walk you through the steps and coordinate with diagnosing specialists so you are not navigating it alone.

What will it cost?

Most families use insurance. We are currently credentialing with BCBS Arizona, UnitedHealthcare, and AHCCCS, and we verify your benefits and explain any out-of-pocket costs in plain language before therapy begins. Families who prefer to start right away can use our private-pay program, in your home or at our center, with transparent rates: therapy delivered by a Registered Behavior Technician under BCBA supervision is $85 to $90 per hour, direct BCBA services are $150 per hour, and the initial assessment is a flat $600 to $750. Every private-pay family receives a written Good Faith Estimate before therapy begins. No surprises.

Can we start before insurance is approved?

Yes. Our private-pay program is available now, in your home anywhere in the greater Phoenix metro or at our North Phoenix center, so your child does not wait on paperwork. When our insurance contracts activate, we help your family transition to insurance funding.

What ages do you serve?

18 months to 12 years, with a focus on early intervention, the window where therapy makes the biggest long-term difference.

How soon can we start?

Typically within 2 to 3 weeks of your first call: a free consultation, insurance verification, a comprehensive assessment by our BCBA, and then therapy begins.

Is there a waitlist?

We are enrolling now for our North Phoenix center. Because every BCBA's caseload is capped at twelve clients, spots are limited by design, so we encourage families to reach out early.

Visit Us