Beyond Awareness: A Personal and Professional Perspective on Autism Acceptance
By Angela Khater, MA, BCBA | Clinical Director at IOA
April is Autism Awareness Month, but as both an autism mom and a BCBA, I know firsthand that awareness alone isn’t enough. My journey bridges two worlds, raising my son with autism while also supporting other families through evidence-based ABA therapy. This unique perspective has taught me that real change requires going beyond recognition to meaningful action and acceptance.
The way my Personal and Professional intersect is that every morning, I help my son navigate his needs and prepare for the day ahead. Then I drive to the clinic where I guide other children through similar challenges. This dual role has profoundly shaped my approach to ABA therapy and how our company serves the autism community.
I fight every day to make sure my son is seen, heard, and truly supported. This same passion drives my clinical work with each child who walks through our doors. Advocacy isn’t just a parental duty for me, it’s the foundation of my professional ethics and our company’s mission.
As a BCBA who is also raising a child with autism, I bring a different perspective to the practice:
I understand the everyday struggles families face the morning routines, the dysregulations, the IEP meetings because I live them too.
I recognize that every child’s autism journey is unique, just as my son’s path differs from others
I know that progress looks different for each family, and meaningful goals must reflect individual needs
I see beyond behaviors to the communication attempts underneath, something I’ve learned from both my clinical training and countless hours with my son
This perspective ensures that our ABA services remain compassionate, individualized, and family-centered. We don’t just implement programs, we build relationships and create support systems that understand what families are truly experiencing.
As the clinical director at IOA our approach to ABA therapy is influenced by my experience as both a mom and a behavior analyst. We believe:
Therapy should build skills while honoring each child’s unique personality and interests
Parents deserve to be equal partners in treatment planning and implementation
Inclusion requires preparing both our clients AND adapting environments to welcome neurodiversity
Success is measured not just by behavior change but by quality of life improvements
When I develop programs for our clients, I always ask myself: “Would I want this approach for my son?” This guiding question ensures that respect, dignity, and meaningful outcomes remain at the heart of our practice.
This April, I’m calling on our community as both a professional and a mom to move beyond awareness:
Let’s push for inclusion that goes deeper than physical presence to meaningful participation
Let’s advocate for respect that sees autism as a difference, not a deficit
Let’s create real opportunities for individuals with autism to contribute their unique strengths
Let’s build support systems that serve families throughout the lifespan, not just in early childhood
As I often say when speaking to both new staff and newly-diagnosed families: “Our kids deserve more than just awareness!” This month let’s go beyond recognizing autism. Let’s advocate, educate, and work toward a world where not only my son is understood and included, but all our kids are valued, understood, and included every single day.”
My favorite part about IOA is that we’re more than just an ABA provider, we’re a community of professionals who understand autism from multiple perspectives. Many of us, like me, bring both personal and professional experience to our work, creating a depth of understanding that informs everything we do.
Angela Khater MA, BCBA, is the Clinical Director at IOA and a proud autism mom.