Building a lifeline for families: UGA SBDC helps autism therapy service grow

In 2019, Demirci’s son was diagnosed with autism, and like many parents, he was desperate to find the best care available. It took more than seven months before Demirci’s son could begin ABA therapy services, but once enrolled the Demircis watched their son gradually improve. The experience was transformative for the Demircis.

“As we learned more about autism, we realized that autism in some form or another was going to stay with us for the rest of our lives,” said Demirci. “We decided to just drop everything and focus on our son and become a bigger part of the autism community.”

Determined to ensure that other families wouldn’t have to endure the same difficulties, Demirci left his career in corporate management and academia to start a business that would provide the critical therapy services children with autism need. With his background in international business, he had a solid foundation in management—but navigating the complexities of launching and scaling a healthcare service was a new challenge.

In 2021, Demirci connected with Robbie Parks, a business consultant at the UGA SBDC in Gainesville. His first priority was to understand his funding and loan options and to develop a solid strategy for launching his first clinic. Recognizing the unique challenges of the ABA therapy field, Parks provided Demirci with tailored market research to identify the best location for his first clinic.

“Before Robbie came into the picture, I looked at the market, I saw consultants, and very soon I realized that not many people really knew what they were talking about in this field,” said Demirci. “ABA therapy is fairly new, perhaps around 15 to 20 years old, but people still didn’t know what to do. And that really cost me a lot, unfortunately.”

Beyond business planning and location strategy, Parks helped Demirci navigate licensing requirements, develop marketing strategies and establish patient referral networks with pediatricians, psychologists and other specialists.

Recognizing the complexities of launching a health care service, Parks connected Demirci with accounting and legal services, as well as with experts in human resources and cybersecurity to ensure that Able Autism Therapy Services had a strong operational foundation.

With the support of the UGA SBDC, Demirci successfully opened Able Autism’s first location in Alpharetta in late 2021. Demand quickly grew, leading to a second clinic in Duluth, and an expansion of in-home services to Knoxville, Tennessee, in 2023. By this time, the company had expanded to close to $2 million in annual revenue and employed around 30 staff members.

“I’m just so proud and impressed with what he has accomplished in such a short period of time,” said Parks. “Idris is the ideal client—always looking five steps ahead, thinking of the ‘what ifs.’ He’d come to me and say, ‘I thought of this potential issue, can you help?’”

As the business grew, so did the challenges. One of the biggest hurdles during the pandemic was staffing. Able Autism Therapy Services could not provide its services virtually, so finding and retaining qualified professionals became critical. Partnering with the UGA SBDC’s HR experts Lisa Rackley and Daniel McCoy, Demirci developed job descriptions, employment contracts and background check procedures to ensure he built a reliable and skilled team.

By 2024, Demirci began exploring franchising to expand services while maintaining high-quality care. Michael Myers, a senior business consultant at the UGA SBDC, provided some initial guidance on navigating the highly regulated process.

“I didn’t really want to get too big or have 10 clinics under my name,” said Demirci. “But what if I could help other people open their own clinics? They could be part of this community, and they could also make money.”

By October 2024, Able Autism Therapy Services had signed its first franchise in Snellville with plans to establish 10 more franchise locations by the end of 2025.

For Demirci and his wife, Able Autism Therapy Services is more than just a business—it’s a calling. Their mission is to provide families with access to life-changing therapy, ensuring that more children with autism can develop the communication and social skills they need to thrive.

“Sometimes I’m in my office and I hear big, loud cheers from inside the clinic,” Demirci said. “Why? Because one of the kids we have been working with for a while said their first word. It’s such a great feeling.”

With expert guidance and resources provided by the UGA SBDC, Demirci has transitioned from a concerned parent to a thriving entrepreneur. His journey is proof that with the right support, small businesses can make a lasting impact on their communities.