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(Dubuque, IA – June 26, 2024) – Hills & Dales, a leading nonprofit and disability provider in both the area and State of Iowa, proudly commemorates a decade of transformative autism services. Since 2014, Hills & Dales has been at the forefront of supporting individuals with autism and their families through Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy and has now become the third largest nonprofit provider of autism services within Iowa.
In June of 2014 Hills & Dales began offering Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy for six clients through a handful of staff members. Ten years later, the Hills & Dales Autism Program now supports 60 children in three clinics in Dubuque, Dyersville and Maquoketa. This growth throughout the years is due to Hills & Dales continuously adapting its program to reflect the latest best practices in the field of autism services and ABA therapy.
Throughout the past 10 years, over 130 clients have been supported through nearly 95,000 treatment sessions. The organization's team of dedicated professionals is led by Laura Keehner, and includes nine master’s level Board Certified Behavior Analysts, and 30 Behavior Technicians.
"This 10-year milestone is a testament to our ongoing commitment to the autism community," said Jack Mescher, CEO of Hills & Dales. "We are incredibly proud of the impact we have made and remain steadfast in our mission to meet the increased demand and the needs of individuals with autism and their families throughout the area."
This milestone comes on the heels of a significant year for the organization as the Weber Autism Center, a $3.1 million state-of-the-art center located at 1660 Embassy West Drive, Dubuque, opened and is now fully operational. The new clinic environment matches the quality of delivery of services and offers a safe, functional, and sensory friendly environment for clients of all ages and abilities. The space allows for growth and continued expansion to meet the needs of the community, as the CDC currently reports the diagnosis rate of autism now stands at 1 in 36 children.

Hills & Dales is a Dubuque based nonprofit with more than 50 years dedicated to building meaningful lives for individuals with disabilities by offering services that support the whole person and enhance community inclusion. To learn more about Hills & Dales or autism services provided by the organization, call 563-556-7878 or visit hillsdales.org.