Today we’d like to introduce you to Doreen Granpeesheh.
Doreen, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I entered UCLA when I was 15. I was fortunate to take a class in Behavior Modification with Professor Ivar Lovaas. That class changed my path. Lovaas was starting to apply some theoretical principles related to human learning to children who were patients of the autism ward at Camarillo State Hospital. I was very interested in this work and I joined his lab. For the next 12 years, first as an undergraduate student and later as a Masters and Doctoral student in Lovaas’ lab, I worked with children and adults on the spectrum of Autism.
I learned a great deal from them and from their families and was fortunate to be part of the early research and seminal published article that changed the way we look at and treat autism. When I left UCLA in 1990, I founded the Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD). Over the past 29 years, CARD has grown from just me to a staff of over 5500 employees treating almost 6000 patients across 270 clinics around the world.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There have been some hardships that all led to amazing lessons. In the early years, after opening a few clinics across the country, a trusted manager embezzled funds. While it was very disturbing at the time, this event led to the centralization of accounts which was an essential step in our ability to monitor our records. Every few years, it has been essential for us to add a little more support to the infrastructure of the company so that it can continue to grow rapidly. While we have had our share of hardships, the rewards in our field are tremendous and as long as we keep learning and growing from every lesson, there is nothing more rewarding than fulfilling our mission to help individuals on the spectrum of autism.
Please tell us about Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD).
CARD provides behavioral treatment to individuals diagnosed with Autism. We have over 5000 behavior technicians and behavior analysts who help our patients learn to communicate and socialize and adapt to their daily lives with greater success. We are known for our high standards of care and for our numerous research publications showing that individuals with autism can learn and can lead normal, healthy and happy lives. Through this very rewarding work, we also provide training and employment to 5500 young individuals who are the future and will influence how society perceives autism and other disabilities.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
There are over 25 clinicians at CARD who have been here for over 20 years. These individuals are collectively responsible for the success of this company because they have held the company together and have formed a trusting collaborative network that guides and supports all of the employees.
The parents of the clients we treat have always been cheerleaders for our work. Without their support, we would not have the motivation and energy to do the work we do.
Contact Info:
- Address: 21600 Oxnard Street
Ste 1800
Woodland Hills CA, 91367 - Website: www.centerforautism.com
- Phone: 818-345-2345
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/centerforautism/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CenterforAutismandRelatedDisorders/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/centerforautism
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