Carroll, IA: ABA provider expands; 'western Iowa is so in need'

 Sept 3, 2025, Carroll Times: Through new building, Beyond Behavior Autism Services provides therapy options for local families

From their locations in Denison and Harlan, Beyond Behavior Autism Services CEO Alyssa Hennings noticed many referrals from families in Carroll.

“It just was mind boggling that there was not a resource available to families any closer,” Hennings said. “We have families that, had we not opened in the Carroll location, would be driving an hour, hour and a half, two hours one way to get services for their child.”

Being a mother of four children herself, Hennings said she knows the travel is not feasible for many parents. Because of the high number of the referrals, the company opened a building for Beyond Behavior Autism Services in Carroll this year.

Beyond Behavior Autism Services offers ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapy and speech therapy for clients diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. They offer treatment for clients from age of diagnosis to 21-years-old. . . .

Having a presence across Iowa, Beyond Behavior Autism Services has buildings in Ames, Bettendorf, Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Clinton, Decorah, Denison, Dubuque, Harlan and Muscatine. . . .

Morgan Hallgren, the regional director for the western region at Beyond Behavior Autism Services, said her role focuses on practitioner growth and making sure they feel supported.

Even though Hallgren is based in Omaha, Neb., she travels between the different buildings in western Iowa “to really make life good for the kids and for the staff.”. . .

With their recent expansion, Hallgren said it’s been a “delight” working in Carroll. . . .

 “Western Iowa is so in need. This is a field that a lot of people might find happiness in, that is so needed for the families,” Hallgren said. “Our wait list is beyond what we could ever serve in the near future.”

For Bartow, spending time with the children is a large benefit of working at Beyond Behavior Autism Services.

“They’re fun to be around. I love getting to hang out with the kids,” Bartow said. “Whenever I’m actually at the clinic, it goes by so fast because it’s just really nice to get to spend time with the kids and watch them grow and learn, and even being there to support them on their harder days, to help them learn skills to get through those times, it’s very rewarding.”