25 Years of Love and Growth at Behavioral Innovations

Author: Lori Russo, Co-Founder & Vice President of Learning and Development 

As we celebrate 25 years of Behavioral Innovations, my heart is full of gratitude and pride. What started as a small dream shared by three friends—me, Billy Edwards, and Carla Edwards—has grown into something truly special. Together, we’ve built a place where children with autism and their families can find care, hope, and a brighter future.

A Dream Built on Care

In 2000, Carla, Billy, and I came together with a shared vision to create Behavioral Innovations. We were driven by a deep passion for providing critical services to children with autism. In the beginning, we offered office-based consultative services, supporting families through in-home therapy programs. It was a simple yet powerful model, built on trust and collaboration with families who were looking for answers and support.

In 2003, we reached an exciting milestone by opening our first center in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, located in Farmers Branch. It was a big leap for us, but we knew that having a dedicated space for children and families would create a better experience for everyone involved. We poured our hearts into assembling a team of administrators, therapists, program managers, and BCBAs who shared our commitment to excellence and compassion. These early years were a time of learning, growth, and hard work as we built a foundation for what Behavioral Innovations would become.

A Family Effort

Building Behavioral Innovations wasn’t just a professional journey; it was a family one, too. Carla and I have so many memories from those early days. I’ll never forget the times we loaded up U-Hauls and drove them ourselves, delivering furniture and supplies to make sure each center was ready to serve families! It was exhausting but rewarding because we knew every effort mattered.

My mom played a huge role in helping us manage the administrative side in those early days, essentially working for free because, as she put it, she wanted to “make sure our kids and staff got what they needed and deserved.” It’s a powerful reminder of the love and sacrifice that built this organization.

The Heart of Our Success

Our team is the heartbeat of Behavioral Innovations. Every therapist, clinician, and staff member bring so much care and passion to what they do. It’s their dedication that has helped so many children achieve milestones that once seemed out of reach.

One of the stories that always fills me with pride is about a child who came to us on the spectrum, full of potential but struggling to navigate their world. With the help of our team and the child’s own determination, they are now thriving in a position with a government agency! Stories like this remind us why we do what we do—because every child deserves the chance to achieve their dreams.

Growing Together

From our first center to over 80 locations today, our journey has been about so much more than numbers. Every new center means more children getting the help they need and more families finding hope. It’s about creating spaces where kids can thrive, and dreams can come true.

Looking Ahead

As we move forward, our mission remains the same: to help every child reach their full potential. We’ll keep growing, innovating, and finding new ways to bring care and compassion to families who need us.

To our families, thank you for trusting us with your children. To our team, thank you for giving your all every single day. Together, we’ve built something truly beautiful, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.

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