The Arc Tampa Bay is opening a new center in Clearwater today, March 17.

  • Arc Tampa Bay opens new autism center in Clearwater
  • Center will work with kids diagnosed with autism from ages of 3-18
  • New center with use applied behavioral analysis therapy to help kids

The new facility will work with kids who are diagnosed with autism from the ages of 3 to 18. Officials with The Arc Tampa Bay said it will help fill a huge need in Clearwater.

Tampa resident, Christie Kruger, said her son Kyle was diagnosed with autism when he was 2 years old. For the last several years, he's been coming to The Arc Tampa Bay for applied behavioral analysis therapy or ABA.

And play time is all part of this kind of therapy. The Clearwater Center has a new indoor play area for the kids.

Officials said interactive and physical activities help provide sensory input and help kids like Kyle focus and learn.

Autism is a developmental disorder that hinders a person’s ability to communicate and interact, and more than 200,000 children are diagnosed with it each year.

Lorrie Cline, the executive director, said thanks to the new center, they’ll be able to help the growing number of kids being diagnosed with autism.

“The needs for these types of services is just incredible. One in 68 children are currently being diagnosed on the autism spectrum and there just aren’t enough programs in the area to meet that need,” she said.

Without this type of program, Christie said Kyle wouldn’t be doing as well as he is today.

She said he’s already shown major improvements at school and with his adaptive skills.

Christie hopes more families utilize this new center in Clearwater.

“They support the family, and what they work on are the things we work on at home or school, so they work as a team or a partner with us,” she said.

Officials said ABA therapy is one of the approved therapies for autism that is covered by insurance companies, which makes the new facility even more accessible to local families.

The new center was possible thanks to a generous donation from a family.