Kyo - Austin

Kyo, formerly known as Gateway Learning Group, is a national leader in autism therapy that has maintained a strong, personalized presence in Austin, Texas, since its founding in 2005. The organization was co-founded by Melissa Willa, MA, BCBA, a former special education teacher whose life was changed by working with children with autism. Melissa witnessed firsthand the immense struggle families faced in accessing effective, evidence-based intervention, and she felt a deep calling to create a multidisciplinary home for high-quality care. Kyo was built on a foundation of autism acceptance, with a core mission of helping children reach their potential by leveraging their unique gifts and personal interests. Today, Kyo is a prominent name in the ABA community, known for integrating a sophisticated developmental framework with naturalistic ABA principles to provide a therapy experience that is as fun and engaging as it is clinically effective.

The "Kyo way" is defined by a naturalistic, child-centric approach that significantly diverges from the older, more rigid models of behavior therapy. Their methodology, which aligns closely with Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBI), focuses on teaching vital skills within the context of play and everyday activities. At Kyo, a therapy session might look like playing at a neighborhood park in Westlake or baking cookies in a family kitchen in Cedar Park—transforming these ordinary moments into rich opportunities for learning. By following the child's lead and using what motivates them—whether it's a passion for dinosaurs or a love of music—Kyo ensures that children are active, joyful, and intrinsically motivated to communicate and socialize. This naturalistic focus not only makes therapy more enjoyable for the child but also drastically improves the generalization of skills across different settings and people.

Kyo’s clinical excellence is supported by an industry-leading Scientific Advisory Board, featuring world-renowned researchers like Dr. Catherine Lord, PhD. This partnership ensures that every clinical program is grounded in the latest peer-reviewed research and high-quality patient outcomes. In Austin, Kyo serves a vast area, providing in-home, school-based, and community-based services from Buda to Round Rock and everywhere in between. Their use of technology is another key differentiator; the Kyo Care mobile app provides families with a convenient and transparent way to manage their child's treatment, track progress, and communicate with their clinical team in real-time. This emphasis on convenience and accessibility helps reduce the logistical burden on families, making it easier to integrate intensive therapy into their daily lives.

The staff at Kyo is described by both parents and industry peers as some of the most qualified and compassionate individuals in the field. Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) design and oversee every individualized treatment plan, providing intensive supervision and live modeling to the behavior therapists who work directly with the children. Kyo places a heavy emphasis on parent coaching, viewing it not as an "add-on" but as a core component of a child's success. Through 1:1 sessions, parents learn customized ABA strategies that align with their family’s specific goals and values, empowering them to become their child’s most effective advocates. Kyo is committed to broad accessibility, participating as an in-network provider with most major private insurance companies, as well as TRICARE and Medicaid. For Austin families seeking a sophisticated, technology-enabled, and deeply compassionate partner in their child’s development, Kyo offers a "different kind of ABA" that celebrates the individual and prioritizes meaningful, life-changing progress.