How we became a global movement.
ABA World began in 2015 as a research initiative at the University of Houston-Clear Lake Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, founded by Loukia Tsami, a board-certified behavior analyst born in Greece who had seen firsthand that families in dozens of countries had no meaningful access to autism services.
What started with families in Greece and Turkey, expanded to Russia, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Mexico, Costa Rica, China, Ghana, Liberia, Cameroon, Nigeria, and kept growing. Today, ABA World has delivered services to families in more than 50 countries across six continents.
In December 2024, ABA World became an independent nonprofit corporation in the state of Texas, with UHCL continuing as fiscal sponsor while full 501(c)(3) status is in progress.
In April 2026, ABA World launched premium clinical services, exclusive assessments, diagnostic evaluations, and expert consultations, to sustain and expand a decade of community work. Profits support the mission: free screenings, pro bono services, and global capacity building.
We value our partners, collaborators, and volunteers deeply. We believe meaningful progress comes through rigorous research, and we work to document our projects in peer-reviewed publications. Every initiative is guided by cultural humility and grounded in our commitment to transparency.