What We Do
Clinical Excellence Delivered With Heart
At Autism Optimism Illinois, we don’t just deliver therapy, we deliver hope. Every program is built from 34 years of lived experience, blending clinical rigor with unwavering compassion to create a care experience that feels less like treatment and more like partnership.
.png)
Evidence-Based ABA Therapy
Structured, data-informed therapy rooted in best practices, designed to support meaningful gains in communication, behavior, and daily living skills.
Individualized Treatment Planning
No two children are the same. Each care plan is tailored to strengths, needs, and family goals, with regular review and adjustments.
Family Coaching & Support
Therapy does not end at the clinic doors. We equip caregivers with tools, language, and strategies to carry progress into everyday life.
Early Intervention Focus
We prioritize the critical early years when therapy can change the trajectory of a child’s development with programs designed for children as young as 2 years old
Data-Driven Progress Tracking
Families see real-time progress through parent portals and visual dashboards. We measure what matters and share results openly because you deserve clarity, not just hope.
Culturally Responsive Care
Our clinics will offer bilingual services (English/Spanish) and culturally attuned therapy ensuring every family feels understood, respected, and supported.
Investor Overview
Financial Snapshot
Launching April 2, 2026, our Illinois Flagship, a 5,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art center in DuPage County will serve as far more than a clinic. It is a proof point, a clinical training hub, and the operational blueprint for our statewide network.
Built for Scale, Designed for Impact
Our financial model is created to deliver both strong investor returns and generational social impact in a needs-based, recession-resilient sector.
Flagship Economics
-
Startup cost per clinic:~$250,000
-
Positive cash flow by Month 5
-
Cumulative cash flow positive by Month 7
Per-Clinic Performance
-
Fiscal Year 1: ~$2.92M revenue
-
Fiscal Year 1 net income: ~$1.36M
-
Fiscal Year 2: ~$3.3M revenue
-
Fiscal Year 2 net income: ~$1.55M
-
Net margins: ~46%
Investment Tranched Growth Path
-
$250,000 → funds first flagship
-
$500,000 → launches two clinics
-
$1.2M → builds five-clinic network
Why It Matters
A Rare Alignment of Need, Impact, and Returns
Autism Optimism Illinois sits at the convergence of three powerful forces:
-
An urgent and growing need for quality autism care
-
A proven insurance-backed revenue model
-
A family-led mission built to scale.
We’re not just entering the market we’re rebuilding it.
Unmet, Needs-Based Demand.
Autism diagnoses continue to climb, yet families across Illinois face 18-month waitlists, provider shortages, and fragmented care. We meet a demand that’s not just growing - it’s crisis-level
A System Designed for Replication.
Our flagship clinic is more than a location, it’s a living blueprint. Every clinical protocol, operational workflow, and cultural practice is documented, tested, and ready to replicate. This isn’t expansion - it’s activation.
Insurance-Backed Revenue Resilience.
Unlike out-of-pocket models, our revenue is anchored in insurance reimbursement - creating stability in uncertain economic cycles and ensuring families can access care regardless of financial background.
Experienced Leadership & Franchise Backbone
We unite 30+ years of operational expertise with national franchise systems proven across multiple markets. This isn’t a hopeful experiment. It’s a proven model ready to sustainably scale.
Room for Professionalization.
Many markets are fragmented with inconsistent quality. We’re introducing systemized excellence -raising the standard for care, clinician support, and family experience.
Mission as a Long-Term Asset.
Our B.E.S.T. culture, Bennett legacy, and 10% pledge to Misericordia aren’t just storytelling - they’re competitive advantages. They attract top clinicians, build community trust, and create a brand families choose, not just settle for.
Our Mission & The Bennett Legacy
A Promise to Families, Inspired by One
In Bennett’s name, we are making a permanent commitment: 10% of all net profits will be donated to Misericordia Home, a beacon of dignity, care, and community for individuals with developmental disabilities. This isn’t charity. It’s continuity. While we help children thrive today, we’re also investing in their tomorrow, funding vocational programs, respite care, and lifelong support through one of Illinois’ most trusted organizations.
More Than a Clinic… A Covenant
We measure our success not just in clinical outcomes, but in families reunited with hope, communities strengthened, and a legacy that outlives us all. This is the Bennett Legacy: Love made actionable. Care made scalable. Hope made real.
What the Journey Looks Like
The Lifecycle of an Autism Optimism Clinic
Built to Open, Engineered to Scale.
Each Autism Optimism clinic follows a predictable, proven, and repeatable growth pathway, blending national franchise systems with local hands-on leadership of our family-led team. From the flagship to the network, here’s how we bring hope to communities.
Step 1
Foundation & Setup
Expert-guided launch in 90 days We don’t guess. We execute. From site selection and licensing to insurance credentialing, clinical hiring, and tech stack installation, every step is standardized, timeline-driven, and designed for replication.
Step 2
Clinical & Operational Activation
From clinic buildout to first therapy session - with staff trained, systems live, and payer contracts secured, we transition to full operational readiness. Structured assessment protocols, family onboarding, and calibrated scheduling ensure we start strong and stay strong.
Step 3
Scaling to Full Utilization
Growing to serve more familes - we scale deliberately, adding clients, extending hours, and expanding services while maintaining clinical quality, staff support, and family experience. This phase aligns directly with our projected unit economics, turning potential into performance.
Step 4
Growing Stronger Together
Excellence at scale - once at full capacity, clinics benefit from network-wide infrastructure: centralized training, quality assurance, financial oversight, and continuous improvement loops. This is how we grow stronger, ensuring every clinic delivers meaningful outcomes while building a sustainable future for families and investors.
Our Team
Guided by Experts and Advocates
Guided by Experience. Inspired by Purpose.
Our leadership is more than a team, it’s an ecosystem of lived wisdom, clinical excellence, and community trust. With over 20 advisors spanning family advocacy, franchise scaling, clinical integration, legal compliance, and community impact, Autism Optimism Illinois is built on a foundation no competitor can replicate.
A Mission-Ready Brain Trust
-
Family Voice & Lived Experience – The Borkowski family’s 34-year journey ensures authenticity in every decision.
-
Clinical & Operational Mastery – BCBAs, SLPs, therapists, and buildout experts who ensure excellence at scale.
-
Franchise & Growth Leadership – Multi-unit operators and franchise founders who’ve scaled national brands.
-
Legal, Financial & Compliance Guardians – Attorneys, CFOs, and M&A strategists who protect our mission and investors.
-
Community & Equity Champions – Advisors who ensure our care is accessible, culturally responsive, and rooted in trust.
Advisory Board Chair
Chip Borkowski
Strategic advisor with extensive experience in growth consulting, branding, and scaling mission-driven organizations.
Founder
(Owner Name)
OWNER: Add a one- to two-sentence bio here outlining background, motivation for founding Autism Optimism, and vision.
Clinical Leadership
(To Be Announced)
OWNER: Add key clinical leaders (e.g., BCBA, clinical director) and a brief line on their credentials and oversight role.
Join Our Movement
Partner With Us
We believe in collaboration. If you’re a school, pediatric office, community organization, or fellow advocate, let’s build bridges that bring care closer to home.
Clinicians: Build Your Career With Purpose
Join a team where your expertise is valued, your growth is supported, and your work changes lives. We’re hiring BCBAs, SLPs, OTs, PTs, and RBTs who believe in care that scales with heart.
For Families: Your Wait Ends Here
If you’re navigating the autism journey and need support, guidance, or a listening ear, we’re here. Join our Founding Families Waitlist to be first in line when our doors open.
Invest in Impact
Ready to fund a future where compassion and returns go hand-in-hand? Visit our FundingHope campaign to learn how your investment can help close Illinois’ care gap, for good.
Frequently asked questions
- 01
- 02
- 03
- 04
- 05
Why Autism Optimism?
What Your Journey Looks Like
We aim to remove as much uncertainty as possible. Here's what families can expect from the moment they reach out to us.
01
Intake & Insurance Navigation
Share your child's story with our team. We walk you through eligibility, benefits, and next steps.
02
Assessment & Plan
A thorough evaluation leads to an individualized treatment plan built around your child's strengths, needs, and family goals.
03
Therapy & Family Coaching
One-on-one sessions, small-group work where appropriate, and ongoing support for caregivers.
03
Progress Check-Ins
Regular reviews ensure we stay aligned with your child's growth and adjust as needed.
Guided by Experts and Advocates
A trusted leadership and advisory team ensures that Autism Optimism maintains high standards of clinical quality, ethical practice, and sustainable growth.
Founder
Founder
OWNER: Add a one- to two-sentence bio here outlining background, motivation for founding Autism Optimism, and vision.
Chip
Advisory Board Chair
Strategic advisor with extensive experience in growth consulting, branding, and scaling mission-driven organizations.
Clinical Leadership
Clinical Leadership
OWNER: Add key clinical leaders (e.g., BCBA, clinical director) and a brief line on their credentials and oversight role.