The CASP Conference is the annual gathering of the Council of Autism Service Providers (CASP), an organization dedicated to maintaining and enhancing the autism services industry. Unlike research-focused ABA conferences, the CASP Conference is the only event in the field built specifically around the operational and administrative challenges of running an autism service provider organization, while maintaining clinical excellence.
Each year, the conference brings together hundreds of leaders from ABA therapy companies, including CEOs, COOs, clinical directors, and operations teams, to tackle the real-world business challenges that define the industry.
From compliance and billing to staff retention and outcomes measurement, the CASP Conference addresses the full picture of what it takes to deliver high-quality ABA services at scale.
When is the CASP Conference?
The CASP Conference is typically held in April each year. The event rotates among major cities across the United States. Attendees are encouraged to check the official CASP events page at casproviders.org for the most current schedule, registration deadlines, and hotel booking information.
Pre-conference workshops are held on the first day of the event, running in the afternoon before the welcome reception. These half-day sessions offer deep dives into specific operational topics and are included in some registration packages.
2026 CASP Conference: Las Vegas, Nevada
April 26–28, 2026 | Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
The 2026 CASP Conference will be held April 26–28 at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. This year’s event is especially significant as it marks the 10th anniversary of the CASP Conference and features a full agenda of breakout sessions, keynote addresses, pre-conference workshops, and networking events, including a special Founders Gala.
Pre-conference workshops run on Sunday afternoon, April 26, from 1:00–5:00 PM, followed by a Welcome Reception from 6:00–8:00 PM. The main conference runs Monday, April 27, through Tuesday, April 28.
2026 Pre-Conference Workshops
The 2026 CASP Conference features four dedicated pre-conference workshop tracks on Sunday, April 26:
- Compliance — covering organizational compliance frameworks, fraud, waste and abuse, and building a high-performing insurance appeals process
- Staff Support & Retention — addressing caseload management, workforce retention, belonging, and operationalizing registered behavior technician (RBT) professionalism
- Outcomes — focusing on measuring and reporting ABA outcomes, promoting meaningful outcomes for adults with autism, and quality of life as a primary treatment variable; also includes an Autism Commission on Quality (ACQ) Accreditation Workshop
- Serving the Entire Spectrum: Focus on Profound Autism — a dedicated workshop on serving individuals with profound autism and complex needs
2026 CASP Keynote and Featured Sessions
The 2026 conference agenda includes a mix of plenary sessions and approximately 100 breakout sessions designed to facilitate collaboration in small-group settings. Featured programming includes:
- “From Barstools to Boardrooms: The Founding Story of CASP” — a special session reflecting on CASP’s first decade
- “Are You Benchmarking — or Guessing? Inside CASP’s Enhanced National Data Platform” — featuring CASP leaders and data experts
- “I’m Proof of Why Your Work Matters” — a keynote from Leland Vittert, TV journalist, NewsNation anchor, and New York Times bestselling author
- “OIG Audits of State Medicaid Applied Behavior Analysis Programs” — a critical session for compliance and operations leaders
- “Remembering Your Why: An Hour with Autism Parents” — a panel featuring autism family advocates
- Foodie & Friends networking event on the evening of April 27
The full agenda is available for download on the official CASP 2026 Conference page.
Registration for the 2026 CASP Conference
Registration is available through BehaviorLive. Early registration is encouraged, as member discount allocations are limited.
Continuing Education at the 2026 CASP Conference
CASP is a BACB-Authorized Continuing Education (ACE) Provider. Continuing education unit (CEU) opportunities are available across conference sessions for behavior analysts looking to maintain their BACB certification. CASP also maintains an online library of more than 70 courses offering over 100 BACB CEUs, including an 8-hour supervision training, available year-round at the CASP CEU Center.
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What Does LEARN Behavioral Do at CASP?
LEARN Behavioral participates in the CASP Conference as an active member of the autism service provider community. The LEARN team includes executive leaders, clinical directors, and operations professionals who attend the conference each year to engage with the challenges and innovations shaping the business of ABA, connect with peer organizations, and contribute to the broader conversation about quality and sustainability in autism services.
At the CASP Conference, LEARN Behavioral typically:
- Connects with fellow ABA provider organizations to share operational insights and best practices
- Engages with CASP’s policy and advocacy work on issues affecting autism service providers nationwide
- Explores new tools and partnerships in areas like clinical software, compliance, and workforce development
- Participates in sessions focused on staff retention, outcomes measurement, and Medicaid policy
- Supports career development opportunities for BCBAs and clinical leaders who want to grow within a national ABA organization
LEARN Behavioral’s involvement with CASP reflects its commitment not just to clinical excellence but to building a sustainable, ethical, and high-quality operation that serves children and families across the country.
Who Attends the CASP Conference?
The CASP Conference draws a distinct audience from most ABA conferences that is focused less on frontline clinicians and more on the people responsible for leading and operating autism service provider organizations. Attendees typically include:
- CEOs, COOs, and executive directors of ABA therapy companies
- Clinical directors and VP-level clinical leaders
- Operations and compliance managers
- Billing and revenue cycle specialists
- Human resources and workforce development leaders
- Program directors and regional managers
- Advocates and policy professionals working in autism services
- Business affiliates serving the ABA industry, including technology, billing, and consulting firms
While BCBAs and clinical professionals are well represented, the CASP Conference is uniquely positioned as the gathering place for the business and operational side of ABA, bringing together leaders who keep therapy organizations running so clinicians can focus on the children and families they serve.
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Topics Discussed at the CASP Conference
What sets the CASP Conference apart is its focus on practical, operational content. While research and clinical evidence inform the sessions, the emphasis is on application — how to run an ABA organization ethically, efficiently, and sustainably.
The approximately 100 breakout sessions are designed to facilitate collaboration in small-group settings, with attendees from organizations of similar size and structure working through shared challenges together.
Key topics consistently covered at the CASP Conference include:
- Organizational compliance, fraud, waste, and abuse prevention
- Insurance billing, prior authorization, and appeals processes
- Medicaid policy and state-level regulatory updates
- Staff recruitment, retention, and workforce development
- Caseload management and clinical supervision structures
- Measuring and reporting clinical outcomes
- Quality of life as a treatment goal for individuals with autism
- Serving individuals with profound autism and complex needs
- Benchmarking and national data analysis across ABA providers
- ACQ accreditation for autism service organizations
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in provider organizations
- Family-centered care and parent engagement
- Leadership development and organizational culture
- Revenue cycle management and financial sustainability
Why Should You Attend the CASP Conference?
If you lead, manage, or operate an autism service provider organization, the CASP Conference offers a level of relevance and practical value that few other events in the ABA space can match. Specific reasons to attend include:
- Tackle the hardest operational problems in a room full of peers who face the same challenges
- Earn BACB CEUs through CASP’s ACE-approved continuing education sessions
- Get ahead of compliance and regulatory changes through sessions with legal experts, Medicaid specialists, and billing professionals
- Network with executive-level leaders from ABA organizations of all sizes across the country
- Benchmark your organization against national data through CASP’s data platform and peer roundtables
- Access approximately 100 breakout sessions designed for small-group collaboration rather than large-audience lectures
- Engage with DEI and inclusion initiatives through CASP’s Conference Ally Program and related sessions
- Hear from autism families directly and reconnect with the mission that drives your organization’s work
Highlights from Past CASP Conferences
Since its founding, the CASP Conference has grown into the premier gathering for autism service provider leadership teams. With the 2026 event marking the 10th anniversary, the conference has built a track record of delivering content that is uniquely actionable for the people who run ABA organizations.
Past CASP Conference highlights include:
- Founding-story programming that reflects on how CASP grew from a small community of provider leaders into the defining voice for the autism services industry
- National benchmarking data reveals showing how provider organizations stack up on key clinical and operational metrics across the country
- OIG and Medicaid audit sessions that have helped organizations build stronger compliance programs before regulators come knocking
- Staff retention workshops covering evidence-based approaches to reducing turnover in a historically high-churn workforce
- Autism parent panels that put families at the center of the conversation and remind attendees of the mission that drives their work
- A growing emphasis on profound autism and recognizing the need for the field to better serve individuals with complex, high-support needs
- The CASP Conference Ally Program was introduced to ensure every attendee feels safe, welcomed, and able to fully participate in the event
CASP Conference Key Takeaways
- The CASP Conference is the only annual conference in the ABA field focused specifically on the operational and administrative leadership of autism service provider organizations
- It is hosted by the Council of Autism Service Providers (CASP), the leading advocacy and community organization for ABA provider organizations in the United States
- The 2026 CASP Conference will be celebrating its 10th anniversary and be held April 26–28 at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada
- Pre-conference workshops, approximately 100 breakout sessions, and networking events create a dense, high-value three-day experience for attendees
- CEUs are available through CASP’s BACB-Authorized Continuing Education (ACE) program
- Topics span compliance, billing, outcomes, staff retention, Medicaid policy, DEI, and family-centered care
- LEARN Behavioral participates as a member of the CASP community, engaging with peer organizations and contributing to the advancement of quality autism services
FAQs: What People Ask About the CASP Conference
When was CASP founded?
The Council of Autism Service Providers (CASP) was founded in 2016. Despite being a relatively young organization, it has grown rapidly into the leading trade association for ABA therapy organizations in the United States, establishing practice guidelines, accreditation programs, and state advocacy infrastructure in under a decade.
Does CASP offer individual memberships?
No. CASP does not offer individual memberships. Membership is open to autism service provider organizations, not individual clinicians or practitioners. For professionals interested in engaging with CASP, the organization offers affiliate programs for businesses and allied organizations that support the autism services industry, as well as university affiliate options for training programs.
What is the Autism Commission on Quality (ACQ), and how does it relate to CASP?
The Autism Commission on Quality (ACQ) is an independent accrediting body established by CASP. It evaluates and accredits autism service provider organizations against a defined set of quality standards, helping families identify providers committed to evidence-based, high-quality care. ACQ accreditation is a growing topic at the CASP Conference, with a dedicated accreditation workshop offered at the 2026 pre-conference. Organizations pursuing or maintaining ACQ accreditation will find the CASP Conference a valuable resource for staying up to date on accreditation requirements.
What other events does CASP host besides the annual conference?
In addition to its annual conference, CASP hosts the DC Fly-In, which is an annual advocacy event in Washington, D.C., where provider leaders meet directly with lawmakers and policymakers to advance legislative priorities affecting autism services. CASP also hosts webinars, offers a CEU library with more than 70 courses, and produces PodCASP, a podcast covering topics in autism services, policy, and ABA practice.
What is the CASP Conference Ally Program?
The CASP Conference Ally Program is an initiative designed to support attendees who may feel uncomfortable navigating a large in-person conference on their own. CASP is committed to creating a safe, inclusive space for all attendees regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. Allies are available to accompany or support attendees throughout the event. Information on the program is available through the official CASP event registration materials.
What is the CASP DC Fly-In?
The CASP DC Fly-In is CASP’s annual advocacy event held in Washington, D.C., where ABA provider organization leaders travel to meet with members of Congress and their staff to advocate for policies that support access to ABA services, fair Medicaid reimbursement, and regulatory clarity for the autism services industry. It is a separate event from the annual CASP Conference and typically takes place earlier in the year.
Can non-member organizations attend the CASP Conference?
Yes. While CASP member organizations receive significant registration discounts, including 50% off a set number of registrations based on membership tier, the CASP Conference is open to non-members as well. ABA therapy companies, autism service providers, and business affiliates from across the industry are welcome to register and attend regardless of membership status.
How is the CASP Conference different from ABAI or CalABA?
ABAI and CalABA are primarily focused on the science and clinical practice of behavior analysis, drawing researchers, practitioners, and educators across the full ABA field. The CASP Conference is uniquely focused on the business and operational side of autism service delivery, making it the go-to event for the people who lead and run ABA organizations rather than those who primarily deliver direct clinical services.
