Inpatient care for children with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
Helping families navigate the challenges of autism — together.
Children and adolescents with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders often face overlapping challenges, such as difficulty communicating basic needs, social deficits, sensory sensitivities, and trouble with everyday tasks such as basic hygiene, dressing, and eating. For many families, these challenges are compounded by repeated care disruptions, behavioral crises, and a lack of appropriate resources, leaving them unsure where to turn next.
Designed for children and adolescents whose needs exceed what standard treatment settings can manage, the New Directions Program provides structured, hospital-based care grounded in evidence-based clinical practice. We equip children and families with the tools and support needed to promote adaptive growth, social development, and a safe return to home, school, and community — because we’re passionate about mending minds.
A compassionate care environment tailored to children and adolescents with autism and co-occurring conditions.
Children, adolescents, and young adults with developmental disabilities such as severe autism and medically complex needs have very limited care options. Hospitals often discharge these patients quickly because of difficult behaviors — which is why Nexus is different. Our interdisciplinary team includes psychiatrists, pediatricians, pediatric neurologists, physical medicine and rehabilitation doctors, behavior analysts, nurses, case managers, psychotherapists, and licensed rehabilitation specialists, resulting in comprehensive, whole-person care.
Program features:
- ABA-informed programming tailored to developmental level and functional ability
- Specialized psychiatric assessment, treatment, and medication optimization for complex behavioral, emotional, and neurodevelopmental needs
- Occupational for improve fine motor skills, daily living tasks, and sensory processing
- Physical therapy for gross motor development, strength, coordination, and mobility
- Speech-language therapy for expressive/receptive language, pragmatics, and augmentative communication (PECS, SGD)
- Daily therapeutic groups to support peer interaction, task completion, communication, and emotional expression
- Structured token economy with defined reinforcement schedules and behavioral targets
- Individualized behavior support plans monitored by Board-Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs)
- Safe, calming spaces with clearly defined routines and visual schedules
- Sensory room with adjustable lighting and tactile tools for sensory regulation
- Concurrent education accredited by the Texas Education Agency (TEA)
Common diagnoses:
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- Intellectual disability
- Other neurodevelopmental disorders
Admission criteria:
- Admitting ages 6 up to 21
- Presentation consistent with a DSM-5-TR diagnosis for a neurodevelopmental disorder that requires intensive out-of-home therapeutic interventions
- Significant maladaptive behaviors that cannot be safely addressed in a less restrictive environment
- Symptoms interfering with family, school, community, and recreational/vocational activities
- Co-occurring medical needs that can be managed appropriately by the pediatric team and facility
Empowering families to support skill development at home and in the community.
In the New Directions Program, family education is an essential part of treatment. Long-term success depends not only on what patients accomplish during their stay, but on how well their caregivers are prepared to support continued progress after discharge.
Caregiver training is built around the Research Units in Behavioral Intervention (RUBI) Network Curriculum, an evidence-based model that provides practical strategies for managing behavioral challenges in children with autism and related conditions. Board-Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) or Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) provide supervised training, which includes both virtual instruction and in-person, hands-on education.
Training begins with structured observation, where caregivers see firsthand how staff members engage their child. Over time, families begin to work directly with both the staff and their child, practicing interventions that target the behaviors identified at admission. In vivo education — including supervised community outings — prepares families to manage challenging behaviors in real-world settings. Additionally, our rehabilitation therapists provide tailored education to caregivers based on each patient’s needs. This may include strategies for improving mobility, communication, or independence with daily living tasks.
Our goal is for caregivers to leave with the confidence and tools they need to support their child’s continued growth post-discharge.
Wonder what makes severe autism different from milder forms of autism? Learn here.
MORE ON SEVERE AUTISM
MEET A New Directions PROGRAM SUCCESS STORY.
“Maddie now lives in her own space — dubbed “Maddie’s House.” A rotating, 24/7 care staff uses the routine she enjoyed at Nexus, allowing her to achieve the highest level of independence possible.”
– Tabitha, Maddie’s Mother
Ongoing treatment planning guided by clinically tested evaluation tools.
We use specific metrics to evaluate progress with communication and behavior. Testing is conducted at admission and throughout the patient’s stay, allowing treatment plans to adapt and evolve as patients make progress.
- Aberrant Behavior Checklist: Measures behavioral disturbances and symptoms commonly associated with neurodevelopmental disorders
- Communication Matrix: Measures functional communication abilities and communication development
- DBC-2: Evaluates communication, socialization, emotional functioning, and behavioral regulation
- Modified Overt Aggression Scale-Revised (MOAS): Measures frequency and severity of aggression and self-injurious behaviors
- Vineland-3: Measures adaptive functioning across communication, daily living skills, and socialization
- Wee-FIM: Measures progress with daily living, self-care, mobility, and communication
Neurodevelopmental program services
