Caring in Action: How ABC Teammates Gave Back in San Antonio & Phoenix During Hands In Week

At Action Behavior Centers (ABC), supporting autistic children and their families doesn't stop at the doors of our applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy centers. Our work is grounded in Caring, one of our core values. We believe welcoming, inclusive neighborhoods help children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families feel at home in their community.

From November 2–7, 2026, that belief came to life during Hands In Week. Board Certified Behavior Analysts® (BCBAs®) and other center teammates in San Antonio and the Phoenix area stepped into their communities to volunteer, donate essentials, and support local nonprofits. 

What is Hands In Week at ABC?

Hands In Week is a market-wide volunteer week. ABC teammates partner with local organizations in the neighborhoods where they live and work, and where ABC families live, too.

ABC's Family Advocacy team handles the details. The team gathers volunteer opportunities in one place, completes paperwork with partner organizations, and matches teammates with events that fit their interests and schedules. The goal of the week is simple: come together to support local families.

ABC first launched Hands In in Phoenix, Arizona, in late 2025. Dallas-Fort Worth followed in early 2026. In November 2026, Hands In Week returned to Arizona for its second year and made its debut in San Antonio.

Supporting families near our San Antonio ABA therapy centers

In San Antonio, where ABC operates more than 35 ABA therapy centers, teammates logged six days of service across Bexar County. Filling 50 volunteer spots, clinical and center teammates worked alongside four local organizations:

• San Antonio Food Bank: Across three shifts, 25 teammates sorted and packed dry goods in the main warehouse and handed out meals to families at a mobile distribution site.
• Special Olympics Texas: A team of 11 volunteers organized equipment and supplies, cleaned materials, and prepared gear for upcoming athlete competitions.
• Morgan's Wonderland: Nine teammates helped the park's team organize facilities and supplies for upcoming inclusive community events at the world's first ultra-accessible theme park.
• City of San Antonio Parks and Recreation: Five volunteers cleaned up Olmos Basin Park so local families can enjoy a welcoming outdoor space.

271 pounds of food for San Antonio families

ABC families and teammates also held a food drive at select San Antonio and New Braunfels ABA therapy centers. Together, they collected 271 pounds of dry goods and pantry staples for the San Antonio Food Bank to help local families facing food insecurity.

"Our San Antonio teammates show up for families in our centers every day, and Hands In gave them a dedicated way to extend that care to the wider community," said Jonna Lang, Family Advocacy Manager at Action Behavior Centers. "Our team packed food, cleaned up a local park, and got equipment ready for Special Olympics athletes, all in our very first Hands In Week. That's our core value of Caring in action."

Setting a donation record near our Phoenix ABA therapy centers

Phoenix is where Hands In began, and teammates returned this year for Arizona's second Hands In Week. ABA therapy teammates filled 35 volunteer spots with four organizations across the Valley. Teammates from our East Mesa, Arrowhead Ranch, and South Tempe Research Park ABA centers were among the most active volunteers.

• Arizona Association for Foster and Adoptive Parents (Jose's Closet): A group of 18 teammates sorted and organized inventory at Jose's Closet. The closet gives foster, kinship, and adoptive families across Arizona no-cost access to clothing, toys, baby gear, and daily essentials.
• Special Olympics Arizona: A group of 10 volunteers supported athletes during a golf tournament at Encanto 18 Golf Course in Phoenix.
• Arizona Disabled Sports: Five teammates helped run an evening adaptive soccer event for local athletes.
• Tempe Community Action Agency: Teammates helped at the agency's food pantry during two evening distribution shifts.

The largest donation in Jose's Closet history

Five ABC centers across the Valley served as drop-off sites for Jose's Closet. ABC families and teammates donated enough clothing, diapers, and home goods to fully restock the closet's diaper supply. It was the largest single donation in the organization's history.

"Arizona is where Hands In began, and seeing our teammates and families come together for the largest donation in Jose's Closet history shows the heart of our culture," said Lang. "Caring is one of our core values. Hands In Week gives our teammates a shared way to make a lasting difference for children and families beyond our center walls."

Why Hands In Week matters to your family

Your child deserves a community that's welcoming and accessible. At our ABA therapy centers, BCBAs and Registered Behavior Technicians® (RBTs®) help autistic children develop communication, social, and independence skills that carry over into home, school, and the community.

Hands In Week helps make those community spaces more welcoming. When ABC teammates and families serve side by side, they meet real needs and build lasting relationships with organizations that champion inclusion and family well-being. Hands In Week lasts six days, but the work continues all year. ABC teammates can return to volunteer with any Hands In partner throughout the year.

Get started with ABA therapy at ABC

Do you have questions about your child's development or about autism? We’re here to help you take the next step with confidence.

• Take an autism screener: Answer a few quick questions about your child's development. Your results can help you decide whether an autism evaluation is a good next step, and our team can guide you through no-cost autism evaluation support. 
• Find an ABA therapy center near you: ABC has 450+ centers across Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Texas, including centers throughout the San Antonio and Phoenix areas. 
• Check your insurance coverage online: Find out whether your insurance plan covers ABA therapy at ABC. It only takes a few minutes.
• Get started today: Fill out a short form, and a member of our team will reach out to answer your questions and help your family navigate next steps.