Every Child Is Different
Your child deserves a plan built for them
Not a template. Not a one-size checklist. A BCBA-designed program that addresses your child's specific challenges.
It is never too late to start ABA therapy. Budding Futures provides ABA therapy for teenagers (ages 13-18) with autism across Colorado, focusing on the skills that matter most as your child approaches adulthood: independence, social competence, emotional regulation, and transition planning. The U.S. Surgeon General and American Psychological Association both recognize ABA as effective across all ages, and Colorado Medicaid covers ABA therapy through age 21.
Adolescence introduces social complexity that can overwhelm even teenagers who did well in elementary school. Friend groups become harder to navigate. Academic demands increase. The gap between a teenager's social awareness and their peers' expectations widens. Many teens with autism also face behavioral challenges that intensify during puberty, including emotional dysregulation, increased anxiety, and difficulty with the unstructured social landscape of middle and high school. Some teens receive a late diagnosis and are starting ABA for the first time. Others had early intervention but need updated support for adolescent-specific challenges.
ABA therapy for teenagers looks nothing like ABA for a toddler. Budding Futures designs adolescent programs around independence and real-world functioning. Social skills training teaches your teen to initiate conversations, interpret nonverbal cues, and navigate group dynamics. Daily living skills cover cooking, shopping, personal hygiene, managing a schedule, and using public transportation. Emotional regulation strategies help your teen recognize triggers and use coping mechanisms before situations escalate. For teens with co-occurring ADHD or sensory processing challenges, we integrate those goals into the same plan. Budding Futures delivers therapy in your home and community settings where these skills actually get used.
Teenagers need to be active participants in their own therapy, not passive recipients. Budding Futures involves your teen in goal-setting so the plan reflects what they want to work on, not just what adults think they should work on. Our school collaboration program coordinates with high school teachers and transition coordinators. Our parent coaching shifts focus from hands-on management to supporting your teen's growing independence. We also help families plan for the transition to adulthood, including post-secondary education, employment readiness, and community living skills. Rachel Blackburn, BCBA, our Clinical Director, oversees all adolescent programming. Learn about our methodology and how it adapts across age groups.
Colorado Medicaid covers ABA therapy through age 21 through EPSDT. Most private insurance plans also cover ABA under Colorado's autism insurance mandate with no age cap for minors. Budding Futures verifies your benefits before your first session at no cost to your family.
One conversation. That's all it takes to find out if Budding Futures is the right fit. We'll answer your questions, check your insurance, and connect you with a BCBA who'll get to know your family.