Aurora provider guide, updated September 14, 2026

ABA Therapy Providers in Aurora for Newly Diagnosed Kids: 9 Compared

Six of the nine providers below take children under 3, and five offer therapy in your home. Aurora spans three counties, and its ABA options range from toddler-only centers to in-home teams, so the setting you want narrows the list quickly.

Budding Futures ABA publishes this guide. We list ourselves first because we can describe our own program in the most detail. The order is not a ranking, and every fact about another provider comes from that provider's own website or the state Medicaid list.

A therapist working with a young child at a small table
20 providers

on Health First Colorado's behavioral therapy list name Aurora in their service area. This guide compares the ones parents of young children are most likely to call.

ABA therapy in Aurora: providers at a glance

Use this table to cross off providers fast. Start with the Under 3 and Setting columns, because age and setting rule out the most options for a newly diagnosed young child. Tap a name to jump to its full write-up.

"Not stated" means the provider's website did not say, not that the answer is no. "On the state list" means the provider appears on Health First Colorado's Pediatric Behavioral Therapies provider list. Checked September 14, 2026.
ProviderSettingAgesUnder 3Parent trainingHealth First ColoradoAvailabilityFits families who
1. Budding Futures ABA
Publisher of this guide
In-homeSchool
18 months to 18 years
From 18 months
Built into every plan, 10 to 20% of hours
On the state list
Says no waitlist
want therapy at home, starting as young as 18 months
2. BehaviorSpan
Center
1 to 6 years
From 12 months
Yes
On the state list
Says no waitlist
want an intensive center program just for ages 1 to 6
3. Action Behavior Centers
Center
18 months to 8 years
From 18 months
BCBA family sessions twice a month
On the state list
Says no waitlist
want a center for a child 18 months to 8
4. BlueSprig Autism
In-homeCenterSchoolDaycare or communityTelehealth
Birth to 18 years
Yes
Yes
Website says yes
Not stated
want an age-banded center program with a start in the first years
5. Behavioral Innovations
CenterTelehealth
18 months to 10 years
From 18 months
Built into every plan
On the state list
Not stated
want a center that can diagnose and treat a child 18 months to 10
6. Woven Care
In-homeCenterDaycare or community
Up to 8 in clinic, 21 at home
Not stated
Yes
Website says yes
Says no waitlist
want ABA with speech, OT and PT at the same clinic
7. Key Autism Services
In-homeCenterSchoolDaycare or communityTelehealth
From 6 months
From 6 months
Weekly parent and caregiver training
On the state list
Not stated
want in-home ABA that can start in the first year of life
8. Insight Behavior Partnership
In-homeCenterTelehealth
Not stated
Not stated
Required, usually weekly with the BCBA
On the state list
Not stated
want a small BCBA-founded team with required weekly parent training
9. Soar Autism Center
Center
Not stated
Not stated
Not stated
Not stated
Not stated
want ABA, OT, speech and diagnostics under one roof

Just diagnosed? Four things to decide before you start ABA therapy

New to ABA? ABA therapy, short for applied behavior analysis, is an evidence-based therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The goal is to help children communicate, play and get through daily routines with less struggle. Board certified behavior analysts (BCBAs) assess each child against developmental milestones and write a personalized therapy plan, and registered behavior technicians (RBTs) work on the goals in it: communication, social skills and social interaction, daily living skills and behavior. Good providers individualize that plan and tailor it to your family, so it should look different from one child, and one Aurora provider, to the next.

Home, center or a mix

In-home ABA teaches skills where your child uses them: meals, bath time, bedtime. A center offers peers, a practice classroom and a set schedule. Some providers do both.

Does the provider take your child's age

On this list, six of nine providers say they take children under 3, and some centers stop at age 5, 8 or 10. If your child is a toddler, ask this first, because it rules providers out fastest.

How you will pay

Health First Colorado (Colorado Medicaid) covers behavioral therapy for eligible children when it is medically necessary, and an autism diagnosis is not required. With private insurance, ask the provider to check your exact plan before the first session. In Aurora, it is managed regionally by Colorado Access.

How soon you can start

Waits change month to month. Ask two questions: is there a waitlist for the assessment, and is a therapist free at the hours your child needs in your ZIP code.

In-home ABA therapy or a center: which setting fits your child

If this sounds like your childLook atWhy
Most struggles happen at home: meals, sleep, potty training, getting dressedIn-homeThe therapist works on the routine in the place it happens.
Your child is 18 months to 3 and not in daycareIn-home or a toddler centerBoth work. Home keeps a young child in a familiar place; a center adds other kids.
You want peer play and a classroom-style dayCenter-basedCenters can run groups and practice-classroom programs a home cannot.
You need several hours of care away from home while you workCenter-basedA center schedule doubles as structured time out of the house.
A new adult at home is likely to upset your childCenter-based to startHome is some children's one safe space. Starting elsewhere can be gentler.
Your child is in preschool or school and struggles thereA provider that works with schoolsAsk whether they can support your child at school where the district allows it.

"In-home aba has saved my kids, and i am grateful to be able to observe all therapy so i know it isn't abusive."

a parent on r/Autism_Parenting, on Reddit

ABA therapy for children with autism in Aurora: the providers, one by one

Each write-up covers what ABA therapy for children looks like at that provider: setting, ages, parent involvement, insurance and availability, using only what the provider publishes. Budding Futures comes first because this is our site and we can describe our own program in the most detail; the rest follow in no particular order.

1Budding Futures ABA

Fits families who want therapy at home, starting as young as 18 months

Budding Futures does not have a center. Sessions take place at home, where a behavior technician works with your child and a BCBA designs and checks the program. Aurora families are a regular part of our in-home schedule. Here is our page on in-home ABA therapy in Aurora.

What therapy looks like for a young child

We start as young as 18 months and keep working with kids through age 18. For a toddler, sessions look like play: requesting a snack, taking turns with a toy, washing hands. The teaching method is called Natural Environment Teaching, and it builds skills inside real routines instead of at a table. Your child is allowed to say no. Sessions run on positive reinforcement and assent, with room for breaks, and no punishment-based techniques.

Parent coaching and the same therapist

Coaching for parents is built in, at roughly 10 to 20% of the hours. The goal is simple: the skills your child learns with the therapist should also work with you. Your child keeps the same technician, so nobody has to start over every few weeks.

Who runs your child's plan

A BCBA supervises about 20% of therapy hours, which is four times the BACB minimum. Rachel Blackburn, BCBA, is our Clinical Director. The BCBA assesses your child at home with VB-MAPP and ABLLS-R, sets the goals, and every session is logged in CentralReach, so you see graphs instead of guesses.

School, insurance and start times

School-based ABA is possible where a district allows outside providers. We contact the school, share goals with your permission and push for access, but the final call belongs to the district. More on how that works: school-based ABA in Aurora.

We take Health First Colorado (Medicaid, Provider Types 83 and 84), Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Anthem BCBS and TRICARE, and we verify coverage for free first. Most Health First Colorado families pay $0, and we never balance-bill. There is no waitlist right now. Most families wrap up intake in a couple of weeks and start right after, once insurance approval comes through.

Setting
In-home, School
Ages
18 months to 18 years
Under 3
Yes
Parent involvement
Built into every plan, 10 to 20% of hours
Health First Colorado
On the state provider list
Availability
Website says no waitlist
Location
Therapists come to homes across Aurora

2BehaviorSpan

Fits families who want an intensive center program just for ages 1 to 6

BehaviorSpan only works with children ages 1 to 6, in centers. Its model is intensive, up to 40 hours a week, and its site gives an average of 1.5 years before a child graduates from the program. The site says it has no waitlist and that Medicaid covers the full cost for eligible families. Its center closest to Aurora is at 14707 E 2nd Ave GL100, Aurora, CO 80011.

Worth a call if your child is young, you want a full-time center schedule, and you are ready for many hours a week.

From BehaviorSpan's website (source 1, source 2, source 3), checked September 14, 2026.

Setting
Center
Ages
1 to 6 years
Under 3
Yes
Parent involvement
Yes
Health First Colorado
On the state provider list
Availability
Website says no waitlist
Nearest location
14707 E 2nd Ave GL100, Aurora, CO 80011

3Action Behavior Centers

Fits families who want a center for a child 18 months to 8

Action Behavior Centers runs center-based ABA for children 18 months to 8 years old. Its site says in-home therapy is only offered in Texas, so in Colorado this is a center program. Each child's BCBA leads Family Guidance sessions twice a month, the company offers autism diagnostic evaluations, and its site says there is no waitlist. Its center closest to Aurora is at 6040 South Gun Club Road STE G8, Aurora, CO 80016.

Worth a call if you want a structured center with other kids, your child is under 9, and you may also need a diagnosis.

From Action Behavior Centers's website (source 1, source 2, source 3), checked September 14, 2026.

Setting
Center
Ages
18 months to 8 years
Under 3
Yes
Parent involvement
BCBA family sessions twice a month
Health First Colorado
On the state provider list
Availability
Website says no waitlist
Nearest location
6040 South Gun Club Road STE G8, Aurora, CO 80016
A child's hand placing pieces on a shape sorter

4BlueSprig Autism

Fits families who want an age-banded center program with a start in the first years

BlueSprig runs six Denver-area centers and offers center, in-home and school services. Its programs are grouped by age, starting with Sprouts for the youngest children and running through Trailblazers at 18. It accepts Medicaid, TRICARE, Kaiser and other major plans, and asks families to come with an existing autism diagnosis. Its center closest to Aurora is at 1330 S Potomac St Suite 111, Aurora, CO 80012.

Worth a call if your child already has a diagnosis and you want a center program that grows with them.

From BlueSprig Autism's website (source 1), checked September 14, 2026.

Setting
In-home, Center, School, Daycare or community, Telehealth
Ages
Birth to 18 years
Under 3
Yes
Parent involvement
Yes
Health First Colorado
Website says it accepts Medicaid
Availability
Not published
Nearest location
1330 S Potomac St Suite 111, Aurora, CO 80012

5Behavioral Innovations

Fits families who want a center that can diagnose and treat a child 18 months to 10

Behavioral Innovations runs one-to-one, center-based ABA for children 18 months to 10 years, with parent training as a standard part of the program. It offers diagnostic evaluations, accepts Medicaid and has Spanish-speaking staff. An intake advocate checks insurance the same day you reach out. Its center closest to Aurora is at 20971 E Smoky Hill Rd, Suite 102, Aurora, CO 80015.

Worth a call if you want testing and therapy from one provider and a quick insurance answer.

From Behavioral Innovations's website (source 1, source 2, source 3), checked September 14, 2026.

Setting
Center, Telehealth
Ages
18 months to 10 years
Under 3
Yes
Parent involvement
Built into every plan
Health First Colorado
On the state provider list
Availability
Not published
Nearest location
20971 E Smoky Hill Rd, Suite 102, Aurora, CO 80015

6Woven Care

Fits families who want ABA with speech, OT and PT at the same clinic

Woven Care is a pediatric clinic with ABA, speech, occupational and physical therapy under one roof. It offers in-clinic ABA up to age 8 and in-home ABA up to 21, has Spanish-speaking services and says there is no waitlist. It accepts Health First Colorado and TRICARE. Its center closest to Aurora is at 3131 S Vaughn Way, Suite 110, Aurora, CO 80014.

Worth a call if your child needs several therapies and you want them coordinated in one place.

From Woven Care's website (source 1, source 2), checked September 14, 2026.

Setting
In-home, Center, Daycare or community
Ages
Up to 8 in clinic, 21 at home
Under 3
Not stated
Parent involvement
Yes
Health First Colorado
Website says it accepts Medicaid
Availability
Website says no waitlist
Nearest location
3131 S Vaughn Way, Suite 110, Aurora, CO 80014

7Key Autism Services

Fits families who want in-home ABA that can start in the first year of life

Key Autism Services works with children from 6 months old, at home and at its Centennial center, which has 14 therapy rooms, a sensory gym and a mock classroom. Parents get weekly training sessions. It accepts Medicaid and major commercial plans.

Worth a call if your child is very young and you want in-home therapy with a center option in the metro.

From Key Autism Services's website (source 1, source 2, source 3), checked September 14, 2026.

Setting
In-home, Center, School, Daycare or community, Telehealth
Ages
From 6 months
Under 3
Yes
Parent involvement
Weekly parent and caregiver training
Health First Colorado
On the state provider list
Availability
Not published

8Insight Behavior Partnership

Fits families who want a small BCBA-founded team with required weekly parent training

Four BCBAs founded Insight Behavior Partnership in 2018, and the team has grown to 8 BCBAs. It offers one-to-one ABA at home and at its Aurora location. Parent training with the BCBA is required and usually happens once a week. Its center closest to Aurora is at 12331 E. Cornell Avenue, Aurora, CO 80014.

Worth a call if you want a smaller local team and you are ready to commit to weekly parent training.

From Insight Behavior Partnership's website (source 1, source 2, source 3), checked September 14, 2026.

Setting
In-home, Center, Telehealth
Ages
Not stated
Under 3
Not stated
Parent involvement
Required, usually weekly with the BCBA
Health First Colorado
On the state provider list
Availability
Not published
Nearest location
12331 E. Cornell Avenue, Aurora, CO 80014

9Soar Autism Center

Fits families who want ABA, OT, speech and diagnostics under one roof

Soar Autism Center offers ABA, occupational therapy, speech therapy, diagnostics and medical services at each center. Its ABA is based on the Early Start Denver Model, a play-based approach, and its clinicians pursue ESDM certification. Its center closest to Aurora is at 16401 E. Centretech Parkway, Suite 2, Aurora, CO 80011.

Worth a call if your child needs a diagnosis or several therapies and you want one center to handle it.

From Soar Autism Center's website (source 1, source 2), checked September 14, 2026.

Setting
Center
Ages
Not stated
Under 3
Not stated
Parent involvement
Not stated
Health First Colorado
Not stated
Availability
Not published
Nearest location
16401 E. Centretech Parkway, Suite 2, Aurora, CO 80011

What ABA therapy services in Aurora publish, counted

We counted what the nine Aurora providers on this page say on their own websites. These counts describe this list, not every provider in Aurora.

Take children under 36 of 9
Offer therapy in your home5 of 9
Offer therapy at a center8 of 9
Describe parent training on their site8 of 9
Publish anything about a waitlist4 of 9
Appear on the Health First Colorado provider list6 of 9

Counts include Budding Futures. "Publish anything about a waitlist" means the site says there is, or is not, a waitlist; four say there is none. Separately, 20 providers on the state's Pediatric Behavioral Therapies list name Aurora in their service area, and 13 more name only the county.

Autism therapy and care for children under 3 in Aurora

Start Early Intervention Colorado at the same time

Early Intervention Colorado is the state's free program for children under 3, with no income limit. For the Arapahoe County side of Aurora, the local agency is Developmental Pathways (303-360-6600). For the Adams County side of Aurora, the local agency is North Metro Community Services. Aurora sits in three counties. Most addresses are Arapahoe County and route to Developmental Pathways on East Jewell Avenue. Addresses on the Adams County side moved to North Metro Community Services on July 1, 2024, so a neighbor a few blocks north may get a different agency. Anyone can refer, including you, through the state's online referral form.

Early intervention and ABA can run side by side. The state coordinator writes the family service plan, the ABA provider writes the behavior plan, and with your permission the two share goals. See how that works in practice: early intervention ABA in Aurora.

At age 3, the school side takes over. Aurora splits between Aurora Public Schools and Cherry Creek Schools, and both run Child Find for ages 3 to 5. Which one evaluates your child depends on your address, not on where you would like to enroll.

If your child has Health First Colorado, the state's behavioral therapy benefit does not require an autism diagnosis when therapy is medically necessary. Aurora is in Arapahoe County, with the north side of the city in Adams County, where Medicaid is managed regionally by Colorado Access.

A therapist working with a young child at a small table

How to get started with ABA therapy in Aurora

Most families in Aurora go through the same five steps, whichever provider they pick. Knowing them ahead of time makes the first calls shorter and can help your child start sooner.

  1. Get the referral paperwork readyKeep the diagnostic report if you have one. Health First Colorado does not require an autism diagnosis for behavioral therapy when it is medically necessary, but a private plan may ask for one, so check yours.
  2. Ask for a benefits checkCall two or three providers from this list. Each one should check your coverage for free and tell you what you will owe before anything is scheduled.
  3. The BCBA assessmentA BCBA meets your child, watches play and routines, and often uses a skills assessment such as VB-MAPP or ABLLS-R. You talk through your goals for the family.
  4. Prior authorizationThe provider sends a treatment plan to your insurer. With Health First Colorado, a Prior Authorization Request goes to the state's review vendor, and you get a letter with the decision and your appeal rights.
  5. First sessionsThe first weeks are mostly getting to know each other. Expect play, short sessions that grow longer, and your first parent coaching.

Questions to ask ABA therapy providers on the first call

Every child with autism is different, so the right answers depend on yours. Write them down for every provider you call; side by side, the differences get obvious fast.

  • Do you work with children my child's age, and what is the youngest age you take?
  • Is there a waitlist for the assessment, and for a therapist at the hours we need?
  • Will therapy happen at home, at your center or both?
  • Who is the BCBA or lead clinician on my child's case, and how often will they see my child?
  • How is parent and caregiver training scheduled, and is it required?
  • Will my child keep the same technician from week to week?
  • Can you check my Health First Colorado or private plan for free before we start?
  • How will you show me my child's progress?
  • What does a session look like for a two- or three-year-old?
  • Can my child take breaks or say no during a session?

Frequently asked questions about ABA therapy in Aurora

Which ABA providers in Aurora take toddlers under 3?
On this list, Budding Futures ABA, BehaviorSpan, Action Behavior Centers, BlueSprig Autism, Behavioral Innovations and Key Autism Services say they work with children under 3. Ages change, so confirm the youngest age each one takes when you call.
Which ABA providers come to your home in Aurora?
Based on their websites, Budding Futures ABA, BlueSprig Autism, Woven Care, Key Autism Services and Insight Behavior Partnership offer in-home ABA. Some also run centers, so ask which setting has openings for your child's age.
Do I need an autism diagnosis to start ABA therapy in Aurora?
Not with Health First Colorado. The state's behavioral therapy benefit covers eligible children when therapy is medically necessary, with or without an autism diagnosis. Private plans may ask for one. If you still need an evaluation, Action Behavior Centers, Behavioral Innovations and Soar Autism Center list diagnostic services on their sites.
Is there a waitlist for ABA therapy in Aurora?
On their websites, Budding Futures ABA, BehaviorSpan, Action Behavior Centers and Woven Care say there is no waitlist. The rest do not say. Ask about two waits: the assessment, and a therapist at the hours you need.
How much does ABA therapy cost in Aurora?
It depends on coverage. Health First Colorado covers medically necessary behavioral therapy for eligible children, and Budding Futures says most Health First Colorado families pay $0 out of pocket. Most providers accept several insurance plans. What you pay depends on your deductible and coverage, so ask each provider for a free benefits check before the first session.

How we built this list

We started with Health First Colorado's Pediatric Behavioral Therapies provider list and the providers that show up when Aurora parents search for ABA or autism therapy. We kept providers with a location in or near Aurora, or a service page naming it, and read each one's website on September 14, 2026. Every fact about another provider matches text on its own site. If a site did not say something, the table says "Not stated." Providers change hours, ages and insurance often, so confirm details when you call.

  1. BehaviorSpan: website
  2. Action Behavior Centers: website
  3. BlueSprig Autism: website
  4. Behavioral Innovations: website
  5. Woven Care: website
  6. Key Autism Services: website
  7. Insight Behavior Partnership: website
  8. Soar Autism Center: website
  9. Health First Colorado: Pediatric Behavioral Therapies provider list and benefit page

Talk to a BCBA about your child in Aurora

Tell us your child's age and what you are seeing at home. We will check your insurance for free and tell you honestly whether in-home ABA is the right fit, even if another provider on this list suits you better.

Or call (720) 613-8837

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