Boulder provider guide, updated September 14, 2026

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

Seven of the nine providers below take children under 3, and seven offer therapy in your home. Boulder has ABA centers on Center Green Drive and Spine Road, plus in-home providers that cover Boulder County.

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 and child building a block tower together
27 providers

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

ABA therapy in Boulder: 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. 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
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. Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD)
In-homeCenterSchoolDaycare or community
From 18 months
From 18 months
Online Skills for Parents program
On the state list
Says no waitlist
want a national provider with center, home and school options
5. Autism Care Plus
In-homeCenterSchoolDaycare or community
From 2 years
From 2 years
Yes
Not stated
Not stated
want a center founded by a BCBA who is also an autism parent
6. Attentive Autism Care
In-home
Not stated
Not stated
Ongoing parent training
On the state list
Not stated
want in-home ABA with bilingual BCBAs
7. Center for Social Dynamics
In-homeDaycare or communityTelehealth
Not stated
Not stated
Parent education, plus a Parent-Led ABA option
On the state list
Says no waitlist
want to be trained as your child's main therapist
8. 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
9. The Treetop
In-home
From 18 months
From 18 months
Periodic parent training meetings
Website says yes
Not stated
want in-home ABA from 18 months with Medicaid accepted

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 Boulder 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, seven 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 Boulder, it is managed regionally by Colorado Community Health Alliance (CCHA).

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.

"I could see different kids having different experiences with in home vs center."

a parent on r/Autism_Parenting, on Reddit

ABA therapy for children with autism in Boulder: 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. Our therapists come to homes in Boulder, Louisville, Lafayette and Superior. Here is our page on in-home ABA therapy in Boulder.

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 Boulder.

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 Boulder

2Behavioral 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 Boulder is at 3000 Center Green Drive, Suite 120, Boulder, CO 80301.

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
3000 Center Green Drive, Suite 120, Boulder, CO 80301

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 Boulder is at 1921 Corporate Circle Suite 3G, Longmont, CO 80501.

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
1921 Corporate Circle Suite 3G, Longmont, CO 80501
A therapist giving a child a high five at a play table

5Autism Care Plus

Fits families who want a center founded by a BCBA who is also an autism parent

Autism Care Plus was founded by a BCBA who is also the parent of a child with autism. It offers ABA at its centers, at home and at school, starting at age 2, and provides diagnostic services. Its center closest to Boulder is at 2840 Wilderness Place Unit A/B, Boulder, CO 80301.

Worth a call if your child is 2 or older and a founder with lived experience matters to you.

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

Setting
In-home, Center, School, Daycare or community
Ages
From 2 years
Under 3
Yes
Parent involvement
Yes
Health First Colorado
Not stated
Availability
Not published
Nearest location
2840 Wilderness Place Unit A/B, Boulder, CO 80301

6Attentive Autism Care

Fits families who want in-home ABA with bilingual BCBAs

Attentive Autism Care provides one-to-one, play-based ABA at home and does not run a center. Several of its BCBAs are bilingual in English and Spanish. It accepts Health First Colorado and plans including Anthem, Kaiser, Cigna and UnitedHealthcare. Its office closest to Boulder is at 3065 Center Green Dr, Boulder, CO 80301.

Worth a call if you want therapy at home and Spanish-speaking clinicians.

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

Setting
In-home
Ages
Not stated
Under 3
Not stated
Parent involvement
Ongoing parent training
Health First Colorado
On the state provider list
Availability
Not published
Nearest location
3065 Center Green Dr, Boulder, CO 80301

7Center for Social Dynamics

Fits families who want to be trained as your child's main therapist

Center for Social Dynamics provides in-home ABA in Colorado and says it has no waitlist. It also offers Parent-Led ABA, where parents are trained to be the main person delivering the program, and it provides diagnostic services. Its office closest to Boulder is at 2500 Arapahoe Ave. Suite 230, Boulder, CO 80302.

Worth a call if you want to learn to run the program yourself with expert support.

From Center for Social Dynamics's website (source 1, source 2), checked September 14, 2026.

Setting
In-home, Daycare or community, Telehealth
Ages
Not stated
Under 3
Not stated
Parent involvement
Parent education, plus a Parent-Led ABA option
Health First Colorado
On the state provider list
Availability
Website says no waitlist
Nearest location
2500 Arapahoe Ave. Suite 230, Boulder, CO 80302

8Key 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

9The Treetop

Fits families who want in-home ABA from 18 months with Medicaid accepted

The Treetop provides in-home ABA in Colorado for children from 18 months, with Medicaid accepted. Parents get updates after each session and periodic training meetings. The company came under new ownership in 2025 and now operates in 13 states.

Worth a call if you want therapy at home and are comfortable with a larger multi-state company.

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

Setting
In-home
Ages
From 18 months
Under 3
Yes
Parent involvement
Periodic parent training meetings
Health First Colorado
Website says it accepts Medicaid
Availability
Not published

What ABA therapy services in Boulder publish, counted

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

Take children under 37 of 9
Offer therapy in your home7 of 9
Offer therapy at a center5 of 9
Describe parent training on their site9 of 9
Publish anything about a waitlist4 of 9
Appear on the Health First Colorado provider list7 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, 27 providers on the state's Pediatric Behavioral Therapies list name Boulder in their service area.

Autism therapy and care for children under 3 in Boulder

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 Boulder County, the local agency is A&I Avenues (303-439-7011). 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 Boulder.

At age 3, the school side takes over. Boulder Valley School District runs Child Find for ages 3 to 5 and offers a continuum of autism programming from self-contained classrooms to full inclusion.

If your child has Health First Colorado, the state's behavioral therapy benefit does not require an autism diagnosis when therapy is medically necessary. Boulder is in Boulder County, where Medicaid is managed regionally by Colorado Community Health Alliance (CCHA).

A therapist and child building a block tower together

How to get started with ABA therapy in Boulder

Most families in Boulder 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 Boulder

Which ABA providers in Boulder take toddlers under 3?
On this list, Budding Futures ABA, Behavioral Innovations, Action Behavior Centers, Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD), Autism Care Plus, Key Autism Services and The Treetop 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 Boulder?
Based on their websites, Budding Futures ABA, Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD), Autism Care Plus, Attentive Autism Care, Center for Social Dynamics, Key Autism Services and The Treetop 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 Boulder?
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, Behavioral Innovations, Action Behavior Centers, Autism Care Plus and Center for Social Dynamics list diagnostic services on their sites.
Is there a waitlist for ABA therapy in Boulder?
On their websites, Budding Futures ABA, Action Behavior Centers, Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD) and Center for Social Dynamics 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 Boulder?
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 Boulder parents search for ABA or autism therapy. We kept providers with a location in or near Boulder, 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. Behavioral Innovations: website
  2. Action Behavior Centers: website
  3. Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD): website
  4. Autism Care Plus: website
  5. Attentive Autism Care: website
  6. Center for Social Dynamics: website
  7. Key Autism Services: website
  8. The Treetop: website
  9. Health First Colorado: Pediatric Behavioral Therapies provider list and benefit page

Talk to a BCBA about your child in Boulder

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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