Centennial provider guide, updated September 14, 2026

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

Eight of the nine providers below take children under 3, and six offer therapy in your home. Centennial has a cluster of ABA centers near Inverness and South Havana Street, and several of them work with children well under 3.

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
13 providers

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

ABA therapy in Centennial: 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. Behavior Frontiers
In-homeCenterSchoolDaycare or community
Birth to 25 years
Yes
Required, two sessions a month
Website says yes
Not stated
want a center for kids under 6 with required parent training
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. 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
5. ACES ABA
In-homeCenterSchoolDaycare or communityTelehealth
From 18 months
From 18 months
At least 1 hour a month recommended
Not stated
Not stated
want home, center or school ABA from a long-running Colorado provider
6. Mindcolor Autism Centers
Center
2 to 9 years
From 2 years
Monthly family guidance sessions
On the state list
Mentions a waitlist
want a full-day center program for ages 2 to 9
7. Success On The Spectrum
In-homeCenterSchoolDaycare or community
Up to 18 years
Yes
Required weekly BCBA meetings
Not stated
Not stated
want to watch sessions live from a parent viewing room
8. 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
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 Centennial 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, eight 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 Centennial, 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 Centennial: 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 is an in-home ABA practice. Therapy happens in your living room, your kitchen and the bathroom your child actually uses, with a behavior technician in the room and a BCBA running the plan. We work with families across Centennial, Englewood and Greenwood Village. Here is our page on in-home ABA therapy in Centennial.

What therapy looks like for a young child

We see children from 18 months up to 18 years. Early sessions for a toddler center on play and daily routines, using Natural Environment Teaching, so new skills show up during meals, bath time and getting dressed. Sessions are play-based and assent-based. Your child can take breaks, and we do not use punishment-based techniques.

Parent coaching and the same therapist

Every plan includes structured parent coaching, typically 10 to 20% of treatment hours. That time is for you: how to prompt a request, how to handle a transition, what to do when a meltdown starts. We also keep the same technician with your child from week to week.

Who runs your child's plan

Rachel Blackburn, BCBA, leads the clinical team. Your child's BCBA starts with a VB-MAPP or ABLLS-R assessment at home, then supervises about 20% of therapy hours, four times the BACB minimum. Each session is recorded in CentralReach, so progress shows up as data you can see.

School, insurance and start times

When a child is in school, we reach out to the school and work to get our therapist in the classroom. Access depends on the district's rules for outside providers, so we cannot promise it, but we ask. More on how that works: school-based ABA in Centennial.

On insurance: Health First Colorado (Medicaid) is accepted under Provider Types 83 and 84, and so are Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Anthem BCBS and TRICARE. The benefits check is free. There is no balance billing, and most Health First Colorado families pay nothing out of pocket. No waitlist. Most families finish intake in a couple of weeks and begin as soon as authorization clears.

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 Centennial

2Behavior Frontiers

Fits families who want a center for kids under 6 with required parent training

Behavior Frontiers has a Centennial center for children from birth to 6 and offers in-home ABA up to age 25. Parents attend two required family guidance sessions a month. The company was founded by a BCBA in 2004 and accepts Medicaid and major plans. Its center closest to Centennial is at 7200 S Alton Way, STE A-100, Centennial, CO 80112.

Worth a call if your child is under 6 and you want a structured, parent-involved program.

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

Setting
In-home, Center, School, Daycare or community
Ages
Birth to 25 years
Under 3
Yes
Parent involvement
Required, two sessions a month
Health First Colorado
Website says it accepts Medicaid
Availability
Not published
Nearest location
7200 S Alton Way, STE A-100, Centennial, CO 80112

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 Centennial is at 1 Inverness Drive East, Suite 200, Englewood, CO 80112.

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
1 Inverness Drive East, Suite 200, Englewood, CO 80112
A child's hand placing pieces on a shape sorter

4Key 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. Its center closest to Centennial is at 6855 South Havana St, Suite 150, Centennial, CO 80112.

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
Nearest location
6855 South Havana St, Suite 150, Centennial, CO 80112

5ACES ABA

Fits families who want home, center or school ABA from a long-running Colorado provider

ACES ABA has operated in Colorado since 2009 and serves children from 18 months at home, in centers and at school. Therapy is play-based and child-led, with methods including DTT, NET and PECS. ACES recommends at least an hour of parent training a month and offers Spanish-language services. Its center closest to Centennial is at 8008 E Arapahoe Court, Suite 110, Centennial, CO 80112.

Worth a call if you want a provider with both a center and in-home option and a long Colorado track record.

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

Setting
In-home, Center, School, Daycare or community, Telehealth
Ages
From 18 months
Under 3
Yes
Parent involvement
At least 1 hour a month recommended
Health First Colorado
Not stated
Availability
Not published
Nearest location
8008 E Arapahoe Court, Suite 110, Centennial, CO 80112

6Mindcolor Autism Centers

Fits families who want a full-day center program for ages 2 to 9

Mindcolor runs center programs in age bands: Growing Minds for ages 2 to 5, with 6 to 8 hours a day, and Colorful Connections for ages 6 to 9. It offers diagnostic evaluations and accepts TRICARE and Medicaid. Its intake depends on openings at each center, so ask about the wait when you call. Its center closest to Centennial is at 359 Inverness Dr S, Suite J, Englewood, CO 80112.

Worth a call if you want a full-day, school-like center schedule and can wait for an opening if there is one.

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

Setting
Center
Ages
2 to 9 years
Under 3
Yes
Parent involvement
Monthly family guidance sessions
Health First Colorado
On the state provider list
Availability
Website mentions a waitlist
Nearest location
359 Inverness Dr S, Suite J, Englewood, CO 80112

7Success On The Spectrum

Fits families who want to watch sessions live from a parent viewing room

Success On The Spectrum offers ABA at its centers, at home and at school, up to age 18. Parents can watch sessions live from a viewing room, and weekly parent training with a BCBA is required. It also offers diagnostic services. Its center closest to Centennial is at 7562 South University Blvd Unit FF, Centennial, Colorado 80122.

Worth a call if seeing every session matters to you and you can commit to a weekly meeting.

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

Setting
In-home, Center, School, Daycare or community
Ages
Up to 18 years
Under 3
Yes
Parent involvement
Required weekly BCBA meetings
Health First Colorado
Not stated
Availability
Not published
Nearest location
7562 South University Blvd Unit FF, Centennial, Colorado 80122

8BlueSprig 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.

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

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 Centennial is at 9000 E. Nichols Ave, Suite 100, Centennial, CO 80112.

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, source 3), 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
9000 E. Nichols Ave, Suite 100, Centennial, CO 80112

What ABA therapy services in Centennial publish, counted

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

Take children under 38 of 9
Offer therapy in your home6 of 9
Offer therapy at a center8 of 9
Describe parent training on their site8 of 9
Publish anything about a waitlist3 of 9
Appear on the Health First Colorado provider list4 of 9

Counts include Budding Futures. "Publish anything about a waitlist" means the site says there is, or is not, a waitlist; two say there is none. Separately, 13 providers on the state's Pediatric Behavioral Therapies list name Centennial in their service area, and 12 more name only the county.

Autism therapy and care for children under 3 in Centennial

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 Arapahoe County, the local agency is Developmental Pathways (303-360-6600). 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 Centennial.

At age 3, the school side takes over. Centennial addresses fall under Cherry Creek Schools or Littleton Public Schools. Cherry Creek's Autism and Severe Needs Support Team consults on autism programming district-wide, and both districts run Child Find for ages 3 to 5.

If your child has Health First Colorado, the state's behavioral therapy benefit does not require an autism diagnosis when therapy is medically necessary. Centennial is in Arapahoe 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 Centennial

Most families in Centennial 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 Centennial

Which ABA providers in Centennial take toddlers under 3?
On this list, Budding Futures ABA, Behavior Frontiers, Action Behavior Centers, Key Autism Services, ACES ABA, Mindcolor Autism Centers, Success On The Spectrum and BlueSprig Autism 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 Centennial?
Based on their websites, Budding Futures ABA, Behavior Frontiers, Key Autism Services, ACES ABA, Success On The Spectrum and BlueSprig Autism 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 Centennial?
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, Mindcolor Autism Centers, Success On The Spectrum and Soar Autism Center list diagnostic services on their sites.
Is there a waitlist for ABA therapy in Centennial?
On their websites, Budding Futures ABA and Action Behavior Centers say there is no waitlist. Mindcolor Autism Centers mentions a waitlist or intake that depends on openings. 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 Centennial?
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 Centennial parents search for ABA or autism therapy. We kept providers with a location in or near Centennial, 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. Behavior Frontiers: website
  2. Action Behavior Centers: website
  3. Key Autism Services: website
  4. ACES ABA: website
  5. Mindcolor Autism Centers: website
  6. Success On The Spectrum: website
  7. BlueSprig Autism: 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 Centennial

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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