Denver provider guide, updated September 14, 2026

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

Eight of the nine providers below take children under 3, and seven offer therapy in your home. Denver has more ABA providers than any other Colorado city, so the useful question is not who exists but who takes a toddler, who comes to your home and who can start soon.

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 parent and toddler playing with sensory toys at home
49 providers

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

ABA therapy in Denver: 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. Play to Learn Therapies
In-homeDaycare or communityTelehealth
3 months to 6 years
From 3 months
Direct training for every parent
On the state list
Not stated
have a baby or toddler and want play-based therapy at home
3. 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
4. Children's Therapy Co.
In-homeCenterTelehealth
Birth to 3 (early intervention)
Yes
Yes
Not stated
Not stated
want ABA plus speech and OT from one company
5. 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
6. Heartland Behavior
In-homeSchoolDaycare or community
18 months to 21 years
From 18 months
Weekly sessions with your BCBA
Website says yes
Says no waitlist
want in-home ABA with weekly parent training
7. ABA of Colorado
In-homeCenterSchool
18 months to 26 years
From 18 months
A senior team member trains parents
Website says yes
Not stated
want home, center and school options from one Denver-area team
8. Autism Learning Partners
In-homeCenterSchool
Not stated
Yes
BCBA-led parent training sessions
Website says yes
Not stated
want a diagnosis and ABA at the same Denver center
9. Kyo Autism Therapy
In-homeSchoolDaycare or communityTelehealth
Not stated
Not stated
1:1 BCBA coaching with live modeling
Website says yes
Not stated
want naturalistic in-home ABA and an app to follow progress

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 Denver 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 Denver, 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.

"I toured 6 locations before finding the right fit. I didn't worry about the size of the company, I wanted to see if their methods were something I thought would be helpful for my kid."

a parent on r/Autism_Parenting, on Reddit

ABA therapy for children with autism in Denver: 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 brings ABA therapy to your home. There is no clinic to drive to. A registered behavior technician comes to your house, and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) plans and supervises the work. Our office is in Denver, off East Union Avenue, and our therapists work in homes across the city and nearby suburbs. Here is our page on in-home ABA therapy in Denver.

What therapy looks like for a young child

Our youngest clients are 18 months old, and we stay with families through age 18. With toddlers, most of the work is play. A therapist might build first words around bubbles, a snack or a favorite song, because that is where a two-year-old is paying attention. Therapy is built on play and assent. Breaks are part of the plan, and punishment-based techniques are not.

Parent coaching and the same therapist

Parent coaching is part of every plan, usually 10 to 20% of the hours. You learn the same prompts and routines the therapist uses, so progress keeps going after the session ends. The same technician works with your child session after session.

Who runs your child's plan

Clinical oversight is closer than the minimum rules require. A BCBA supervises about 20% of therapy hours, four times the BACB floor, under our Clinical Director, Rachel Blackburn, BCBA. Assessments use VB-MAPP and ABLLS-R, and session data goes into CentralReach the same day.

School, insurance and start times

For school-age kids we also work with schools. We reach out, ask for access and share goals with teachers when you say yes. Some districts let an outside therapist in and some do not. More on how that works: school-based ABA in Denver.

Budding Futures accepts Health First Colorado (Medicaid) as Provider Types 83 and 84, plus Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Anthem BCBS and TRICARE. We check your benefits for free before therapy starts. We do not balance-bill families, and most Health First Colorado families pay $0 out of pocket. We have no waitlist. Intake usually takes a couple of weeks, and therapy starts once the insurance approval is back.

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 Denver

2Play to Learn Therapies

Fits families who have a baby or toddler and want play-based therapy at home

Play to Learn Therapies works with the youngest children on this list, from 3 months to 6 years, and delivers therapy at home rather than in a clinic. It combines play-based ABA with the Early Start Denver Model, and the practice says every parent gets direct training in the techniques used in sessions. Libby Gorsuch, M.Ed., BCBA, founded it in 2012.

Worth a call if your child is under 3 and you want a small, early-childhood practice that coaches you as much as your child.

From Play to Learn Therapies's website (source 1), checked September 14, 2026.

Setting
In-home, Daycare or community, Telehealth
Ages
3 months to 6 years
Under 3
Yes
Parent involvement
Direct training for every parent
Health First Colorado
On the state provider list
Availability
Not published

3BehaviorSpan

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 Denver is at 2111 S Dahlia St, Denver, CO 80222.

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
2111 S Dahlia St, Denver, CO 80222
A child's hand placing pieces on a shape sorter

4Children's Therapy Co.

Fits families who want ABA plus speech and OT from one company

Children's Therapy Co. has run speech, occupational, behavior (ABA) and early intervention services under one company since 2006. Its early intervention program covers birth to age 3, with therapy at home for younger children. Services are available in Spanish. Its center closest to Denver is at 10701 Melody Drive, Suite 100, Northglenn, CO 80234.

Worth a call if your toddler also needs speech or occupational therapy and you would rather coordinate one team than three.

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

Setting
In-home, Center, Telehealth
Ages
Birth to 3 (early intervention)
Under 3
Yes
Parent involvement
Yes
Health First Colorado
Not stated
Availability
Not published
Nearest location
10701 Melody Drive, Suite 100, Northglenn, CO 80234

5Action 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 Denver is at 7001 Tower Road, Suite A, Denver, CO 80249.

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
7001 Tower Road, Suite A, Denver, CO 80249

6Heartland Behavior

Fits families who want in-home ABA with weekly parent training

Heartland Behavior provides in-home ABA for ages 18 months to 21 years, teaching skills during real routines like mealtimes and trips to the park. Parents get weekly training sessions led by the family's own BCBA. The Colorado page names Medicaid and says there is no waitlist. Its office closest to Denver is at DTC Corporate Center III, 7900 E Union Ave, #1100, Denver, CO 80237.

Worth a call if you want therapy at home and a set weekly slot to learn the strategies yourself.

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

Setting
In-home, School, Daycare or community
Ages
18 months to 21 years
Under 3
Yes
Parent involvement
Weekly sessions with your BCBA
Health First Colorado
Website says it accepts Medicaid
Availability
Website says no waitlist
Nearest location
DTC Corporate Center III, 7900 E Union Ave, #1100, Denver, CO 80237

7ABA of Colorado

Fits families who want home, center and school options from one Denver-area team

ABA of Colorado has served the Front Range since 2011 and works with a wide age range, 18 months to 26 years. It offers in-home, center and school services, accepts Medicaid, offers diagnostic evaluations and has Spanish-speaking services. Its intake has four steps: funding check, documents, an intake interview, then a written treatment plan. Its center closest to Denver is at 10700 E. Geddes Ave. #125, Englewood, CO 80112.

Worth a call if you want a local company that can move with your child from toddler years into the teens.

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

Setting
In-home, Center, School
Ages
18 months to 26 years
Under 3
Yes
Parent involvement
A senior team member trains parents
Health First Colorado
Website says it accepts Medicaid
Availability
Not published
Nearest location
10700 E. Geddes Ave. #125, Englewood, CO 80112

8Autism Learning Partners

Fits families who want a diagnosis and ABA at the same Denver center

Autism Learning Partners has a Denver center and also offers in-home and school services. Its Denver page says diagnosticians work on site, so a child without a diagnosis can be evaluated there, and behavior analysts run parent training sessions. It accepts Medicaid, including Denver Health. Its center closest to Denver is at 4380 South Syracuse Street, Ste. 502, Denver CO 80237.

Worth a call if your child still needs an evaluation and you want the next step under the same roof.

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

Setting
In-home, Center, School
Ages
Not stated
Under 3
Yes
Parent involvement
BCBA-led parent training sessions
Health First Colorado
Website says it accepts Medicaid
Availability
Not published
Nearest location
4380 South Syracuse Street, Ste. 502, Denver CO 80237

9Kyo Autism Therapy

Fits families who want naturalistic in-home ABA and an app to follow progress

Kyo delivers naturalistic, play-based ABA at home and at school, and does not run a clinic. Parents get one-on-one coaching from a BCBA, including live modeling with their child. Families manage the program through the Kyo Care app, and the site says Kyo works with most major health plans and with Medicaid in most states. Its office closest to Denver is at 5335 W 48th Ave Suite 601, Denver, CO 80212.

Worth a call if you want therapy at home, like the idea of tracking sessions on your phone, and your child may need school support later.

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

Setting
In-home, School, Daycare or community, Telehealth
Ages
Not stated
Under 3
Not stated
Parent involvement
1:1 BCBA coaching with live modeling
Health First Colorado
Website says it accepts Medicaid
Availability
Not published
Nearest location
5335 W 48th Ave Suite 601, Denver, CO 80212

What ABA therapy services in Denver publish, counted

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

Take children under 38 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 list4 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, 49 providers on the state's Pediatric Behavioral Therapies list name Denver in their service area.

Autism therapy and care for children under 3 in Denver

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 Denver County, the local agency is Rocky Mountain Human Services (303-247-8423). 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 Denver.

At age 3, the school side takes over. Denver Public Schools runs Child Find for children 3 to 5 who may need preschool special education; the district evaluates at no cost to you.

If your child has Health First Colorado, the state's behavioral therapy benefit does not require an autism diagnosis when therapy is medically necessary. Denver is in the City and County of Denver, where Medicaid is managed regionally by Colorado Access.

A parent and toddler playing with sensory toys at home

How to get started with ABA therapy in Denver

Most families in Denver 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 Denver

Which ABA providers in Denver take toddlers under 3?
On this list, Budding Futures ABA, Play to Learn Therapies, BehaviorSpan, Children's Therapy Co., Action Behavior Centers, Heartland Behavior, ABA of Colorado and Autism Learning Partners 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 Denver?
Based on their websites, Budding Futures ABA, Play to Learn Therapies, Children's Therapy Co., Heartland Behavior, ABA of Colorado, Autism Learning Partners and Kyo Autism Therapy 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 Denver?
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, ABA of Colorado and Autism Learning Partners list diagnostic services on their sites.
Is there a waitlist for ABA therapy in Denver?
On their websites, Budding Futures ABA, BehaviorSpan, Action Behavior Centers and Heartland Behavior 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 Denver?
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 Denver parents search for ABA or autism therapy. We kept providers with a location in or near Denver, 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. Play to Learn Therapies: website
  2. BehaviorSpan: website
  3. Children's Therapy Co.: website
  4. Action Behavior Centers: website
  5. Heartland Behavior: website
  6. ABA of Colorado: website
  7. Autism Learning Partners: website
  8. Kyo Autism Therapy: website
  9. Health First Colorado: Pediatric Behavioral Therapies provider list and benefit page

Talk to a BCBA about your child in Denver

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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