Fort Collins provider guide, updated September 14, 2026

ABA Therapy Providers in Fort Collins for Newly Diagnosed Kids: 9 Compared

Six of the nine providers below take children under 3, and six offer therapy in your home. Fort Collins has a handful of ABA centers of its own, plus in-home providers that cover Larimer 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
10 providers

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

ABA therapy in Fort Collins: 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. 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
3. 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
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. 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
6. New Dawn ABA
In-homeSchoolDaycare or communityTelehealth
18 months to 18 years
From 18 months
Parents coached as active partners
Website says yes
Says no waitlist
want in-home ABA from 18 months with no published waitlist
7. Brighter Strides ABA
In-homeSchoolDaycare or community
Not stated
Not stated
Yes
On the state list
Not stated
want ABA at home, daycare or school with no clinic visits
8. Soar Autism Center
Center
Not stated
Not stated
Not stated
Not stated
Not stated
want ABA, OT, speech and diagnostics under one roof
9. Seven Dimensions Behavioral Health
Center
3 to 21 years
Not stated
Family Guidance program
Not stated
Not stated
need a licensed day treatment program for an older child

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 Fort Collins 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 Fort Collins, it is managed regionally by Northeast Health Partners.

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 Fort Collins: 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 therapists come to homes in Fort Collins, Loveland, Windsor and Timnath. Here is our page on in-home ABA therapy in Fort Collins.

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 Fort Collins.

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 Fort Collins

2Action 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 Fort Collins is at 3351 Eastbrook Drive, Suite 101, Fort Collins, CO 80525.

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
3351 Eastbrook Drive, Suite 101, Fort Collins, CO 80525

3BlueSprig 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 Fort Collins is at 1613 Prospect Pkwy Suite 110, Fort Collins, CO 80525.

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
1613 Prospect Pkwy Suite 110, Fort Collins, CO 80525
A therapist giving a child a high five at a play table

5Key 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

6New Dawn ABA

Fits families who want in-home ABA from 18 months with no published waitlist

New Dawn ABA provides in-home and school ABA for ages 18 months to 18 years in Colorado; its only center is in Missouri. It accepts Medicaid, says it has no waitlist, and coaches parents as active partners. Its Colorado BCBA is certified in Practical Functional Assessment and Skills-Based Treatment.

Worth a call if you want therapy at home and a fast start matters.

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

Setting
In-home, School, Daycare or community, Telehealth
Ages
18 months to 18 years
Under 3
Yes
Parent involvement
Parents coached as active partners
Health First Colorado
Website says it accepts Medicaid
Availability
Website says no waitlist

7Brighter Strides ABA

Fits families who want ABA at home, daycare or school with no clinic visits

Brighter Strides has no center in Colorado. Its therapists work in homes, daycares, schools and after-school programs. It accepts Medicaid, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Denver Health, UMR and UnitedHealthcare, and describes its care as assent-based.

Worth a call if your child spends the day at daycare or preschool and you want therapy to follow them there.

From Brighter Strides ABA's website (source 1), checked September 14, 2026.

Setting
In-home, School, Daycare or community
Ages
Not stated
Under 3
Not stated
Parent involvement
Yes
Health First Colorado
On the state provider list
Availability
Not published

8Soar 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 Fort Collins is at 3801 Automation Way, Suite 130, Fort Collins, CO 80525.

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
3801 Automation Way, Suite 130, Fort Collins, CO 80525

9Seven Dimensions Behavioral Health

Fits families who need a licensed day treatment program for an older child

Seven Dimensions Behavioral Health runs a state-licensed ABA day treatment program in Fort Collins for ages 3 to 21, beyond standard clinic sessions. Its Family Guidance program builds a plan for the whole family, and it offers translation services. Its center closest to Fort Collins is at 6203 S Lemay Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80525.

Worth a call if your child is 3 or older and needs a more intensive, structured day program.

From Seven Dimensions Behavioral Health's website (source 1, source 2), checked September 14, 2026.

Setting
Center
Ages
3 to 21 years
Under 3
Not stated
Parent involvement
Family Guidance program
Health First Colorado
Not stated
Availability
Not published
Nearest location
6203 S Lemay Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80525

What ABA therapy services in Fort Collins publish, counted

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

Take children under 36 of 9
Offer therapy in your home6 of 9
Offer therapy at a center6 of 9
Describe parent training on their site8 of 9
Publish anything about a waitlist4 of 9
Appear on the Health First Colorado provider list5 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, 10 providers on the state's Pediatric Behavioral Therapies list name Fort Collins in their service area, and 8 more name only the county.

Autism therapy and care for children under 3 in Fort Collins

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 Larimer County, the local agency is Foothills Gateway. 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 Fort Collins.

At age 3, the school side takes over. Poudre School District runs Child Find for children 3 to 5 across Fort Collins, Timnath, Wellington and LaPorte, with evaluations at no cost to families.

If your child has Health First Colorado, the state's behavioral therapy benefit does not require an autism diagnosis when therapy is medically necessary. Fort Collins is in Larimer County, where Medicaid is managed regionally by Northeast Health Partners.

A therapist and child building a block tower together

How to get started with ABA therapy in Fort Collins

Most families in Fort Collins 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 Fort Collins

Which ABA providers in Fort Collins take toddlers under 3?
On this list, Budding Futures ABA, Action Behavior Centers, BlueSprig Autism, Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD), Key Autism Services and New Dawn ABA 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 Fort Collins?
Based on their websites, Budding Futures ABA, BlueSprig Autism, Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD), Key Autism Services, New Dawn ABA and Brighter Strides ABA 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 Fort Collins?
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 and Soar Autism Center list diagnostic services on their sites.
Is there a waitlist for ABA therapy in Fort Collins?
On their websites, Budding Futures ABA, Action Behavior Centers, Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD) and New Dawn ABA 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 Fort Collins?
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 Fort Collins parents search for ABA or autism therapy. We kept providers with a location in or near Fort Collins, 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. Action Behavior Centers: website
  2. BlueSprig Autism: website
  3. Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD): website
  4. Key Autism Services: website
  5. New Dawn ABA: website
  6. Brighter Strides ABA: website
  7. Soar Autism Center: website
  8. Seven Dimensions Behavioral Health: website
  9. Health First Colorado: Pediatric Behavioral Therapies provider list and benefit page

Talk to a BCBA about your child in Fort Collins

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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