Autism Evaluation in Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs has a mix of private psychology practices that diagnose autism, plus a free school district route from age 3. Which one you use usually comes down to how your family is covered, and a large share of Colorado Springs families are covered through the military.
Budding Futures ABA doesn't perform autism evaluations. We provide in-home ABA therapy in Colorado Springs after a diagnosis, so nothing on this list is a referral partner of ours.
Ask each practice whether it bills TRICARE before you talk about anything else.
Military families and TRICARE
Colorado Springs sits alongside Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever and the Air Force Academy, so a large number of families here are on TRICARE rather than Medicaid or a commercial plan.
That changes two things about how you should shop for an evaluation. Ask each practice directly whether it bills TRICARE, because many local psychology practices are cash-pay or commercial-only and won't say so until you ask. And ask what happens to your place in line if you receive orders, since a waitlist of several months can outlast a posting.
If you're moving to Colorado from another state, start calling before you arrive. A waitlist position usually depends on when you called, not when you moved.
How El Paso County families pay
El Paso County doesn't route through the same Medicaid organization as Denver, which surprises families who move down from the metro.
Colorado Springs is in Region 3, run by Colorado Community Health Alliance, on (855) 627-4685. Colorado replaced its old seven-region map on July 1, 2025, so any advice you read that names "RAE 7" is out of date. There are four regions now.
On the Health First Colorado side, one rule is worth knowing before you spend months waiting. The state says a child doesn't need an autism diagnosis to receive behavioral therapy:
"Does my child have to have a diagnosis of Autism to qualify for the services? No. Behavioral therapy is available to all children currently eligible for Health First Colorado when the service is medically necessary."
Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, Pediatric Behavioral Therapies
That's a Medicaid rule and it doesn't carry over to TRICARE or commercial plans, which generally do want a diagnosis first. Full detail, including published Colorado prices, is in our guide to what an autism evaluation costs in Colorado.
Colorado Springs evaluation providers
These practices state on their own websites that they perform autism diagnostic evaluations. We verified each one directly.
| Practice | Ages it evaluates | Payment it names | Published cost or wait | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cura Psychology | Call to confirm | Medicaid; Aetna, Cigna, Medicaid, Tricare (TriWest), Kaiser, Anthem/BCBS | Wait: Our short waitlist | (719) 428-0541 |
| Aspiring Minds Psychological Services, LLC | 12 months of age through 89 years of age · evaluates under 3 | Medicaid; Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, CHP+, Cigna | Not published | (719) 358-6806 |
| Brain and Body Integration | Call to confirm | Call to confirm | Not published | (720) 640-4567 |
Every row above comes from that practice's own public website, checked on August 4, 2026. Blank cells mean the practice does not publish that detail, not that the answer is no. Ages, fees and waits change, so confirm on the call.
Colorado Springs has fewer pediatric evaluators than the Denver metro, and several local practices assess adults only. Confirm the age range on the first call, before you get into insurance.
Free evaluation through District 11 and Child Find
Every Colorado school district runs Child Find, including Colorado Springs District 11, Academy District 20, Harrison District 2 and the other districts across El Paso County. The state education department puts it plainly: "Child Find is provided at no cost to families."
From age 3, your district evaluates. Under age 3, it's Early Intervention Colorado, and you can refer your own child without a doctor.
Be clear about what you get. Child Find produces an educational eligibility decision that can lead to an IEP and school services. It isn't a medical diagnosis, and TRICARE or a commercial insurer will usually still want a clinical one before authorizing therapy. The value of Child Find is that it's free and it can start while you wait.
Our guide to autism testing for kids in Colorado sets out which route fits which age.
What the evaluation involves
A screening and a diagnostic evaluation aren't the same thing, and the difference decides what you walk away with. Screening is the brief developmental checklist at a well-child visit. A diagnostic evaluation is the assessment that can diagnose autism spectrum disorder, shortened to ASD in most reports.
Expect two to four hours, sometimes across more than one visit, rather than a single test.
- A developmental history interview covering milestones, language, play and family history.
- The ADOS-2, a structured play and conversation session with your child, which is the closest thing to a standard instrument in the field.
- A parent interview such as the ADI-R at practices that use it.
- An adaptive functioning measure covering everyday skills like dressing, safety and communication.
- Cognitive or language testing when it's needed to tell autism apart from a speech delay.
- A feedback session, then a written report.
Ask how long the written report takes. TRICARE and commercial plans authorize from the document, not from the conversation.
What happens after the diagnosis
Once the report exists, it becomes the basis for everything else: therapy hours, school accommodations and insurance authorization.
Budding Futures ABA provides in-home ABA therapy in Colorado Springs and is enrolled with Health First Colorado under Provider Types 83 and 84. Rachel Blackburn, BCBA, is the clinical director who reviews each plan.
If you're mid-waitlist, we can check your coverage now so the authorization work is already done when the report arrives. If you already have a diagnosis, here is how in-home ABA therapy in Colorado Springs actually runs.
Questions Colorado Springs parents ask
Where can I get my child tested for autism in Colorado Springs?
Does TRICARE cover autism testing in Colorado Springs?
Which Medicaid region is Colorado Springs in?
How long does it take to get an autism evaluation in Colorado Springs?
Sources
Verified August 4, 2026. Provider details come from each practice's own public website. Confirm current waits, fees and coverage directly.
- HCPF, Pediatric Behavioral Therapies: Health First Colorado coverage and the medical-necessity rule.
- HCPF, Accountable Care Collaborative Phase III: the four regions effective July 1, 2025.
- Colorado Community Health Alliance: Region 3 counties, including El Paso.
- Colorado Department of Education, Child Find: free evaluation from age 3.
After the diagnosis, therapy can start at home.
Budding Futures provides in-home ABA therapy in Colorado Springs. Tell us your child's age and your coverage and we will walk you through the next step.