Autism Resources in Aurora for Parents
Aurora families have access to a strong autism network, helped by Children's Hospital Colorado and CU Anschutz right in the city. This guide covers the support groups, evaluations and early intervention, school and Child Find help, funding, and therapy options Aurora parents often compare. Budding Futures provides in-home ABA in Aurora, and these are the kinds of resources families ask us about most.
Aurora spans three counties. The Arapahoe side goes through Developmental Pathways, and the Adams side moved to North Metro Community Services in July 2024. Knowing which side you live on saves weeks.
- Find local autism support groups and parent communities
- Get your child evaluated through Early Intervention or Child Find
- Understand IEPs and school support
- See how Medicaid and insurance cover autism therapy
- Compare ABA, speech, and occupational therapy options
- Know when in-home ABA is worth considering
Start here if your child was recently diagnosed with autism in Aurora
A new autism diagnosis brings a lot at once, and it helps to take things in order. About 1 in 31 U.S. children are now identified with autism, per the CDC's 2025 data, so you are far from alone in sorting this out. Many parents start by reaching out to other families, then handle any evaluations their child still needs. After that it is easier to look at how Health First Colorado or private insurance covers services. You really do not have to do everything in the first week. Our guide on what to do after an autism diagnosis walks through the steps.
| What you need | Where to start |
|---|---|
| A developmental or autism evaluation | Early Intervention Colorado (under 3) or your school district's Child Find (age 3+) |
| Parent support and community | Autism Society of Colorado, a local Facebook group, or r/Autism_Parenting |
| Help with waivers, respite, or case management | Your Community Centered Board (Developmental Pathways) or the Colorado HCPF directory |
| Therapy planning | An initial ABA evaluation, plus speech and occupational therapy as needed |
Autism support groups and parent communities in Aurora
Aurora parents connect through both citywide advocacy groups and the statewide autism community.
| Organization | What it offers | Link |
|---|---|---|
| The Arc of Aurora | Aurora advocacy nonprofit. Family navigation, workshops, and support for I/DD families. | thearcofaurora.org |
| Autism Society of Colorado | Statewide nonprofit with in-person and online parent support groups and events. | autismcolorado.org |
| City of Aurora Family Resources | Aurora's directory of Child Find, Developmental Pathways, and family supports. | auroragov.org |
| Developmental Pathways | Community Centered Board for Arapahoe and Douglas counties, including Aurora. | dpcolo.org |
Online communities Aurora parents actually use
These are active Facebook groups and forums where local parents trade real, current advice. Search the name on the platform to request to join.
| Community | Platform | Join |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Autism Parents | Facebook group | Find on Facebook |
| Autism in Colorado | Facebook group | Find on Facebook |
| r/Autism_Parenting | Open on Reddit |
Resource listings are provided for parent convenience and are not endorsements. Availability, eligibility, and details change often, so please contact or search each group directly before relying on it.
Adaptive recreation and sensory-friendly Aurora
Aurora's city government runs one of the metro's better adaptive recreation programs, which many families do not discover for years.
- A.R.I.S.E. (Adaptive Recreation and Inclusion Services for Everyone): the City of Aurora's adaptive program covering arts, aquatics, sports, excursions, and Special Olympics. Register by phone at (720) 859-4985 or at the Central, Moorhead, or Southeast rec centers.
- Aurora Public Library sensory storytime: the Santori Library runs an adaptable Sensory Storytime and Craft for kids of all abilities; check the library calendar for the next date.
- Spectrum Parent Adventures: a caregiver group meeting the 2nd Saturday of each month through the Autism Community Center (303-309-3647), which also runs ConnecTeen for teens on 1st Saturdays.
Diagnostic and developmental resources near Aurora
Aurora has unusually close access to evaluation. The state's flagship children's hospital and its university autism program are both physically inside the city, which no other Colorado city can say.
| Where to go | Ages | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Children's Hospital Colorado, Anschutz 13123 E 16th Ave, Aurora | Infancy through adolescence | One of 17 Autism Treatment Network sites in the US and Canada. Uses the ADOS and ADI-R, the standard diagnostic tools. Usually needs a pediatrician referral. |
| JFK Partners (CU Anschutz) 13121 E 17th Ave · (720) 777-6630 | Toddlers through adults | Colorado's university center for developmental disabilities. Takes Health First Colorado. Waits run several months or longer, so call early. |
| Early Intervention, Arapahoe side Developmental Pathways, 14280 E Jewell Ave · (303) 360-6600 | Under 3 | Free evaluation regardless of income or diagnosis. |
| Early Intervention, Adams side North Metro Community Services · (888) 777-4041 statewide line | Under 3 | Since July 1, 2024, Adams-side Aurora families go through North Metro, not Developmental Pathways. |
Our guide to getting an autism evaluation in Aurora walks through the referral steps in order.
School, IEP, and Child Find resources in Aurora
Public schools evaluate at no cost. Under 3, that runs through Early Intervention; for ages 3 and older, through your district's Child Find. Aurora is split between Aurora Public Schools and Cherry Creek School District.
Aurora Public Schools runs center-based autism classrooms at Harmony Ridge P-8, and opened two more named autism programs at Aurora Highlands P-8 and Murphy Creek P-8 for the 2024-25 year so eastern Aurora families could stay closer to home. Cherry Creek runs an Autism and Severe Needs Support Team of district specialists who handle intake, play-based assessment, and IEP goal development across a continuum from self-contained classrooms to full inclusion.
| Resource | Who it is for | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Aurora Public Schools Child Find | Free developmental evaluation for young Aurora children ages 0-5. | aurorak12.org |
| Cherry Creek Child Find | Free evaluation for ages 3-5 in the Cherry Creek School District portion of Aurora. | cherrycreekschools.org |
| School-based ABA support | How ABA goals can align with the classroom and IEP. | Read our guide |
Developmental disability, waiver, and case management help
Some Aurora families need more than therapy, especially when sorting out Medicaid waivers, respite, or long-term supports. Your Community Centered Board is the entry point, and these statewide groups help parents navigate the system.
| Resource | What it helps with | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Developmental Pathways | Your Community Centered Board: early intervention, Medicaid waivers, respite, and case management. | dpcolo.org |
| Colorado HCPF directory | Look up the correct case management agency or board for your county. | hcpf.colorado.gov |
| Parent to Parent of Colorado | Free parent-to-parent matching, resource navigation, and coaching by parents who have been there. | p2p-co.org |
| Empower Colorado | Statewide family support and education for children's mental and behavioral health. | empowercolorado.org |
Autism therapy options in Aurora
Most families combine a few therapies, depending on the child. A good first step is an initial ABA evaluation, which helps clarify what actually fits before you commit to a schedule.
| Therapy | What it helps with | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| ABA therapy | Communication, daily living, safety, and behavior goals. Often the most-covered service. | In-home ABA |
| Speech therapy | Speech, language, and communication, including AAC for children who are not yet talking. | ABA & speech delay |
| Occupational therapy | Sensory needs, motor skills, feeding, and daily routines. | Start with an evaluation |
Medicaid, insurance, and funding help for autism services
Colorado is one of the better states for autism coverage. Health First Colorado (Medicaid) covers ABA therapy, and private insurance covers it under state law. Plenty of families pay little out of pocket once coverage is sorted. Our Medicaid ABA therapy guide explains enrollment, prior authorization, and what to expect.
| Funding source | What it covers | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| Health First Colorado (Medicaid) | Covers medically necessary ABA therapy, evaluation, and supervision for eligible children. | Medicaid ABA guide |
| Private insurance | Colorado law requires autism therapy coverage; specifics vary by plan. | Insurance verification |
| CES Waiver / EPSDT | State programs that can extend services for children with higher needs. | Learn more |
When to consider in-home ABA therapy in Aurora
In-home ABA helps when skills need to carry over into the real home routine, the parts of the day that tend to be hardest. It also skips the daily clinic commute. Budding Futures delivers in-home, BCBA-led ABA in Aurora, accepts Health First Colorado and major insurers, and currently has no waitlist for assessments. If you are comparing providers, our guide on how to choose an ABA provider covers the questions worth asking.
An ABA evaluation can help if you are asking questions like these:
- How can we help our child communicate needs more safely?
- Why are transitions, meals, bedtime, or outings so hard?
- How do we reduce unsafe behavior without punishment?
- How many ABA hours does our child actually need?
- Can therapy goals connect with school and speech therapy?
Related autism and ABA resources for Aurora families
These guides go deeper on the steps above, all written for Colorado families.
Wondering if in-home ABA could fit your child?
We can talk through your child's goals, your Aurora routine, and how Medicaid or insurance would work. No pressure, just a clear next step.
Common questions from Aurora autism parents
Where can I find autism support groups in Aurora?
How do I get my child evaluated for autism in Aurora?
Does Medicaid cover autism therapy in Aurora?
What autism resources in Aurora are free?
Does Budding Futures provide ABA therapy in Aurora?
Which Early Intervention agency serves my part of Aurora?
Does Aurora have adaptive recreation for autistic kids?
More ABA therapy in Aurora
Talk to a BCBA about your child
Tell us what is hard right now. We will explain what in-home ABA could do, check your Medicaid or insurance, and give you a straight answer about next steps.