Autism Resources in Broomfield for Parents
Broomfield is its own city and county, served by A&I Avenues for disability case management and by several school districts, including Boulder Valley and Adams 12. This guide covers the support groups, evaluations, school and Child Find help, funding, and therapy options Broomfield parents often compare. Budding Futures provides in-home ABA in Broomfield, and these are the kinds of resources families ask us about most.
Early Intervention for Broomfield moved from Imagine! to A&I Avenues, (303) 439-7011. Older guides still send families to the wrong place.
- 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 Broomfield
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 | A&I Avenues, the case management agency for Boulder, Broomfield and Gilpin counties, 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 Broomfield
Broomfield families draw on both Boulder County and metro autism communities.
| Organization | What it offers | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Autism Society of Colorado | Statewide nonprofit with in-person and online parent support groups and events. | autismcolorado.org |
| A&I Avenues | Case management agency for Boulder, Broomfield and Gilpin counties since July 2024, with family supports and programs. | imaginecolorado.org |
| Psychology Today (Colorado) | Searchable directory of therapist-led autism caregiver groups across the metro. | psychologytoday.com |
Online communities Broomfield 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.
Sensory-friendly and adaptive Broomfield
Broomfield's recreation centre has something most do not: a warm therapy pool, which changes what swimming feels like for a child who cannot tolerate a cold pool.
- Paul Derda Recreation Center: a therapy pool alongside the regular aquatics program.
- Action Behavior Centers, 320 E 1st Ave #101: runs no-cost ADOS-2 diagnostic evaluations and reports no waitlist. Worth a call given what private evaluation costs elsewhere.
- WOW! Children's Museum in nearby Lafayette runs a Sunday sensory-friendly playtime for $1.
Schedules for these programs shift, so call before you drive out.
Diagnostic and developmental resources near Broomfield
Evaluations run through the county board and your school district, depending on age.
| Resource | What it offers | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Early Intervention Colorado | Free developmental evaluation and services for children under age 3. | eicolorado.org |
| A&I Avenues | Broomfield's case management agency since July 2024: early intervention and case management. | imaginecolorado.org |
| JFK Partners (CU Anschutz) | University autism and developmental evaluations serving Colorado families. | cuanschutz.edu |
School, IEP, and Child Find resources in Broomfield
Public schools evaluate at no cost. Under 3, that runs through Early Intervention; for ages 3 and older, through your district's Child Find. Broomfield is split mainly between Boulder Valley and Adams 12.
Broomfield is its own consolidated city and county, and at least five school districts touch it, including Adams 12 Five Star, Boulder Valley, Jefferson County, Brighton, Fort Lupton and St. Vrain Valley. Your address decides which one runs your Child Find evaluation from age 3. Under 3, Early Intervention moved to A&I Avenues (1665 Coal Creek Dr, Lafayette, 303-439-7011) on July 1, 2024, so older guides pointing at Imagine! will send you to the wrong place.
| Resource | Who it is for | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Boulder Valley Child Find | Free evaluation for ages 3-5 in the Boulder Valley portion of Broomfield. | bvsd.org |
| Adams 12 Five Star Child Find | Free evaluation in the Adams 12 portion of Broomfield. | adams12.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 Broomfield 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 |
|---|---|---|
| A&I Avenues | Your case management agency (303-439-7011): early intervention, Medicaid waivers, respite, and case management. | imaginecolorado.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 Broomfield
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 Broomfield
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 Broomfield, 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 Broomfield 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 Broomfield routine, and how Medicaid or insurance would work. No pressure, just a clear next step.
Common questions from Broomfield autism parents
Where can I find autism support groups in Broomfield?
How do I get my child evaluated for autism in Broomfield?
Does Medicaid cover autism therapy in Broomfield?
What autism resources in Broomfield are free?
Does Budding Futures provide ABA therapy in Broomfield?
Who runs Early Intervention in Broomfield now?
Which school district covers Broomfield?
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.