Autism Resources in Colorado Springs for Parents
Colorado Springs families have a strong local network for autism support across nonprofits, school districts, and the Pikes Peak region's disability agencies. This guide covers the support groups, evaluations and early intervention, school and Child Find help, funding, and therapy options Springs parents often compare. Budding Futures provides in-home ABA in Colorado Springs, and these are the kinds of resources families ask us about most.
One call to The Resource Exchange starts a free Early Intervention evaluation for any El Paso County child under 3. No income test, and no diagnosis needed first.
- 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 Colorado Springs
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 (The Resource Exchange) 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 Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs has active local autism communities, including strong military-family ties through nearby bases. These groups connect you with parents who know the Springs.
| Organization | What it offers | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Autism Vision of Colorado | Colorado Springs nonprofit. Resource navigation, family help, and connection to local services. | helpautism.org |
| The Arc of the Pikes Peak Region | Advocacy and family resources for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. | thearcppr.org |
| PEAK Parent Center | Colorado's parent training and information center for special education, IEPs, and advocacy. | peakparent.org |
| Pikes Peak Library District | Local disability resource directory, assistive technology, and quiet programming. | ppld.org |
Online communities Colorado Springs 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Autism Parents of Colorado Springs | Facebook group | Find on Facebook |
| Autism & Asperger Connections of Colorado Springs | 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.
Military families: how TRICARE covers ABA in Colorado Springs
With Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever, and the Air Force Academy all here, Colorado Springs is one of the most military-dense cities in the country, and the autism path for military families runs differently.
TRICARE covers ABA through its Autism Care Demonstration. The sponsor enrolls in the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP), the child registers for the Extended Care Health Option (ECHO), and services can start during a 90-day provisional window while registration completes. Budding Futures works with TRICARE, so a PCS to the Springs does not have to mean starting therapy from zero.
Sensory-friendly things to do in Colorado Springs
A handful of Springs businesses run real low-sensory sessions. Schedules shift, so confirm before you drive.
- Chuck E. Cheese Sensory Sensitive Sundays: first Sunday of each month, a quieter two-hour session before public opening, dimmed lights and no character show.
- Play Street Museum: sensory-friendly playtime on Wednesdays, 12:30 to 2 p.m., with reduced stimulation.
- Sky Zone Trampoline Park: designated sensory hours with reduced lighting and sound.
- SafeSplash: adaptive swim lessons with instructors experienced with autistic kids and sensory needs, worth asking about given how important water safety is.
Diagnostic and developmental resources near Colorado Springs
If your child still needs an evaluation, the Pikes Peak region has options depending on age. Which one fits depends on your child's age, your insurance, and how far you can drive.
| Where to go | Ages | Insurance it names | Published timeline or cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Focus Psychological Group 1259 Lake Plaza Dr, Ste 255 · (719) 598-3585 | Children through adults | Medicaid, TRICARE, BCBS, Cigna, Aetna, United, Medicare | 2 to 4 sessions, report in 2 to 3 weeks. Roughly 4 to 6 weeks start to finish, the only published timeline we found. |
| Aspiring Minds Psychological Services | 12 months to 89 years | Health First Colorado, CHP+, TRICARE West, TRICARE for Life | The widest confirmed age range of any evaluator here. |
| Whole Kids Co. 11681 Voyager Pkwy Ste 150 · 3245 International Cir Ste 200 · (719) 344-9342 | Children | Medicaid, plus a cash-pay option | Uses the ADOS-2. Ask about TRICARE for testing specifically when you call. |
| Brain and Body Integration 1115 Elkton Dr #102 · (719) 357-6471 | 18 months to 17 years | Colorado Medicaid, Medicare, TRICARE West, Kaiser | Their evaluation page states 18 months to 17, so this is not an adult option despite other pages implying it. |
| Bowers Integrative Psychiatry | Children, teens and adults | Private pay only, superbill provided | $600 for a 90-minute diagnostic evaluation. No Medicaid or Medicare. |
| JFK Partners, CU Anschutz Aurora · (720) 777-6630 | Infancy through adulthood | Health First Colorado | The state university program. Waits run 6 to 12 months, so join the list early even if you are also going private. |
One correction worth knowing, because it costs families phone calls: Peak Vista's Developmental Disabilities Health Center (3205 N Academy Blvd, 719-344-6155) does not provide pediatric care. Its own site says so plainly. It serves adults with developmental disabilities and starts transition conversations around age 17, so it belongs in your plan for later, not now. Our guide to getting an autism evaluation in Colorado Springs covers the process step by step.
Finding a pediatrician who understands autism
This is the hardest thing to find here, so here is the honest answer. Very few Colorado Springs practices publicly advertise autism or developmental expertise, which means most parents end up asking on forums instead. Two notes before you call anyone: Dr. Annelise Spees, the developmental pediatrician local parents cited for years, retired in October 2023, and one commonly circulated referral site is now an expired parked domain. Both send families down dead ends.
| Practice | What it offers | Insurance | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kids Are Great Pediatrics | Developmental-behavioral specialists on staff | Medicaid and TRICARE | The only Colorado Springs practice we could confirm with actual developmental-behavioral expertise in house. |
| Iron Horse Pediatrics 175 S Union Blvd Ste 255 · 7435 Sisters Grove Ste 300 · (719) 633-3850 | General developmental screening | Call to confirm | The practice local parents name most often on public forums. Screening flags a concern; it is not a diagnosis. |
What to ask before you switch pediatricians
Because so few practices advertise this, asking directly is more reliable than any list:
- Do you have a developmental-behavioral pediatrician on staff, or do you refer out?
- Who do you refer to for an autism evaluation, and how long is that wait right now?
- Will you complete therapy and school paperwork, and how long does that usually take?
- Can we request the first or last appointment of the day to avoid a full waiting room?
- Can we wait somewhere quieter than the main waiting area?
- Do you accept our Medicaid plan or TRICARE, and are you taking new patients?
- Who covers when our usual doctor is out?
- Are you comfortable coordinating with our ABA, speech and occupational therapy team?
School, IEP, and Child Find resources in Colorado Springs
Public schools evaluate at no cost. For children under 3, evaluations run through Early Intervention; for ages 3 and older, through your district's Child Find. The Springs is served by several districts, and they do not all run the same model.
Academy District 20 runs a named Communication Social Development (CSD) program for autistic students who need structured support with social communication and emotional regulation; D20 says most CSD students work at or near grade level. District 11 serves ages 3 through 21 with supports built into neighborhood schools rather than a separate autism school. Falcon District 49 families start with the special education office at 3850 Pony Tracks Dr (719-494-8932).
| Resource | Who it is for | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Academy District 20 Special Education | Family resources and Child Find for District 20 families. | asd20.org |
| Child Find (Pikes Peak Region) | Free evaluations for ages 3-5 across area school districts. | Find your district |
| School-based ABA support | How ABA goals can align with the classroom and IEP. | Read our guide |
Which district does what, and who to call
Six districts serve the Colorado Springs area and they do not run the same programs. Here is who to call for a free Child Find evaluation from age 3.
| District | Child Find contact | Named autism program |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs D11 | (719) 520-2542 · special education (719) 520-2152 | None published. Supports are built into neighborhood schools, ages 3 to 21. |
| Academy D20 | Special education (719) 234-1331 | Communication and Social Development (CSD), at 8 elementary and 2 middle schools. Not offered at high school, where needs are met through the IEP instead. |
| Harrison D2 | (719) 538-1337 · 610 Brookshire Ave | None published. |
| Falcon D49 | Special education (719) 494-8932 · 3850 Pony Tracks Dr | None published. |
| Widefield D3 | (719) 391-3382 | None published. |
| Fountain-Fort Carson D8 | (719) 304-3550, ages 3 to 5 | None published. Under 3, routes to The Resource Exchange. |
School or therapy centre? Two names parents mix up
This trips up almost everyone searching for an autism school here.
- Alpine Autism Center (2760 Fieldstone Rd, 719-203-6903) is an ABA therapy centre, not a school. It has run as a nonprofit since 2005 and supports children who are enrolled somewhere else. You do not enrol your child there as a student.
- Kishami Academy (2328 E Platte Ave) is a school, independent and private, grades 3 through high school. Tuition is $1,500 a month on the 2026-27 early-enrollment rate. As an independent school it takes no public funding and is not bound by IEP terms, which cuts both ways worth understanding before you apply.
- Thomas MacLaren School comes up in parent conversation, but it is a general lottery-admission charter with standard special education services. It does not market itself as an autism or neurodivergent program.
Help when the school says no
When a district says no, or the IEP on paper is not what happens in the classroom, these are the people who help. Most cost nothing.
- PEAK Parent Center, 917 E Moreno Ave Ste 140, (719) 531-9400: Colorado’s parent training and information centre since 1986. Free and low-cost help with special education, inclusion and behaviour support. This is the first call for most families.
- The Arc of the Pikes Peak Region, (719) 471-4800: free advocacy, including help at IEP and 504 meetings.
- Alpine Autism Center also provides IEP and 504 meeting support for families it works with.
A note on searching for this: "disability attorney Colorado Springs" mostly returns Social Security disability firms, which is a different thing entirely. The terms that find education help are special education advocate and IEP advocate.
Developmental disability, waiver, and case management help
Some Colorado Springs 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 |
|---|---|---|
| The Resource Exchange | Your Community Centered Board: early intervention, Medicaid waivers, respite, and case management. | theresourceexchange.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 Colorado Springs
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 |
Adults and transition-age teens
Here is the thing nobody says plainly: Colorado Springs has no dedicated adult autism diagnostic centre. Ask locally and you will be told to drive to Denver. There is one confirmed local exception, and a handful of genuinely useful adult services once a diagnosis exists.
- Adult evaluation locally: Central Focus Psychological Group evaluates adults and accepts Medicaid. Expect a long appointment, and parents locally report waits of a few months. Aspiring Minds evaluates up to age 89, and Bowers Integrative Psychiatry evaluates adults at $600 private pay.
- Vocational rehabilitation: Colorado DVR’s Springs office, 1365 Garden of the Gods Rd Ste 250, (719) 635-3585. Covers Colorado Springs, Monument, Fountain, Cripple Creek, Florissant and Manitou Springs. Its supported employment programme is real work at real pay.
- Case management: The Resource Exchange, (719) 380-1100, handles Medicaid waiver eligibility and service coordination for adults, plus family support for relatives still caring for an adult at home.
- Primary care for adults: Peak Vista’s Developmental Disabilities Health Center, (719) 344-6155, is adult care. It starts transition conversations around age 17, so raise it before your child turns 18.
- Employment: Goodwill of Colorado runs supervised work programmes and transition services for young adults, (719) 785-9210.
- In D20: the Bridges programme handles the high school to adult world transition for students in that district.
Budding Futures works with children from 18 months to 18 years, so we are not the answer for adult services. We list them because the question comes up constantly here and the honest answer is hard to find.
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 Colorado Springs
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 Colorado Springs, 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 Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs routine, and how Medicaid or insurance would work. No pressure, just a clear next step.
Common questions from Colorado Springs autism parents
Where can I find autism support groups in Colorado Springs?
How do I get my child evaluated for autism in Colorado Springs?
Does Medicaid cover autism therapy in Colorado Springs?
What autism resources in Colorado Springs are free?
Does Budding Futures provide ABA therapy in Colorado Springs?
Does TRICARE cover ABA therapy in Colorado Springs?
How long does an autism evaluation take in Colorado Springs?
Is there adult autism testing in Colorado Springs?
How long is the wait for an autism evaluation in Colorado Springs?
Which pediatrician in Colorado Springs is good with autism?
Does TRICARE cover autism evaluation in Colorado Springs?
Is Alpine Autism Center a school?
Which Colorado Springs school district is best for autism?
Where can my autistic child make friends in Colorado Springs?
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.
Social groups by age, from kids to adults
Parents ask for this constantly and it is genuinely hard to search, because most groups are age-banded and none of them rank well. These are the ones we could confirm are running.
One honest note. Autism Vision of Colorado still lists a teen social group for ages 13 to 19, but the most recent dated event on that page is from 2021 and it does not appear on the current calendar. Call before you count on it. Their adult group is confirmed active.