Colorado has three separate doors into an autism evaluation, and which one you use depends mostly on your child’s age. Babies and toddlers go through Early Intervention. Preschoolers can get a free evaluation from their school district. A medical diagnosis, which most insurance plans want before approving ABA, comes from a clinician such as a developmental pediatrician or psychologist.
Many families use more than one door at the same time. Here’s how each works and who to call.
Under age 3: Early Intervention Colorado
Early Intervention Colorado serves children from birth through age 2. The Colorado Department of Early Childhood runs it through local programs in every county. Evaluations are free, and anyone can make a referral: a parent, a grandparent, a pediatrician or a child care provider.
To start, call the statewide referral line at 833-733-3734. The state routes you to the program for your county:
| County | Early Intervention program | Cities in our directory |
|---|---|---|
| Denver | Rocky Mountain Human Services | Denver |
| Arapahoe and Douglas | Developmental Pathways | Aurora, Centennial, Englewood, Parker, Castle Rock |
| Adams | North Metro Community Services | Westminster, Northglenn, Commerce City, Brighton |
| Jefferson | Developmental Disabilities Resource Center | Arvada, Lakewood, Evergreen |
| El Paso | The Resource Exchange | Colorado Springs, Fountain, Monument |
| Larimer | Foothills Gateway | Fort Collins, Loveland |
| Weld | Envision | Greeley |
| Boulder and Broomfield | A&I Avenues | Boulder, Longmont, Broomfield |
| Mesa | Strive | Grand Junction |
| Pueblo | Colorado Bluesky Enterprises | Pueblo |
One exception: Developmental Pathways handles Early Intervention for the whole City of Aurora, including the parts of Aurora in Adams County.
Early Intervention looks at overall development: communication, movement, play and daily skills. An Early Intervention evaluation is not the same as an autism diagnosis, but it gets a young child support quickly, and the team can help you plan next steps if autism is a concern.
Ages 3 to 5: Child Find through your school district
From age 3, Colorado school districts run Child Find, a free screening and evaluation for preschool children with suspected delays. Your child does not need to be enrolled in a district school. Anyone can make a referral, and children who qualify receive a preschool IEP, the plan that sets out special education services.
Each city page in our directory links to the Child Find program for the local districts. A few of the larger ones:
- Denver: Denver Public Schools Child Find
- Colorado Springs: District 11, Academy District 20, Harrison District 2 and District 49
- Aurora: Aurora Public Schools and Cherry Creek
- Fort Collins: Poudre School District
Child Find decides whether your child qualifies for school services. It is separate from a medical diagnosis. A school team may say a child is eligible for special education under an autism category, and your insurer may still ask for a diagnosis from a clinician before covering ABA. Plan for both.
Any age: a medical diagnosis
Developmental pediatricians, child psychologists and some other qualified clinicians can diagnose autism. In Colorado, the largest program is Children’s Hospital Colorado’s Developmental Pediatrics program, which evaluates children at clinics across the Children’s Colorado system. You can reach it at 720-777-6630. JFK Partners at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus provides autism-focused assessments with Children’s Colorado.
Start with your child’s pediatrician. Ask for a developmental screening and a referral, and ask whether they know clinicians closer to home. Wait times for specialty evaluations can be long, so get on a list early.
What to bring to an evaluation
- Notes on what you’ve noticed and when it started, with examples
- Videos of the behaviors you’re asking about, if you have them
- Reports from Early Intervention, Child Find, child care or school
- Your insurance information and any referral the clinic asked for
Where ABA fits in
Once you have a diagnosis, or while you’re waiting for one, you can start calling ABA providers. Intake, insurance checks and authorization take time, and getting on a provider’s list early can shorten the wait. Ask each provider what paperwork they need before your child can start.
If your child has Health First Colorado, read our guide to how Colorado Medicaid covers ABA. If you’re deciding between therapy at home and therapy at a clinic, see in-home or center-based ABA. Or start with the full Colorado ABA directory.