Autism Resources in Colorado

Colorado's autism services landscape is anchored by a few key institutions and one distinctive structural feature — the Community Centered Board system.

Community Centered Boards (CCBs) are the access point. Colorado has designated roughly 20 regional Community Centered Boards as the entry point for Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Medicaid waivers and developmental disability services. CCBs coordinate early intervention services, determine waiver eligibility, manage waitlists, and connect families to services. Whatever Colorado community you live in, you have a designated CCB — and it's typically your starting point for waiver-based services. Understanding and connecting with your CCB early is one of the most important things a Colorado autism family can do.

Health First Colorado is the Medicaid program. Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid) covers ABA therapy for children diagnosed with autism. Through the EPSDT (Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment) benefit, children under 21 covered by Medicaid are entitled to comprehensive services including necessary assessments and therapies.

Children's Hospital Colorado anchors specialty care. Children's Hospital Colorado — with its main campus in Aurora and additional hospital locations including one in Colorado Springs — is the state's dedicated pediatric hospital system and a leading provider of autism diagnostic evaluations. JFK Partners at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is Colorado's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, providing interdisciplinary evaluations and serving as an academic and training hub.

The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) administers Medicaid, the developmental disability waivers, and the Family Support Services Program.

Statewide advocacy includes the Autism Society of Colorado and the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, along with regional autism organizations.

Early Intervention Colorado (EI Colorado) is the state's early intervention system for children birth through age 2 (under 3) with developmental delays or conditions likely to result in delay.

Key features of Early Intervention Colorado:

• Free evaluation through Child Find — developmental screening and evaluation at no cost
• Eligibility based on developmental delay — generally a 25% or greater developmental delay in one or more areas, or an established condition with a high probability of delay
• No autism diagnosis required — developmental concerns are sufficient to start
• Service coordination through Community Centered Boards — CCBs coordinate EI services
• Services in natural environments — home, child care, community
• Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) — the written plan describing services and goals
• Services include — developmental, speech-language, occupational, and physical therapy; family support; service coordination; and in some cases other supports

For autistic children specifically, EI Colorado is one of the most important early access points — you don't need an autism diagnosis to start. To begin, contact Early Intervention Colorado or your local Community Centered Board to arrange a free screening.

EI Colorado services end at age 3, with transition to school district preschool special education or other community supports.

Public schools in Colorado are required by federal law (IDEA) to provide special education services to eligible students with autism. The Colorado Department of Education oversees special education statewide.

Special education eligibility follows federal IDEA criteria — a student qualifies if they have a qualifying disability (including autism) AND require specially designed instruction. School eligibility is determined by the district's own evaluation, based on educational impact. A medical autism diagnosis can be useful evidence but isn't required for school eligibility — Colorado schools use their own evaluation process and educational eligibility criteria.

Child Find is the process by which Colorado schools identify children who may need special education — including children well before kindergarten. Child Find connects to Early Intervention Colorado for the youngest children and to school district evaluation for preschool and school-age children.

The evaluation and IEP process:

1. Parent requests evaluation in writing from the school district
2. The district conducts a comprehensive evaluation
3. An eligibility determination is made
4. If eligible, an Individualized Education Program (IEP) is developed

504 Plans provide accommodations for students who need them but don't require specially designed instruction.

Extended School Year (ESY) services are available for students whose progress would significantly regress without summer continuity.

Transition services are required to begin by age 15 in Colorado (earlier than the federal minimum of 16), focused on post-secondary education, employment, and independent living. Students may receive services through age 21.

Disputes and advocacy can be supported by the Colorado Department of Education's dispute resolution processes, Disability Law Colorado, PEAK Parent Center — a Colorado parent training and information center — mediation, state complaints, and due process.

Colorado's adult autism services operate primarily through the Medicaid waiver system, accessed via Community Centered Boards, plus broader disability services.

Medicaid waivers for adults — The Supported Living Services (SLS) waiver and the Developmental Disabilities (DD) waiver provide home and community-based services for eligible adults — supported employment, residential supports, day programs, respite, and more. These waivers have waitlists, and access is coordinated through Community Centered Boards.

The Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) provides employment-focused services — assessment, training, job placement, and ongoing support — for Coloradans with disabilities.

Adult diagnosis — Adults seeking autism evaluation in Colorado have a more limited set of providers than children. Some clinical psychologists, neuropsychologists, and academic programs (including at the University of Colorado) conduct adult evaluations. Wait times and insurance coverage vary.

Higher education — The University of Colorado system, Colorado State University, the University of Northern Colorado, and the state's community colleges have disability services offices providing accommodations for autistic students. Some Colorado campuses have autism-specific support programs.

Centers for Independent Living serve Coloradans with disabilities pursuing independent living across the state's regions.

The transition from school-age services (ending at 21 or graduation) to the adult system is a significant shift. Colorado requires transition planning to begin by age 15. Given waiver waitlists, connecting with your Community Centered Board about adult services well before they're needed is important.

Colorado's Medicaid waivers — extra sets of Health First Colorado benefits for people who qualify — are central to autism services for families with significant support needs. Waivers are administered by the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF), but the access point is your local Community Centered Board (CCB).

The waivers most relevant to autistic Coloradans:

The Children's Extensive Support (CES) Waiver is the waiver most commonly discussed for autistic children. It serves children under 18 with developmental disabilities and intensive behavioral or medical needs who meet an ICF/IID (Intermediate Care Facility) level of care. CES can cover respite, behavioral therapy, assistive technology, home modifications, and additional services — including ABA hours beyond what standard Medicaid provides. Eligibility is based on the child demonstrating behavior or a medical condition that requires frequent direct intervention.

The Supported Living Services (SLS) Waiver and Developmental Disabilities (DD) Waiver serve adults (and SLS also children) with IDD.

How to apply: Contact your local Community Centered Board. The CCB determines eligibility, manages the process, and coordinates services. You can apply for more than one waiver but receive services through only one at a time.

Waitlists are real. Colorado's waivers have had waitlists. Applying early — and staying in regular contact with your CCB — matters.

Beyond waivers — other Colorado programs:

• EPSDT — Children under 21 on Health First Colorado (Medicaid) are entitled to comprehensive services through the EPSDT benefit, including necessary assessments and therapies (ABA, speech, OT) at no cost to families. EPSDT is a powerful entitlement that doesn't require a waiver.
• Family Support Services Program (FSSP) — provides financial assistance to families of children with IDD for costs beyond those typical families experience, with the goal of keeping children in the family home. Accessed through CCBs.
• State-funded Supported Living Services — supplements available supports for adults.
• Children's Health Plan Plus (CHP+) — low-cost insurance for families who earn too much for Medicaid but still need assistance; covers ABA, speech, OT, and other autism services.

For families navigating this system, your Community Centered Board is the primary resource, and organizations like PEAK Parent Center and the Autism Society of Colorado can help.

Colorado has an autism insurance mandate. State-regulated private health insurance plans in Colorado are required to cover the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder, including Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy.

Key points:

• ABA therapy is covered under state-regulated plans as part of autism treatment
• Speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy covered when medically necessary
• Coverage details vary — each plan differs on copays, deductibles, and any annual coverage limits; check with your specific insurer

Important limitations:

• The mandate applies to state-regulated plans only. Self-funded employer plans governed by federal ERISA law are NOT subject to Colorado's mandate. Many large employers use self-funded plans. Check your Summary Plan Description to know which type of plan you have.

Other coverage pathways:

• Health First Colorado (Medicaid) covers ABA for diagnosed children. Through EPSDT, children under 21 on Medicaid have a strong entitlement to medically necessary services.
• Children's Health Plan Plus (CHP+) covers autism services for families who earn too much for Medicaid but need assistance — apply through Colorado PEAK.
• Colorado's Autism Treatment Fund and similar programs offer financial aid for families whose insurance or Medicaid doesn't cover the full cost of autism services.
• Medicaid waivers (especially CES) can cover services and ABA hours beyond what standard insurance or Medicaid provides.

For families navigating coverage, your Community Centered Board and organizations like the Autism Society of Colorado can help identify which pathways apply to your situation.

Colorado's autism advocacy and support ecosystem includes several organizations, plus the structurally central Community Centered Board system.

Your Community Centered Board (CCB) first. While CCBs are service-coordination organizations rather than advocacy groups, they're the structural center of Colorado's developmental disability system — the access point for waivers, early intervention coordination, and many services. Identifying and connecting with your regional CCB is one of the first things a Colorado autism family should do.

For autism-specific advocacy and community: The Autism Society of Colorado provides information, referral, community events, and family support statewide.

For special education navigation: PEAK Parent Center is a Colorado parent training and information center, offering free help with IEPs, special education disputes, and disability services.

For evaluation, training, and research: JFK Partners at the University of Colorado Anschutz is Colorado's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities.

For legal advocacy in serious cases: Disability Law Colorado is the federally designated protection and advocacy organization.

Many Colorado regions also have local autism organizations and parent groups. Most families work with several resources over time.

We're building Colorado city-specific autism resource guides starting with Colorado Springs. Other Colorado cities (Denver, Aurora, Fort Collins, Boulder, Pueblo, Lakewood) are planned but not yet published.

If you live in a Colorado community we haven't covered yet — or your community has resources we should highlight — let us know.

Several challenges come up consistently for Colorado autism families.

Navigating the CCB system. Colorado's Community Centered Board structure is distinctive, and families new to it often find it confusing. Knowing which CCB serves your area, what it does, and how to work with it is essential but not always intuitive. The upside: once you understand the system, the CCB becomes a consistent point of contact.

Waiver waitlists. Colorado's Medicaid waivers — including the CES waiver — have had waitlists. Families often wait for waiver services. Applying early through your CCB is important, as is understanding that EPSDT provides a strong entitlement to services for Medicaid-enrolled children under 21 even without a waiver.

Front Range concentration. Colorado's autism specialty services — diagnostic providers, experienced ABA providers, specialized therapists — are concentrated along the Front Range (Denver, Colorado Springs, Boulder, Fort Collins). Rural Colorado, the Western Slope, the San Luis Valley, and the Eastern Plains have far less capacity. Families in these regions travel substantial distances.

Provider capacity. Even on the Front Range, demand for autism evaluation and therapy outpaces provider capacity, driving wait times.

The insurance gap. Self-funded ERISA employer plans aren't subject to Colorado's autism mandate. Families with these plans may have different coverage. EPSDT (for Medicaid families), CHP+, the CES waiver, and the Colorado Autism Treatment Fund help fill gaps for some families.

Adult services. As in most states, Colorado has more developed services for autistic children than autistic adults. Adult diagnostic providers are limited, and adult waiver services have waitlists.

Mountain and resort communities. Colorado's mountain communities — including resort areas — can have particularly limited autism services and high costs of living, creating distinct challenges for families in those areas.