Guide: Your First 30 Days After an Autism Diagnosis in Colorado
Start here
Your child is the same child they were before the diagnosis. What has changed is that you now have a name for how they experience the world, and a key that unlocks support. You do not have to do everything this month. This guide breaks the first 30 days into small, doable steps.
A few things to hold onto:
There is no single "right" path. Autism looks different in every person. Good support is built around your child.
Early support helps, but it is never "too late." Starting services in the next few weeks is great. Waiting a month to choose the right provider is also fine.
You are the expert on your child. Clinicians bring training. You bring years of knowing what makes your child laugh, melt down, and light up. Both matter.
Take care of yourself, too. Feeling relief, grief, worry, or all three at once is normal. Lean on your partner, friends, family, or a parent support group.
Your 30-day checklist
Week 1: Understand and organize
Read the diagnostic report once, all the way through. Highlight words you don't understand.
Make 5 copies of the report (paper and PDF). Insurance, therapists, school, and your pediatrician will all ask for it.
Start a binder or folder: report, insurance card copies, a call log, and a contacts page.
Schedule a follow-up with the diagnosing clinician or your pediatrician to walk through the report.
Week 2: Insurance and referrals
Call your insurance and ask the questions in the insurance section of this guide.
Find out if your plan is state-regulated, self-funded, Medicaid, CHP+, or TRICARE.
Ask your pediatrician for referrals for each therapy listed in the report's recommendations (ABA, speech, occupational therapy).
Under age 3: contact Early Intervention Colorado. Age 3 and up: contact your school district about an evaluation.
Week 3: Find providers
Call 3–5 ABA providers. Ask about waitlists, insurance, and the questions in this guide.
Tour at least two centers if you can. Bring the tour checklist.
Get on waitlists now, even while you're still deciding. You can always say no later.
Week 4: Get started and get support
Choose a provider and schedule the initial assessment.
Sign the consent for the provider to request prior authorization from your insurance.
Connect with at least one parent support group or community organization.
Write down three things you love about your child and three goals you have for them. Bring this to your first meeting with your new team.
What the diagnostic report tells you
The report is your most important document this month. It confirms the diagnosis, describes your child's strengths and challenges, and — most usefully — lists recommended next steps. Insurance companies and therapy providers use it to decide what services your child qualifies for.
Most reports follow a similar order. Here is what each part means.
Report section
What it means in plain language
Why it matters to you
Reason for referral and background
Why your child was evaluated, plus health, development, and family history
Check it for accuracy. Errors can follow your child into other records.
Tests used
The tools the clinician used (see list below)
Insurance often asks which standardized tests were given.
Observations
What the clinician saw during testing: play, eye contact, communication, sensory responses
Shows how your child presented on that day. Note anything that seemed off from a typical day.
Test results and scores
Numbers and percentiles comparing your child to same-age peers
Scores are a snapshot, not a ceiling. They guide where to start.
Diagnosis
The formal diagnosis, usually "Autism Spectrum Disorder" with a level of support
This is the line insurance needs. Look for the diagnosis code (ICD-10 F84.0).
Level of support
Level 1, 2, or 3 (see below)
Helps providers recommend how many therapy hours make sense.
Co-occurring conditions
Other diagnoses or concerns, like ADHD, anxiety, language delay, or intellectual disability
Each may unlock other services or need its own specialist.
Recommendations
Specific therapies, hours, school supports, and follow-ups
Your to-do list. Bring this page to every provider and insurance call.
The three levels of support
The diagnostic manual (DSM-5-TR) describes autism by how much support a person needs in two areas: social communication and restricted or repetitive behaviors. Your child may have a different level in each area.
Level 1 — "Requiring support." Your child may talk in full sentences but find back-and-forth conversation, friendships, or changes in routine hard.
Level 2 — "Requiring substantial support." Your child has noticeable differences in communication and may get very upset with changes. Support is needed in most settings.
Level 3 — "Requiring very substantial support." Your child may use few or no spoken words and needs a high level of help with daily life.
Levels describe support needs right now. They are not a prediction of your child's future, and they can change as your child grows and gets support.
Common tests you may see
ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule): a play-based, structured observation of communication, social interaction, and play.
ADI-R (Autism Diagnostic Interview–Revised): a long interview with parents about your child's development.
CARS-2 (Childhood Autism Rating Scale): a rating of behaviors on a scale.
Vineland-3 or ABAS-3: questionnaires about everyday living skills — communication, self-care, social skills. These scores often matter to insurance.
Cognitive or developmental tests (such as the WPPSI, WISC, Bayley, or Mullen): measure thinking and problem-solving skills. Autistic children's scores can be uneven, with real strengths alongside challenges.
Language testing: often recommended separately with a speech-language pathologist.
How to use the report this month
Ask the clinician to explain any part you don't understand. You're entitled to a clear answer.
If something is wrong (wrong age, wrong history, missed concern), ask in writing for a correction.
Ask whether the report includes a specific recommendation for ABA therapy and the number of hours. Many insurers want to see this in writing.
Note the date. Some insurers require a diagnosis within a certain time frame, and TRICARE requires a new referral every two years.
Working with your insurance
Most Colorado families can get ABA therapy covered, but how depends on which kind of plan you have. Your first job is to find out your plan type. Everything else follows from that.
Step 1: Figure out your plan type
Plan type
How to tell
ABA coverage in Colorado
State-regulated (fully insured) private plan
You bought it on Connect for Health Colorado, or your employer buys insurance from a company like Anthem, Cigna, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Kaiser, or Rocky Mountain Health Plans
Colorado law requires coverage of autism diagnosis and treatment, including ABA, when medically necessary. Since January 1, 2017, there are no age or dollar caps. (Autism Legal Resource Center)
Self-funded employer plan
Common at large employers. Ask HR: "Is our plan fully insured or self-funded?"
Follows federal law, not Colorado's mandate. Many still cover ABA, but you must check your plan document. (BehaviorSpan)
Health First Colorado (Medicaid)
You have a Health First Colorado card
Covers medically necessary ABA for members under 21 through the federal EPSDT benefit, with no fixed hour or dollar cap. Prior authorization is required. (HCPF EPSDT manual)
CHP+
You have a Child Health Plan Plus card
Covers ABA under the state mandate. Prior authorization is required. (Inclusive ABA)
TRICARE (military families)
Your child is a dependent of an active-duty member, retiree, or certain Guard/Reserve members
Covers ABA through the Autism Care Demonstration (ACD), authorized through December 31, 2028. No yearly or lifetime caps. (TRICARE)
Have two plans (for example, private insurance plus Medicaid)? Your private plan pays first. Medicaid can often pick up what's left, including copays.
Step 2: Call your insurance company
Call the member services number on the back of your card. Ask for the behavioral health department. Have your child's report, date of birth, and member ID ready. Ask:
Is my plan fully insured or self-funded?
Is ABA therapy a covered benefit for autism under my plan?
Do I need a referral or a prescription from my child's doctor?
Is prior authorization required? How long does it usually take?
Are there limits on hours, visits, or ages? Where is that written in my plan?
What is my deductible, copay, and coinsurance for ABA? Is there an out-of-pocket maximum?
Which ABA providers near Colorado Springs are in-network?
Are speech therapy and occupational therapy also covered? Any limits?
Is there a case manager for autism or behavioral health who can help me?
Tip: Write down the date, the representative's name, and a call reference number every time. If you get an answer you don't like, politely ask to have it in writing.
Step 3: Understand prior authorization
You usually do not get ABA hours by calling insurance yourself. Instead:
Your ABA provider verifies your benefits.
A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) does an assessment with your child.
The BCBA writes a treatment plan with goals and recommended weekly hours.
The provider sends the plan to insurance for prior authorization.
Once approved, therapy begins. Authorizations usually last about 6 months, then the provider requests renewal with progress data.
For Health First Colorado, the provider submits a Prior Authorization Request (PAR) with the assessment and treatment plan before services start. (Budding Futures ABA)
If you're a military family
Colorado Springs is home to many military families, and TRICARE has extra steps. (TRICARE)
Active duty: enroll your child in your branch's Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) and in ECHO (Extended Care Health Option).
Ask the diagnosing provider to send an ACD referral to TriWest (TRICARE West Region, which includes Colorado): 888-874-9378.
Expect an authorization for the ABA assessment first, then 6-month treatment authorizations.
Complete four required parent questionnaires before ABA starts, and again every 6–12 months.
Work with your assigned Autism Services Navigator, who helps coordinate care.
Put a reminder on your calendar: a new referral is required every 2 years.
If insurance says no
A denial is not the final word. Many denials are reversed on appeal.
Get the denial in writing. It must explain why and how to appeal.
Ask your provider for a peer-to-peer review. Your BCBA or doctor talks directly with the insurance reviewer. This fixes many denials quickly.
File an internal appeal. Include the diagnostic report, the treatment plan, and a letter of medical necessity from your doctor or BCBA.
Request an independent external review. For state-regulated plans, the Colorado Division of Insurance assigns an independent reviewer if the internal appeal fails. (Robinson & Henry)
Get help. Contact the Colorado Division of Insurance consumer services line (303-894-7490 or 800-930-3745). For Health First Colorado denials, the denial notice explains your appeal and hearing rights.
Keep copies of everything you send and receive.
What to look for in an ABA therapy center
The best ABA center for your family is one where your child is happy to walk in the door, you understand the goals, and the team treats you as a partner. Credentials matter, but so does how it feels.
Who's who on an ABA team
BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst): A master's-level clinician who assesses your child, writes the treatment plan, and supervises therapy. You can verify any BCBA on the BACB certificant registry.
BCaBA (Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst): A bachelor's-level clinician who works under a BCBA.
RBT (Registered Behavior Technician): The therapist who works one-on-one with your child most days. RBTs must be supervised for at least 5% of their therapy hours each month. (Move Up ABA)
New in Colorado: In June 2026, Colorado passed HB26-1425, creating a state licensing board for behavior analysts. (Colorado General Assembly) A state license becomes required to practice on July 1, 2028. Until then, BACB certification is the credential to check. (ABA Degree)
Green flags
A BCBA leads your child's care and you know their name. You meet with them regularly — not just at re-authorization time.
Goals are individualized and meaningful to your family: communication, safety, daily living, play, and independence. Not just "sitting still" or "looking at people."
Assent-based, compassionate care. Staff watch for signs your child is unhappy or wants a break, and they respect them. Therapy should feel playful and safe.
Neurodiversity-affirming practice. Harmless autistic behaviors — like stimming, flapping, or lining up toys — are not targets unless they cause harm or get in the way of learning.
Parent training is built in. You learn strategies to use at home. Good providers schedule regular caregiver sessions.
Data you can understand. The BCBA shows you graphs of progress and explains what they mean.
Coordination with other providers. The team talks with your child's speech therapist, OT, pediatrician, and school.
Consistent staff. Low turnover means your child isn't constantly adjusting to new therapists.
Open-door policy. You can observe sessions (in person or by video).
A plan for the future. The team talks about how and when hours will step down as your child gains skills.
Red flags
They promise to "cure" or "recover" your child from autism.
They recommend the same number of hours for every child before assessing yours.
They discourage you from watching sessions or won't explain what they're doing.
They use restraint, seclusion, or punishment-based methods as a routine strategy.
Your child consistently cries, panics, or resists going — and the team dismisses it.
The BCBA is rarely seen or can't tell you specifics about your child's progress.
Communication methods your child already uses (gestures, signs, an AAC device) are taken away to "force" speech.
Practical things to compare
Do you accept my insurance (private, Health First Colorado, CHP+, or TRICARE)?
Why it matters: Being in-network saves you money and paperwork.
Is there a waitlist? How long?
Why it matters: Waitlists in Colorado Springs can be weeks to months. Get on several.
Where are services provided? Clinic, home, school, or community?
Why it matters: Clinic-based care offers peers and structure. In-home care builds skills in real routines. Many families mix both.
What ages do you serve at this location?
Why it matters: Some centers focus on early childhood; others serve teens or adults.
What are your hours? Do you offer after-school sessions?
Why it matters: It has to fit your family's real life.
How do you handle billing and prior authorization?
Why it matters: A good provider does most of this for you.
Types of ABA and what each is best for
ABA is not one single technique. It's a toolbox. A good BCBA picks and blends methods based on your child's assessment, age, interests, and goals. Researchers at the National Clearinghouse on Autism Evidence and Practice have identified 28 evidence-based practices for autistic children and youth, many of which are used in ABA. (NCAEP via UNC)
Use this section to understand what you'll hear about — not to pick a method yourself.
The main approaches, in plain language
Discrete Trial Training (DTT): Short, structured teaching moments at a table. The therapist gives a clear direction, your child responds, and a correct answer earns a reward. Good for breaking new skills into small steps.
Natural Environment Teaching (NET) / naturalistic intervention: Learning during play and daily routines. If your child wants a ball, that becomes a chance to practice asking for it. Helps skills carry over to real life.
Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT): A play-based approach that targets "pivotal" skills like motivation and starting interactions. Your child often leads, and the therapist follows their interests.
Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) and other NDBIs: Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions blend ABA with child-development science. Designed for toddlers and preschoolers. Very play-based and relationship-focused.
Verbal Behavior (VB): Teaches language by its purpose — requesting, labeling, answering, and conversing — rather than just vocabulary.
Functional Communication Training (FCT): Teaches your child a better way to communicate the need behind a hard behavior (for example, signing "break" instead of throwing things).
Parent-implemented intervention (caregiver training): You learn the strategies, so your child gets support all day — not just during therapy.
Social skills training and peer-based groups: Practicing conversation, turn-taking, and friendship skills in small groups. Best for school-age children and teens.
Visual supports, video modeling, and social narratives: Picture schedules, short videos showing a skill, and simple stories that preview what will happen. Help with transitions and new situations.
Matching goals to approaches
If your main concern is: Few or no words; frustration from not being understood
Approaches often used: Verbal Behavior, FCT, AAC (picture or device communication), NET
What it might look like: Your child learns to request favorite things using words, signs, pictures, or a device
If your main concern is: Meltdowns, hitting, biting, or self-injury
Approaches often used: Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) first, then FCT, antecedent strategies, differential reinforcement
What it might look like: The BCBA figures out why it happens, then teaches a replacement and adjusts the environment
If your main concern is: Running away or wandering (elopement)
Approaches often used: FBA, FCT, safety skills teaching, visual supports
What it might look like: Practicing "stop" and "wait," teaching a way to ask to leave, and a home safety plan
If your main concern is: Toddler or preschooler with early delays
Approaches often used: ESDM or other NDBIs, PRT, parent-implemented intervention
What it might look like: Floor play with lots of back-and-forth, built around your child's interests
If your main concern is: Learning new academic or pre-academic skills
Approaches often used: DTT, task analysis, prompting
What it might look like: Short, fun teaching rounds with quick rewards
If your main concern is: Daily living: toileting, dressing, eating, sleep
Approaches often used: Task analysis, visual schedules, prompting, parent training
What it might look like: Steps broken down with a picture sequence, practiced in real routines
If your main concern is: Hard time with transitions or changes in routine
Approaches often used: Visual schedules, social narratives, antecedent strategies, behavioral momentum
What it might look like: A "first-then" board and timers before switching activities
If your main concern is: Making friends, conversation, group play
Approaches often used: Social skills training, peer-based intervention, video modeling, PRT
What it might look like: Small group practice with peers and real-world outings
Older kids and teens: independence, self-advocacy, emotions
Approaches often used: Self-management, cognitive behavioral strategies, social skills groups
What "behavior" really means in ABA
Every behavior communicates something. BCBAs look at four common reasons, the "four functions": to get attention, to get something (an item or activity), to escape or avoid something, or for sensory reasons (it feels good or relieves discomfort). Knowing the why is what makes a plan work.
How many hours?
Your BCBA recommends hours after the assessment. Focused programs target a few specific goals and usually involve fewer weekly hours. Comprehensive programs address many areas of development and involve more. More hours are not automatically better. The right number fits your child's needs, stamina, and family life, and should come down as your child gains skills.
If the report also recommends speech therapy or occupational therapy, those work alongside ABA, not instead of it. Ask your BCBA how the team will coordinate.
Questions to ask your providers
Print this section and bring it to appointments. There are no silly questions; providers expect them.
For the clinician who diagnosed your child
Can you walk me through the report in plain language?
What are my child's biggest strengths?
What level of support did you assign, and why?
Which recommendations are most urgent, and which can wait?
Did you see signs of anything else we should look into (ADHD, anxiety, sleep, feeding, hearing)?
Does the report include a specific recommendation for ABA, with suggested hours? Can you add it if insurance requires it?
When should my child be re-evaluated?
For your pediatrician
Can you send referrals for ABA, speech therapy, and occupational therapy?
Should we do any medical tests (hearing, genetics, sleep, nutrition)?
Who will coordinate my child's care across providers?
Can you write a letter of medical necessity if insurance asks for one?
For your insurance company
See the full call list in the insurance section above. The short version:
Is my plan fully insured or self-funded?
Is ABA covered, and does it need prior authorization?
What will I pay (deductible, copay, coinsurance, out-of-pocket max)?
Which local ABA providers are in-network?
For an ABA provider (on the first call or tour)
About the team
Who will be my child's BCBA? How often will they see my child in person?
How much experience do your RBTs have? How are they trained?
What's your staff turnover like? How do you handle a therapist leaving?
How many children does each BCBA supervise?
About the approach
How do you decide on goals? How do you include our family's priorities?
Which teaching approaches do you use most (play-based, table-based, or both)?
How do you know when my child is unhappy or wants a break, and what do you do?
How do you handle hard behaviors like meltdowns or aggression? Do you ever use restraint?
Do you work on reducing stimming? Under what circumstances?
How do you support communication if my child doesn't speak, including AAC devices?
About parents and progress
How often will I get parent training, and what does it look like?
Can I observe sessions?
How often will you update me on progress? Can I see the data?
How do you work with my child's school, speech therapist, and OT?
How will we know when to reduce hours or finish ABA?
About logistics
Do you accept my insurance? Do you handle prior authorization?
How long is your waitlist? What can we do while we wait?
Do you offer clinic, in-home, school, or after-school sessions?
What's your cancellation policy?
For your child's school or early intervention program
Under 3: How do I start an Early Intervention evaluation, and how long does it take?
Age 3 and up: How do I request a special education evaluation? (Put your request in writing and date it.)
What's the difference between an IEP and a 504 Plan, and which might fit my child?
Can my child's ABA team observe at school or attend IEP meetings?
Who is my point of contact for questions about services?
Colorado Springs and Colorado resources
You don't have to figure this out alone. These organizations help local families at no or low cost.
Organization
How they help
Contact
El Paso County's Community Centered Board. Free Early Intervention for children birth–3, plus eligibility and case management for disability services and Medicaid waivers
Early Intervention: 719-577-9190 · Main: 719-380-1100
Statewide referral line for children under 3. Anyone, including a parent, can refer
833-733-3734 (833-REFER-EI)
Your school district's Child Find or special education office
Free evaluations for special education (ages 3–21), leading to an IEP or 504 Plan. Call your district: D11, Academy D20, Falcon D49, Harrison D2, Widefield D3, or others
Your district's special education office
Colorado's federally designated Parent Training and Information Center. Free parent advisors help with IEPs and school rights, in English and Spanish
719-531-9400
Free advocacy, IEP and 504 support, parent workshops, and support groups for El Paso, Teller, and Park counties
719-471-4800
Children's Hospital Colorado — Developmental Pediatrics
Diagnostic evaluations, medication management, and specialty sleep and toileting clinics
Ask your pediatrician for a referral
Statewide family navigation, events, and community connection
Website
Colorado Division of Insurance
Help with insurance complaints and external reviews for state-regulated plans
303-894-7490 or 800-930-3745
ABA referrals and authorizations for military families in Colorado
888-874-9378
Questions about ABA? We're here to help.
Colorado Behavior and Learning Group provides ABA therapy across Colorado Springs and the Front Range. If you're not sure where to start, call us. We'll walk you through insurance, intake, and what to expect — no pressure.
Call: 719-466-4809 · Email: intake@coloradobehavior.com · Web: coloradobehavior.com
This guide is general information, not medical or legal advice. Insurance rules and programs change; confirm details with your plan and providers.