How to Get an Autism Evaluation in Denver, Colorado

October 21, 2026

In Denver, an autism evaluation can start in four places: your pediatrician’s office, Early Intervention Colorado, your school district, or a specialist clinic.

Which door fits depends on your child’s age and how soon you need answers. Hospital-based developmental clinics are often the first names parents hear, and waits can stretch for months, so many families pursue more than one track at once.

At Achieve ABA Therapy Group, we help Denver-area families arrange an autism evaluation through our partner As You Are, then move into ABA services once a diagnosis is in place.

Where to Start an Autism Evaluation in Denver

Denver families usually reach an evaluation through one of three doors: a pediatrician, a public program for young children, or a specialist clinic. The right first call depends on your child’s age, and you can often pursue more than one at the same time.

Your pediatrician

Pediatricians screen for autism at the 18- and 24-month well-child visits, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. If you have concerns at any age, ask for a developmental screening and a referral. Bring written notes with dates and specific examples, because concrete details help a referral move faster.

Birth to age 3: Early Intervention Colorado

Anyone can refer a child to Early Intervention Colorado, including parents, doctors, and child care providers. Call 833-733-3734 (833-REFER-EI) or email GetStartedwithEI@state.co.us. Children who are referred have a right to a free multidisciplinary evaluation, which federal early intervention rules call for within 45 days of referral unless the family requests more time.

EI Colorado looks at developmental delays. It can open the door to services such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, and developmental coaching while you pursue a formal autism diagnosis.

Ages 3 to 5: your school district’s Child Find team

Starting at age three, school districts and BOCES run Child Find in Colorado. Per the Colorado Department of Education, it is free, referrals can come from any source, and parents are involved throughout. Denver Public Schools and neighboring districts each manage their own process.

A Child Find evaluation decides whether your child qualifies for preschool special education and an IEP. That is a separate question from a clinical diagnosis. Insurance coverage for ABA generally asks for a diagnosis, so many families pursue both.

Autism Evaluation Options in the Denver Metro Area

Denver is home to well-known developmental programs, and popularity creates waits. Knowing your options helps you decide where to place your name and where to look for a faster path.

Hospital and university clinics

JFK Partners at CU Anschutz in Aurora serves people from toddlers through adults, with a focus on autism evaluations. Its interdisciplinary teams can include psychology, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, developmental-behavioral pediatrics, and child psychiatry. Families reach it through Developmental Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Colorado at 720-777-6630.

Children’s Hospital Colorado publicly acknowledges continued access challenges in Developmental Pediatrics, and local news outlets reported in April 2026 that families across Colorado were waiting months for diagnosis and services. Ask any clinic for its current wait, and ask to be placed on a cancellation list.

Psychologists and independent clinics

Licensed psychologists and independent clinics also perform autism evaluations. Ask three questions before booking:

Which assessment tools will you use?
Will the report meet my insurance plan’s requirements for ABA authorization?
How soon is the first appointment?

Evaluations through Achieve and As You Are

We partner with As You Are so families can move from question to answer quickly. Our diagnosis process starts when you reach out. A clinician then meets you virtually for a parent interview, observes your child through structured play and communication activities, and walks you through results in plain language.

It typically takes two to three appointments, and most families are seen within one to two weeks. We verify benefits before the first appointment so costs do not surprise you.

What an Autism Evaluation Involves and How to Prepare

Every evaluation has the same basic ingredients: your story, a clinician’s observation, and standardized tools. Preparing a bit makes the visit smoother and the report more accurate.

What clinicians look for

Clinicians use the DSM-5 criteria, which look at social communication and interaction, restricted or repetitive behaviors and interests, early onset, and impact on daily life. They also consider whether another condition, such as a language disorder or ADHD, better explains what they see.

What to bring

Birth, medical, and developmental records
Early intervention, daycare, or school reports, including any IEP
Hearing and vision screening results
A written list of concerns with dates and examples
Short phone videos of behaviors that are hard to describe
Your insurance card

Patterns parents describe

Parents often describe a child who repeats phrases from shows and songs, which we cover in our post on echolalia. Others describe a child who holds it together all day at school and falls apart at home, which is the subject of our guide to masking. Write these patterns down. Clinicians weigh them alongside what they see in the room.

Paying for an Autism Evaluation and ABA in Colorado

Coverage varies by plan, so verify early. Asking before you book prevents most billing surprises.

Private insurance

Colorado requires state-regulated health benefit plans issued or renewed after July 1, 2010 to cover assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of autism spectrum disorders for a child, including applied behavior analysis, according to ASHA’s summary of the law. Some plans, such as certain self-funded employer plans, may fall outside state rules, so confirm with your plan administrator.

We work with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Aetna, UMR and other plans, and our insurance page lists them all. We verify your benefits, submit prior authorizations, and handle follow-up with your insurer.

Health First Colorado (Medicaid)

Pediatric behavioral therapies are a benefit for Health First Colorado members age 20 and younger when services meet EPSDT medical necessity criteria. We accept Health First Colorado, and our guide to Medicaid waivers explains the extra supports a waiver can add.

After the Diagnosis: ABA Support Across Denver and the Front Range

A diagnosis report opens the door to ABA, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and school supports. We take care of benefit verification, authorization, and scheduling so you can focus on your child.

Our teams serve families in Denver, Aurora, Lakewood, Arvada, Westminster, Thornton, Centennial, Englewood, Greenwood Village, Broomfield, Parker and Castle Rock. Every community we serve appears on our locations page.

Toddlers and preschoolers

Early intervention ABA focuses on communication, play, and social engagement for children under six. Our post on ABA for preschoolers shows how goals change from age two to five. If your child is in child care, daycare-based ABA brings support into the classroom, and our tips on choosing a daycare can help you pick the right program.

School-age children

School-based ABA works alongside teachers and IEP teams. Back to School ABA helps your child ease into the new year.

Evenings, weekends, and summer

In-home ABA builds skills inside your own routines. Weekend ABA and Summer ABA fit around work and school schedules.

Caregivers and older individuals

Parent training gives you practical tools between sessions. Group home ABA supports individuals who live in group home settings.

Your Next Step Toward an Autism Evaluation in Denver

An autism evaluation in Denver rarely follows a straight line. Most families make a few calls, join a waitlist or two, and gather records while they keep an eye on their child’s day-to-day needs. That is normal, and it works best when you start early and keep notes.

When you are ready for help, do not hesitate to contact our team. We will walk you through evaluation options, check your benefits, and, once a diagnosis supports it, build an ABA plan around your child and your family.

FAQs About Autism Evaluation in Denver

How much does an autism evaluation cost in Denver?

Cost depends on your insurance plan and the clinic. Many plans, including Health First Colorado (Medicaid), cover autism evaluations, and we verify your benefits before the first appointment through our partner As You Are. Ask any clinic for a written estimate and confirm that your plan will accept the resulting report.

How long is the wait for an autism evaluation in Denver?

Waits vary by clinic and by year. Children’s Hospital Colorado acknowledges access challenges in Developmental Pediatrics, while Early Intervention Colorado evaluations for children under three are generally due within 45 days of referral unless the family asks for more time. Through As You Are, most families we work with are scheduled within one to two weeks.

Do I need a referral for an autism evaluation in Colorado?

It depends on the program. Anyone can refer a child under three to Early Intervention Colorado, and Child Find accepts referrals from any source for ages three to five. Some specialty clinics and insurance plans ask for a pediatrician referral, so check before you book.

At what age can my child be evaluated?

Autism can be diagnosed at any age, though symptoms generally appear in the first two years of life, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Evaluations for toddlers, preschoolers, school-age children, and teens are available in Colorado.

Does my child need a diagnosis before starting ABA?

For insurance-covered ABA, an autism diagnosis is generally required, and the evaluation report supports the authorization request. While you wait, Early Intervention Colorado or Child Find can connect your child with developmental or school-based supports.

Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). Clinical testing and diagnosis for autism spectrum disorder. https://www.cdc.gov/autism/hcp/diagnosis/index.html
National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Autism spectrum disorder. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/autism-spectrum-disorder
Colorado Department of Education. (n.d.). Child Find for children ages 3 through 5 years old. https://www.cde.state.co.us/early/childfind
Early Intervention Colorado. (n.d.). Early Intervention Colorado. https://www.eicolorado.org/
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, JFK Partners. (n.d.). Assessment and treatment services. https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/jfk-partners/clinical-services/assessment-and-treatment-services
Children’s Hospital Colorado. (n.d.). Appointment availability timelines. https://www.childrenscolorado.org/health-professionals/clinical-resources/wait-times/
Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. (n.d.). Pediatric behavioral therapies information for providers. https://hcpf.colorado.gov/pediatric-behavioral-therapies-information-providers
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.). Colorado insurance requirements for autism spectrum disorder. https://asha.org/advocacy/state/info/co/colorado-insurance-requirements-for-autism-spectrum-disorder