If your child is not pointing, not responding to their name, or not talking the way you expected, a short screening is a good place to start. Alpaca Health offers a 100% free at-home screener and insurance-covered ADOS-2 evaluations, plus ABA therapy with no waitlists. We accept Medicaid and major insurance.
A screener is only the first step. Here is the full path, and how Alpaca Health helps at each stage.
Answer 20 short yes or no questions about your child's play, communication, and social behavior. The M-CHAT-R takes about two minutes and gives you an instant result.
Start the screenerIf the screener suggests a closer look, a qualified professional confirms things with tools like the ADOS-2. Alpaca Health offers insurance-covered ADOS-2 assessments.
Book an evaluationA full evaluation combines direct observation, your child's history, and standardized measures, so you leave with a clear answer and a written report.
Talk to our teamAfter a diagnosis, many children begin ABA therapy for toddlers and older kids. Alpaca Health matches your family with a local provider, with no waitlists and Medicaid and major insurance accepted.
Find a providerOnline screeners tell you whether a closer look makes sense. Professional assessments are how an autism diagnosis is actually made. Here is where each one fits.
A full clinical evaluation that can lead to a diagnosis.
Talk to our team →Every screener is free to take, and your answers stay private.
The M-CHAT-R fits toddlers 16 to 30 months; the CAST fits children 4 to 11; the AQ-10 fits teens 12 to 20.
If a closer look makes sense, we check your coverage before anything is scheduled.
Three free screeners for different ages. Each gives you an instant result and clear next steps.
The first-step screen for toddlers.
The screen for school-age children.
Autism is present from early childhood, and the earlier a child gets support, the more it helps.
Research consistently shows that early intervention leads to better outcomes in communication, learning, and daily living. A screening will not label your child. It simply helps you decide whether a closer look makes sense, so you do not spend months wondering. Learning the early signs of autism is often what prompts families to screen in the first place.
Every child grows at their own pace. These are common early signs that lead many families to screen. Seeing one does not mean your child is autistic. A short screener helps you decide whether a closer look makes sense.
Limited eye contact, does not respond to their name, little babbling, and few gestures such as pointing or waving.
Does not point to show you things, uses few or no words, and shows limited pretend play.
Loses words or skills, shows little interest in other children, repeats movements, and reacts strongly to changes in routine.
Finds back and forth conversation hard, has very focused interests, is sensitive to sounds or textures, and struggles to read social cues.
Most families face waitlists, phone tag, and surprise bills. Alpaca Health was built to remove those barriers.
The gold-standard autism assessment, covered by insurance.
Families often wait months for an evaluation. With Alpaca Health, you do not have to.
We accept Medicaid and most major insurance plans, so covered families pay little or nothing.
Your child's care is guided by Board Certified Behavior Analysts and reviewed for quality at every step.
Screening and in-home ABA therapy happen where your child is most comfortable, at home or online.
We match your family with a vetted local provider, not a waitlist or a call center.
The M-CHAT-R screener is completely free. ADOS-2 evaluations through Alpaca Health are covered by insurance. Once a child is diagnosed, ABA therapy is covered by Medicaid and most major insurance plans, so many families pay little or nothing out of pocket. If you want to understand what ABA therapy costs or whether Medicaid covers ABA therapy for your family, our team can help you check before anything begins.
Early signs of autism in infants and toddlers
The communication, social, and play signs to watch for from infancy through toddlerhood.
Autism diagnosis checklist
A symptom checklist to organize what you are seeing before an evaluation.
What to do after an autism diagnosis
The first steps to take, from therapy intake and insurance to support at school.
IEP goals for autism
Examples of strong, measurable IEP goals that build skills without targeting autistic traits.
What ABA therapy costs
What ABA costs before insurance, and how coverage, Medicaid, and grants bring it down.
Does Medicaid cover ABA therapy
How Medicaid covers ABA in every state, who qualifies, and how approval works.
A screening is a short questionnaire, like the M-CHAT-R, that flags whether a full evaluation makes sense. An evaluation is a professional assessment, using tools like the ADOS-2, that can actually diagnose autism. A screening is a starting point. An evaluation gives you an answer.
Autism is diagnosed by qualified professionals such as developmental pediatricians, licensed psychologists, and other trained clinicians, using direct observation, your child's history, and standardized tools. A screener cannot diagnose autism on its own.
In Texas, the formal autism diagnosis that insurance plans, schools, and ABA providers accept must come from a qualified diagnostician such as a licensed psychologist, developmental pediatrician, or other physician. A Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) cannot make that formal diagnosis. LPCs still play a valuable role: they can screen for developmental concerns, recognize early signs of autism, and refer your family to a qualified evaluator. If you are starting from a concern rather than a diagnosis, begin with a free screener, then confirm with a full evaluation such as the ADOS-2.
Screening can begin as early as 16 months with the M-CHAT-R. Professional evaluations through Alpaca Health are available for children of all ages. If you have concerns, it is never too early to ask.
The at-home screener takes about two minutes. A full professional evaluation usually takes a few hours and may happen across one or two visits, followed by a written report and a conversation about next steps.
The M-CHAT-R screener is free, and ADOS-2 evaluations through Alpaca Health are covered by insurance. ABA therapy is covered by Medicaid and most major insurance plans. If you would like help, talk to our team.
After a diagnosis, many families begin ABA therapy. Alpaca Health matches you with a local provider, with no waitlists and Medicaid and major insurance accepted, so support can start quickly. You can also browse our autism screening resources for more.
Robins DL, Casagrande K, Barton M, et al. Validation of the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised With Follow-up (M-CHAT-R/F). Pediatrics, 2014.
Scott FJ, Baron-Cohen S, Bolton P, Brayne C. The CAST (Childhood Autism Spectrum Test). Autism, 2002.
American Academy of Pediatrics. Recommends autism-specific screening at the 18 and 24 month well-child visits.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Autism spectrum disorder screening and the Learn the Signs. Act Early. program.
Reviewed by Samantha Ridout, BCBA
Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Clinical Reviewer at Alpaca Health. BACB certification #1-22-57709. Last reviewed July 2026.
Verify at bacb.comA short screener can bring clarity and open the door to early support. If you would rather talk it through, the Alpaca Health team is here to help.
