You can start getting help for your autistic child in Lubbock this week. The first call depends on your child's age, and the office you reach can tell you where to go next. You don't need every answer on day one.
Some of the help has a long wait, and two different offices hold the waiting lists. Join those lists first, while you set up the evaluation and the school request.
Key Takeaways
- A baby or toddler starts with the early intervention program run by the Lubbock school district, and a child of preschool age or older starts with a written request to your own district.
- The Medicaid waivers have long waiting lists, and StarCare holds two of them while a state phone line holds the other three.
- The free Lubbock checklist on this page keeps every number in one place, and if you're ready for ABA therapy too, you can start your intake.
Every Lubbock number you need in your first 90 days, in one place.
We also sent the link to your email.
Who to call first, based on your child's age
Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) is the Texas program for babies and toddlers with delays or disabilities. In Lubbock it is run by Lubbock ISD, and your child does not need a diagnosis to be evaluated. The evaluation is free, according to the Lubbock ISD ECI page. Families whose child has Medicaid pay nothing for services, and other families pay a monthly amount on a state sliding scale based on family size and income, according to the Texas HHS ECI page.
- Lubbock ISD ECI serves children under 3, and you can refer your own child at 806-219-0500.
- Texas Parent to Parent answers calls from parents on the day of a diagnosis, and the people who pick up are parents of children with disabilities. Call 866-896-6001 or start on the Texas Parent to Parent site.
- The PEN Project, part of Partners Resource Network, gives Lubbock parents free one-on-one help and workshops on special education rights. It covers Education Service Center Region 17 at 1-833-847-2686, and its Region 17 coordinator on the PEN page is at (806) 281-3495.
When you call about ECI, staff ask about your child's growth and health before they set up an evaluation. Have your child's birth date, your doctor's name and a short list of what worries you in front of you. ECI ends on your child's third birthday. The program plans the move to school services before then, and our guide to early intervention for autism explains what those first visits look like.
If your child is already 3, the school district takes the first call. A doctor or psychologist can evaluate for an autism diagnosis at the same time. You can start both in the same week, so help can begin at school and at home sooner.
Where to get a medical autism diagnosis
If you're not sure yet, the free M-CHAT-R screener takes about two minutes and is made for toddlers 16 to 30 months old. Bring the result to your pediatrician and ask about a full evaluation.
- Legacy Developmental Pediatrics evaluates and treats children with autism, ADHD and developmental delays, and its site lists (806) 300-8228. Ask which ages it sees and which plans it takes when you call.
- The TTU Psychology Clinic tests children 3 and up for autism. Testing costs $1,500, the clinic does not take insurance, and the wait can run up to six months, according to the clinic's page. Call 806.742.3737.
- The Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center does speech, language and hearing evaluations, which are part of most autism workups, and runs a social skills group for young children. Call 806-743-5678 or see the clinic page.
Alpaca Health also offers autism evaluations with the ADOS-2 (a standard autism test done with a clinician) and checks your coverage before you book. You can ask more than one clinic for a spot. The first appointment you get can lead to the diagnosis. When you call, ask how long the wait is and which forms to send ahead.
Before the visit, write down how your child talks and plays, and what happens when a plan changes. Our autism diagnosis checklist lists what to bring. Keep the diagnosis report in one folder afterward, since health plans and grant programs ask for proof. If you'll pay for an evaluation yourself, the diagnosis cost guide shows what's typical.
You don't have to figure this out alone.
Alpaca Health matches your family with an independent BCBA in Texas and handles the insurance paperwork and scheduling so you can focus on your child.
Get matched with a BCBA →
Parent support and advocacy groups
Other parents can tell you which form to fill out first and what to ask at each meeting. Some of these groups can also step in when a school or health plan says no.
- The Lubbock Community Autism Network is a parent-led support group that meets online through its Facebook page.
- Uniting Parents pairs Lubbock families of children with disabilities, from birth to 21, with a parent case manager who has a child with a disability, at (806) 420-7365. Families in the program can also apply for short-term respite vouchers through its respite program.
- The Autism Society of Texas offers information and referral, support meetings, recreation and advocacy across the state. Call (512) 479-4199 or visit the society's site.
- The Arc of Texas has advocated for Texans with intellectual and developmental disabilities since 1953 and publishes plain guides to the waivers, and it has no Lubbock chapter. Call 512-454-6694 or visit The Arc of Texas.
- The Burkhart Center for Autism Education and Research at Texas Tech University runs family events, parent training and programs for young adults. Call (806) 742-4561 or visit the Burkhart Center.
A parent from Texas Parent to Parent or Uniting Parents can tell you what worked for their child and what they wish they had known. At a first meeting it's fine to listen and take notes. If the meeting time doesn't work for you, ask whether the group meets online.
School help in Lubbock
Your child can get a school evaluation even if a doctor already gave a diagnosis, because the school team makes its own decision about special education. Put your request in writing so you have a dated record, and copy the principal on the email. Three districts cover most Lubbock families.
- Lubbock ISD evaluates students from 3 to 21 through Child Find, requested through your neighborhood school or the district office at (806) 219-0400.
- Frenship ISD, which covers Wolfforth and southwest Lubbock, runs Child Find and special education through its special education department at (806) 866-9541.
- Lubbock-Cooper ISD, in south Lubbock, evaluates children from age 3 through its special education office at 806-993-2404.
- SPEDTex is the state's special education information center, and it answers questions by phone, email and chat at 1-855-773-3839 through SPEDTex.
- Parent-Directed Special Education Services (PDSES) gives a one-time $1,500 online account to Texas public school students with an IEP who haven't had it before, according to the PDSES page, and our PDSES guide explains the application.
After you ask, a school team meets with you about your concerns. In Texas that team is called the ARD committee (admission, review and dismissal). If the team thinks your child may have a disability, it asks for your written OK before testing. If your child qualifies, the team writes an Individualized Education Program (IEP). That plan lists your child's services and goals.
The IEP meeting checklist helps you bring the right questions to that first meeting. Keep every email and report in one folder. You'll want them at the next meeting. If you and the school disagree, the PEN Project can explain your options before you meet again.
Every Lubbock number you need in your first 90 days, in one place.
We also sent the link to your email.
Paying for therapy and care
Texas Medicaid covers ABA therapy for members age 20 and younger who have an autism diagnosis. The benefit started on February 1, 2022, according to the state's Medicaid notice. The health plan approves therapy before it starts. Read our guide to Medicaid ABA coverage before you choose a provider.
Children on Medicaid also have EPSDT, the part of Medicaid that pays for a child's checkups and needed care. Children with disabilities usually get their Medicaid through a STAR Kids plan. The plan's member line is where you ask what it covers.
- Two STAR Kids plans serve the Lubbock area. Superior HealthPlan's STAR Kids page lists 844-590-4883, and Wellpoint's Texas Medicaid page lists 844-756-4600.
- StarCare Specialty Health System is the local authority for intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in Lubbock and four nearby counties. Its IDD services intake line at 806-740-1421 decides eligibility and puts your child on the interest lists for the HCS and Texas Home Living waivers.
- The state takes the calls for the CLASS, MDCP and DBMD interest lists at 877-438-5658, and the person who has waited longest is served first under the state's handbook rule.
- The Children's Autism Program is a separate state program that pays for short-term ABA for children ages 3 to 15, up to 180 hours in 12 months, according to Texas HHS. Call 2-1-1 to find the program near you.
- Medicaid Buy-In for Children covers children under 19 with a disability whose families earn up to three times the federal poverty level, sometimes with a monthly payment, and our Medicaid Buy-In guide explains how to apply.
Once your child is on a list, write down the date you applied and the office you called. Check in once a year to make sure your phone number and address are still current. Our Texas waivers guide explains what each waiver pays for.
If your child has private insurance, the rules depend on the plan. Texas law requires state-regulated group plans to cover autism treatment, including ABA, when the child was diagnosed before age 10. Once a child turns 10, a plan can cap ABA at $36,000 a year, according to the Texas Insurance Code. Plans that an employer pays for directly follow federal rules instead, so ask your HR office which kind you have.
Call the member number on the card. Ask what the plan pays for autism evaluations and ABA therapy, and whether it has to approve therapy first. Write down the date and the name of the person you spoke with.
What if the plan says no? Ask for the reason in writing and keep the letter. Call 2-1-1 through 2-1-1 Texas when you don't know which office to bring it to.
Paying for ABA therapy
Alpaca Health accepts Texas Medicaid and many private plans, and verifies your benefits before therapy starts so you know what your plan covers.
Check your coverage →
Respite, weekends and sensory-friendly activities
Two Lubbock nonprofits give parents an evening off, and a few programs give your child a team or a class with other kids. A weekly activity gives your child a steady routine outside the house.
- High Point Village holds Respite Nights for ages 8 and up for $15 with dinner included, runs the Reach High enrichment program for adults 18 and over with IDD, and helps families with waivers, benefits and guardianship, according to its site. Call 806-698-0015.
- Monterey Church of Christ hosts Fiesta Friday on the last Friday of each month, with games, movies and snacks for teens and adults with special needs while caregivers get a night out, according to its community ministries page.
- Ballet Lubbock's Dance Abilities classes teach adaptive dance to people with autism, Down syndrome and other needs, through the Ballet Lubbock site.
- The Texas Tech Therapeutic Riding Center has offered hippotherapy and adaptive horsemanship since 1998, at 806-792-4683 through its center page.
- Lubbock Challenger Little League plays adaptive baseball with teams set by ability and a buddy on the field, and it waives fees so no child is turned away. Call (806) 792-5141 or see the league site.
- Special Olympics Texas Area 17 runs year-round sports training and competition across the South Plains, and the statewide office is at 512-835-9873 through the Area 17 page.
For a first visit anywhere new, pick a short trip at a slow time of day, bring whatever helps your child settle, and plan a way to leave early if you need to.
Crisis help in Lubbock County
Save these numbers in your phone while things are calm. StarCare runs the area's 24-hour crisis line, a mobile crisis team and a short-stay observation unit, according to its crisis services page.
| Who to Call | When to Call | How to Reach Them |
|---|---|---|
| 988 Lifeline | Any mental health crisis, day or night | Call or text 988 |
| StarCare crisis line | A mental health or IDD crisis in Lubbock, Lynn, Hockley, Cochran or Crosby County | 806-740-1414 or 800-687-7581, 24 hours a day |
| 911 | A life-threatening emergency | Call 911 |
If you call 911, tell the dispatcher that your child is autistic and what helps calm them. It also helps to keep a short note with your child's diagnosis, medicines, doctor's name and what calms them in your phone or by the door.
Support for autistic teens and adults
In Texas the ARD committee has to start planning for life after high school by age 14. Ask for work and college goals in the IEP at that meeting, and look at the adult programs early, since several have waiting lists.
- Texas Workforce Solutions Vocational Rehabilitation offers job and college counseling, internships and workplace readiness training for students with disabilities ages 14 to 22, through its youth program. You apply through a local office.
- The Burkhart Center Transition Academy is a two-year job-skills program for adults 18 to 30 with autism, and its CASE program supports autistic students working toward a degree at Texas Tech or South Plains College, with a waitlist.
- High Point Village's Reach High program offers daytime enrichment for adults 18 and over with IDD, and a teen on the HCS list keeps their place after 18.
How Alpaca Health helps Lubbock families
Alpaca Health matches Lubbock families with independent BCBAs. A BCBA (board certified behavior analyst) is the clinician who plans and leads your child's ABA therapy. Therapy can happen at home in Lubbock and nearby towns, or by video anywhere in Texas.
Alpaca Health checks your Texas Medicaid or private insurance before therapy starts. Your BCBA builds the plan around the skills your family cares about, such as talking or getting through a trip to the store. You can see local BCBAs on the Lubbock ABA page, and the Texas resources guide lists the statewide programs. When you're ready to begin ABA while the school and waiver steps move forward, you can start your intake.
Every Lubbock number you need in your first 90 days, in one place.
We also sent the link to your email.
Frequently asked questions about autism resources in Lubbock
Where can I get autism testing in Lubbock?
Legacy Developmental Pediatrics evaluates children for autism and developmental delays, and the TTU Psychology Clinic tests children 3 and up for a flat fee without insurance. Your school district also evaluates for special education at no cost, and Alpaca Health offers evaluations with the ADOS-2 and checks your coverage first.
What does the Burkhart Center do?
The Burkhart Center at Texas Tech University runs family events, parent training, research and programs for young adults, including a two-year job-skills academy and a college support program. Call (806) 742-4561 to ask about its current programs.
How do I start ABA in Lubbock with Medicaid?
Texas Medicaid covers ABA for members age 20 and younger who have an autism diagnosis, and your child doesn't need a waiver slot to begin. Alpaca Health checks your Texas Medicaid or private insurance before therapy starts, and you can begin your intake today.
Is there respite care in Lubbock?
Yes, High Point Village holds Respite Nights for ages 8 and up, Monterey Church of Christ hosts Fiesta Friday once a month, and families enrolled with Uniting Parents can apply for respite vouchers. Take Time Texas, the state's respite search, lists paid providers.
Support for the hard days.
When you are ready for expert support, Alpaca Health matches your family with a BCBA who can help with the hardest moments, at home, in a clinic, or by telehealth.
Get matched with a BCBA →
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