Finding the right autism provider in Pueblo usually starts with a diagnosis and a list of names from your pediatrician. At that point, you usually have no idea which of them has openings, takes your insurance, or does good work.
Key Takeaways
- Pueblo has a real provider network: Options include three Family Support Center clinics, Soaring Eagles Center for Autism in Pueblo West, Autism Care Plus downtown, and in-home care like Little Champs ABA.
- Medicaid covers medically necessary ABA: Health First Colorado covers eligible children, and the state keeps an official list of contracted providers you can cross-check.
- Ask every provider the same questions: Credentials, waitlist, setting, insurance, and parent involvement give you a fair way to compare programs side by side.
- Alpaca Health is another option: Get matched with a BCBA for in-home or telehealth ABA.
Pueblo Autism Providers Compared
Every listing below was verified on the provider's own website in July 2026. Insurance changes often, so confirm your specific plan when you call.
| Provider | Location and setting | Ages | Insurance notes | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family Support Center | 3 Pueblo clinics (North, Central, South); diagnosis, ABA, speech, OT | 2 to 18 | Call to confirm your plan | (719) 501-4416 |
| Soaring Eagles Center for Autism (SECA) | 125 W Palmer Lake Dr, Pueblo West; clinic, community, and school programs | Children and adults | Medicaid and HCBS waiver programs | (719) 547-8803 |
| Autism Care Plus | 924 Indiana Ave, Pueblo; center-based ABA | 2 to 15 | Call to confirm your plan | (833) 666-2919 |
| Little Champs ABA | In-home, school, daycare, and telehealth across Pueblo (no local office) | Children and teens | Health First Colorado plus major commercial plans | (385) 494-3500 |
| Children's Clinic of Pueblo | 1600 N Grand Ave, Ste 240; pediatric medical practice with developmental-behavioral support (not an ABA agency) | Pediatric | Call to confirm your plan | (719) 295-2305 |
| Pueblo Pediatric Therapy Center | 4601 Eagleridge Pl, Unit 140; outpatient pediatric occupational therapy (not ABA) | Up to 18 | Call to confirm your plan | (719) 253-7727 |
Family Support Center's three Pueblo offices: North at 805 Desert Flower Blvd, (719) 501-4416; Central at 1026 W Abriendo Ave, (719) 252-3327; South at 916 Indiana Ave, Suite 120, (719) 540-2190.
What each provider is known for
Family Support Center covers the most ground in Southern Colorado, with autism evaluations, ABA therapy, speech, and occupational therapy under one roof at three Pueblo locations. If you want diagnosis and treatment coordinated by one team, start here.
Soaring Eagles Center for Autism is a Pueblo West nonprofit founded to fill the affordability gap in Pueblo County. It runs a pediatric behavioral clinic (Monday to Thursday, 8:30 to 5:30), community and respite programs, and a designated alternative educational facility. It serves both children and adults through Medicaid and HCBS waiver programs.
Autism Care Plus runs a center-based ABA program downtown for ages 2 to 15, with individualized treatment plans built around each child.
Little Champs ABA is the main in-home option on this list. Their play-based ABA comes to your house, your child's school, or daycare, with telehealth support as needed, and they work directly with Health First Colorado on behalf of families.
Children's Clinic of Pueblo is a pediatric medical practice that doesn’t provide ABA therapy. It's on this list because their developmental-behavioral pediatric care and autism toolkit are a common first stop for Pueblo families who need a diagnosis or medical oversight before therapy starts.
Pueblo Pediatric Therapy Center provides outpatient occupational therapy for kids up to 18. If sensory processing, fine motor skills, or daily routines are the biggest struggle, OT can run alongside ABA.
You don't have to figure this out alone.
Alpaca Health matches your family with a vetted, in-network BCBA. We handle the insurance paperwork so you can focus on your child.
Get matched with a BCBA →
How to Choose Between Pueblo Providers
A short call with each provider will tell you more than any website. Work through how to choose a provider with these five questions:
- Who designs and supervises the program? Look for a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). You can verify any credential on the BACB website.
- What is the current waitlist? Pueblo is a smaller market, and openings shift month to month. Ask for an expected start date.
- Which setting fits your child? Center-based (Autism Care Plus, Family Support Center, SECA) suits kids who benefit from structure and peers. In-home (Little Champs ABA) suits younger kids and daily-living goals.
- Is my plan in network? Ask for a benefits check in writing before you commit.
- How will you involve me? Parent training should be built into the plan from the start. Skills learned in a clinic room also need to work at home, for example at the dinner table.
If a provider dodges questions about credentials, discourages you from observing sessions, or promises identical hours for every child regardless of assessment, keep looking.
Paying for Autism Care in Pueblo
Health First Colorado (Medicaid). Colorado's Medicaid program covers medically necessary pediatric behavioral therapies, including ABA, for eligible children. Details are at healthfirstcolorado.gov, and the state publishes an official provider list of agencies contracted to deliver ABA under Medicaid. Medicaid ABA coverage depends on your child's eligibility and on prior authorization.
Private insurance. Colorado's autism insurance mandate (Senate Bill 09-244) requires many state-regulated health plans to cover the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder, including ABA. Self-funded employer plans follow federal rules instead, so call the number on your card and ask about your ABA benefits directly.
What ABA costs without coverage. ABA is billed by the credential of the person delivering it. Direct one-on-one therapy from a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) usually runs about $50 to $85 per hour, while assessment and supervision by a BCBA usually runs about $120 to $200 per hour. These are 2026 private-pay estimates; insurance plans pay their own rates, and Medicaid pays rates set by the state. Weekly hours and hourly rates together set the total cost of ABA.
Grants and extra help. Colorado families can apply for grants and state support programs that cover therapy gaps, equipment, and respite. If you want to apply, you can start with our roundup of Colorado autism grants.
Local Pueblo Resources Worth Knowing
- The Arc of Pueblo (2705 Vinewood Ln, (719) 545-5845) advocates for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and can help you work through school and benefit disputes.
- Colorado Bluesky Enterprises (115 W 2nd St, (719) 546-0572) is Pueblo County's Community Centered Board, which uses local funding to help with unmet needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Families apply for waiver services and the Family Support Services Program through Pueblo County's Case Management Agency, The Resource Exchange ((719) 380-1100).
- Pueblo School District 60's Exceptional Student Services office ((719) 253-6024) handles IEP evaluations and special education services.
- Autism Society of Colorado ((720) 214-0794) runs statewide support groups, trainings, and a provider directory.
- The CDPHE autism page has information on early signs, screening, and state programs.
Families weighing options beyond Pueblo can also compare Colorado Springs ABA providers about 45 minutes north, or read our Colorado autism resources guide for statewide options.
How Alpaca Health Helps Pueblo Families
Alpaca Health is a marketplace that matches your family with an independent, in-network BCBA. Care happens in your home or by telehealth, and Alpaca Health accepts Health First Colorado (Medicaid) plus more than 100 insurance plans. The team handles the insurance paperwork and benefits checks so you can focus on your child. If Pueblo's center-based programs are full or too far, you can start your match today.
Choosing the Right Autism Provider in Pueblo
Pueblo's autism care network is small enough to know completely. Family Support Center handles all-in-one diagnosis and therapy, SECA serves families through nonprofit and Medicaid-waiver programs, Autism Care Plus offers center-based ABA, and Little Champs ABA and Alpaca Health provide in-home care. Call two or three, ask the five questions above, and cross-check anyone who bills Medicaid against the state's official provider list. Grants, school support and other Pueblo autism resources can help with needs beyond therapy, and ABA therapy options in Pueblo differ by setting and insurance.
You don't have to figure this out alone.
Alpaca Health matches your family with a vetted, in-network BCBA. We handle the insurance paperwork so you can focus on your child.
Get matched with a BCBA →Frequently Asked Questions
Does Medicaid cover ABA therapy in Pueblo?
Yes. Health First Colorado covers medically necessary ABA for eligible children, delivered through providers contracted with the state. SECA and Little Champs ABA confirm Medicaid participation on their own sites; ask any other provider directly and verify them on the state's provider list. Coverage requires a prior authorization, which your provider submits.
What can we do while we wait for a spot to open?
Get on more than one waitlist, ask your Case Management Agency (The Resource Exchange for Pueblo County) about the Family Support Services Program, and start parent training resources now. You can also contact Alpaca Health, which matches Pueblo families with independent BCBAs for in-home or telehealth ABA. Get matched now.
How much does ABA cost in Pueblo without insurance?
Expect roughly $50 to $85 per hour for RBT-delivered direct therapy and $120 to $200 per hour for BCBA assessment and supervision, as 2026 private-pay estimates. Many Pueblo families pay far less than list rates because Medicaid or the state insurance mandate covers ABA. Always get a benefits check before starting.
Where can my child get an autism diagnosis in Pueblo?
Family Support Center provides autism evaluations locally, and Children's Clinic of Pueblo offers developmental-behavioral pediatric care that can start the diagnostic process. A formal diagnosis opens up insurance coverage and school services, so this is the first step if you don't have one yet.
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