Local Autism Resources in Amarillo, TX
Clinics, programs, parks and people in Potter and Randall Counties that help families of autistic kids, from Amarillo to Canyon, each one checked against the organization's own website. No sponsored listings.
Getting a diagnosis
Where to get an evaluation, and who to call first for a child under 3.
Ages 0-21
Canyon ISD Child Find and Special Services
School district
Child Find
Canyon ISD's starting point for a special education evaluation, from birth to age 21. Call the Special Services office to begin.
BCBA note
Ages 0-3
Texas Panhandle Centers Early Childhood Intervention (ECI)
Early intervention
Local program
The early intervention program for babies and toddlers under 3 in Potter and Randall Counties. Call to refer your child if you are worried about delays.
BCBA note
Newborns to teens
Texas Tech Physicians Pediatrics, Hillside Clinic
Pediatric specialists
University clinic
Texas Tech's pediatric clinic in southwest Amarillo. The specialists listed for its main clinic include developmental-behavioral pediatrics.
BCBA note
Ages 0-3
Texas Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) Program Search
Statewide
Early intervention
Find the early intervention program for your address if your baby or toddler under 3 seems behind. You can refer your own child.
BCBA note
Alpaca Health
This is us.
ABA therapy by telehealth anywhere in Texas, and at home where an independent BCBA serves your address. Texas Medicaid and private insurance are verified before therapy starts.
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Paying for care
Medicaid, the Innovations Waiver, SSI, grants and local charities.
Ages 0-20
STAR Kids Medicaid
Statewide
Medicaid
Service coordinator
Texas Medicaid for children and young adults with disabilities age 20 and younger, given through a health plan with a service coordinator who helps you find care.
BCBA note
Texas Medicaid Waiver Interest Lists
Statewide
Waiting lists
Put your child on the state's long waiting lists for Medicaid waiver services now. You do not have to prove your child is eligible to join.
BCBA note
All ages
Texas Panhandle Centers IDD Services and HCS Interest List
Local IDD authority
Waiting lists
The local IDD authority for Amarillo. Call to put your child on the HCS interest list and to ask about eligibility, service coordination and respite.
BCBA note
2-1-1 Texas
Statewide
Referral line
The state's referral line. Dial 2-1-1 to find local programs, including help with Medicaid and other benefits.
BCBA note
Health Insurance Premium Payment (HIPP) Program
Statewide
Medicaid
Premium help
If someone in your family has Medicaid and a parent can get insurance through work, Medicaid may pay you back for the monthly premium.
BCBA note
Ages 0-18
Medicaid Buy-In for Children
Statewide
Medicaid
Monthly premium
Lets working families with incomes above the usual Medicaid limit buy Medicaid for a child 18 or younger with a disability.
BCBA note
Under 18
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for Children
Statewide
Monthly payments
Federal monthly payments for families of a child 17 or younger whose disability seriously limits daily life.
BCBA note
Texas ABLE
Statewide
Savings account
A state savings program that lets people with disabilities and their families save money for disability-related expenses.
BCBA note
Parent groups and advocates
People who have done this before and will pick up the phone.
Texas Parent to Parent
Statewide
Peer support
Statewide group whose staff are parents of children with disabilities. Call to talk with a parent who has been where you are.
BCBA note
Ages 0-21
Uniting Parents Parent Case Management
Parent mentors
Case management
Parent case managers who are raising children with disabilities themselves help Amarillo families find programs, services and support for kids up to 21.
BCBA note
Autism Society of Texas
Statewide
Free guidance
Spanish
Statewide autism nonprofit with free one-on-one guidance through its Navigating Autism program and statewide virtual parent groups.
BCBA note
Disability Rights Texas
Statewide
Legal help
Advocacy
The state's protection and advocacy agency, offering legal help to Texans with disabilities who face discrimination or trouble getting disability services.
BCBA note
Navigate Life Texas
Statewide
Parent guides
The state's website for parents of children with disabilities, with plain guides on diagnosis, Medicaid, waivers, school and turning 18.
BCBA note
The Arc of Texas
Statewide
IDD advocacy
Pooled trust
The statewide advocacy group for Texans with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with plain resources and a pooled trust for long-term planning.
BCBA note
School help
The district offices, scholarships and programs that shape your child's school day.
Amarillo ISD Special Education
School district
Parent resources
Amarillo ISD's special education department, with a parent page of local and state resources and posted guidelines for Child Find and evaluations.
BCBA note
Ages 0-26
PEN Project, Partners Resource Network (Region 16)
Parent training
Special education
Free special education training and one-on-one help for parents of children with disabilities in ESC Region 16, from a federally funded parent center.
BCBA note
SPEDTex Special Education Information Center
Statewide
Help line
The state's special education help line for parents. Call, email or use the online form, and join its live webinars.
BCBA note
Bushland ISD Special Education and Programs
School district
Parent resources
Bushland ISD's special education department, with diagnosticians, licensed psychologists and a speech therapist on staff and posted parent guides to ARD meetings and rights.
BCBA note
Pre-K to grade 12
Parent-Directed Special Education Services (PDSES) Grant
Statewide
Grant
A one-time state grant for students in public school special education, spent online on extra speech therapy, tutoring, learning materials or devices.
BCBA note
Region 16 Education Service Center Child Find and Autism Support
Regional program
Parent training
The Panhandle's regional education center, which runs Child Find outreach and parent training and shares autism resources with local schools and families.
BCBA note
Ages 3-21
River Road ISD Special Education
School district
Evaluation request
River Road ISD's special education office, where a parent can ask for a special education evaluation and reach the district's diagnosticians and 504 coordinators.
BCBA note
Places to play and explore
Parks, libraries, museums and sports with quieter hours or adapted programs.
PILC Fitness Classes
Adaptive fitness
One-on-one
One-hour fitness sessions at the Panhandle Independent Living Center for all abilities, from chair exercises and yoga to Zumba and video game workouts.
BCBA note
Amarillo Public Library Sensory Inclusive Services
Library
Sensory friendly
The library's Southwest Branch is certified sensory inclusive, with sensory bags, weighted lap pads and quiet areas for children who feel overwhelmed.
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Kylie Hiner Memorial Playground
Playground
Canyon
A playground in Canyon's Conner Park that Southwest AMBUCS built for the whole community in memory of Kylie Hiner, a Canyon woman with autism.
BCBA note
Ages 2 and up
Special Olympics Texas, Area 16 Panhandle
Sports
Young Athletes
Year-round sports training and competitions for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, run from an Amarillo office for the Texas Panhandle.
BCBA note
Turn Center Kids Inclusion
Inclusive sports
Basketball
A Turn Center sports league built so children of every ability can play together, with therapist-trained coaches and small teams.
BCBA note
Dentists, haircuts and everyday care
Appointments that go better when the office already knows autism.
Children and adults
Amarillo Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
Special needs dentistry
Medicaid
Pediatric dentists in Amarillo who care for children and adults with special needs, including autism, and work at each patient's pace.
BCBA note
Ages 0-20
Turn Center
Therapy clinic
Nonprofit
Amarillo nonprofit offering occupational, physical, speech and feeding therapy for children with special needs from birth through 20, plus counseling for families.
BCBA note
Uniting Parents Families Respite Program
Respite
Short-term care
Short-term respite for families of children with special health care needs, so parents can rest, run errands or handle emergencies.
BCBA note
All ages
WTAMU Speech and Hearing Clinic
Speech therapy
Hearing tests
University clinic
A university clinic in Amarillo where supervised graduate students give speech and language therapy and hearing tests for all ages.
BCBA note
Help in a crisis
Numbers to keep in your phone for the hard days.
All ages
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Statewide
24/7
Call, text or chat
Call or text 988 any time, day or night, if your child or anyone in your family is in a mental health crisis.
BCBA note
Texas Panhandle Centers Crisis Hotline
Crisis line
Local authority
The mental health crisis line for Amarillo and the upper Panhandle, run by Texas Panhandle Centers. Call if your child or a family member is in crisis.
BCBA note
Crisis Text Line
Free
24/7
Text
Text HOME to 741741 any time for free, confidential support from a volunteer crisis counselor.
BCBA note
NAMI Texas Panhandle
Support groups
Free classes
The Amarillo-area NAMI affiliate, with free mental health support groups and classes that meet in central Amarillo.
BCBA note
Children and teens
Texas Panhandle Centers Child and Adolescent Services
Mental health
YES waiver
Mental health services for children and teens in Amarillo through Texas Panhandle Centers, including its behavioral health program and the YES waiver.
BCBA note
Teens, adults and community life
Work, independence and places to belong after high school.
Ages 14-24
PILC Youth Program
Youth program
Transition
A free program for middle and high school students with disabilities, ages 14 to 24, with field trips, speakers and planning for work, school and living on their own.
BCBA note
Ages 14-22
Texas Workforce Solutions Vocational Rehabilitation, Youth and Students
Statewide
Job training
Transition
State job and college help for students with disabilities ages 14 to 22, from career counseling to internships and workplace skills.
BCBA note
Adults
Advo Companies
Day program
Job training
Amarillo nonprofit with adult day habilitation, pre-vocational training, a contract workshop and residential homes for people with special needs.
BCBA note
Amarillo College Disability Services
College
Accommodations
Amarillo College's office for students with disabilities, offering accommodations, advocacy and help applying for services, in person or online.
BCBA note
Adults
PILC Employment and Ticket to Work
Job help
Ticket to Work
Job readiness training, job placement and job coaching for adults with disabilities, from the Panhandle Independent Living Center.
BCBA note
WTAMU Office of Student Accessibility
College
Accommodations
West Texas A&M's office in Canyon that sets up classroom and testing accommodations for students with disabilities.
BCBA note
Where to start
Know a place that belongs here? Email the team and we will check it and add it. Suggest a resource →
Questions Amarillo parents ask
Where can I get my child evaluated for autism in Amarillo?
If your child is under 3 and lives in Potter or Randall County, call Texas Panhandle Centers Early Childhood Intervention at 806-358-8974. Your school district can also evaluate your child for special education, and Canyon ISD families can start with its Special Services office at 806-677-2631. Texas Tech Physicians Pediatrics in southwest Amarillo lists developmental-behavioral pediatrics among its specialists, at 806-414-9090.
How do I get on the Texas Medicaid waiver waiting lists in Amarillo?
Call Texas Panhandle Centers at 806-351-3212 to apply for the HCS program, and call 877-438-5658 for the CLASS, DBMD and MDCP lists. You do not have to prove your child is eligible to join, and some lists have waits of more than 15 years, so it helps to sign up early.
Does Texas Medicaid help pay for autism care in Amarillo?
Children and young adults with disabilities age 20 and younger can get Medicaid through STAR Kids, which gives each child a service coordinator at their health plan. Families who earn above the usual limit may qualify for Medicaid Buy-In for Children, which charges a monthly premium. Alpaca Health verifies Texas Medicaid and private insurance before the first session.
Ready to start ABA therapy in Amarillo?
Tell us about your child and we verify your insurance before the first session.
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