Local Autism Resources in Arlington, TX
Clinics, programs, parks and people in Arlington, Grand Prairie, Mansfield and the rest of east Tarrant County that help families of autistic children, teens and adults. We checked every place against its own website, and none of these listings is sponsored.
Getting a diagnosis
Where to get an evaluation, and who to call first for a child under 3.
Ages 3-21
Arlington ISD Child Find
Public school
Evaluation
Arlington ISD's door for asking for a special education evaluation. Call or email if you think your child has a disability, even before school age.
BCBA note
Ages 0-3
ECI of North Central Texas (MHMR of Tarrant County)
Early intervention
County program
Tarrant County's early intervention program for babies and toddlers under 3 with delays. Anyone can ask for an evaluation, and fees follow a state sliding scale.
BCBA note
Ages 3-21
Grand Prairie ISD Child Find
Public school
Evaluation
Grand Prairie ISD's Child Find team evaluates children ages 3 to 21 who may have a disability, including preschoolers who are not yet enrolled.
BCBA note
Ages 3-21
Mansfield ISD Child Find
Public school
Free evaluation
Mansfield ISD evaluates children who may have a disability at no cost. The district also covers parts of Arlington, Grand Prairie and Kennedale.
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. Useful for Grand Prairie homes in Dallas County.
BCBA note
Alpaca Health
This is us.
ABA therapy at home across Arlington and by telehealth anywhere in Texas, with independent BCBAs. Texas Medicaid and private insurance are verified before therapy starts.
Start your intake →
Paying for care
Medicaid, the Innovations Waiver, SSI, grants and local charities.
MHMR of Tarrant County IDD Services
County program
Waiting lists
Tarrant County's local IDD authority. Call here to put your child on the HCS and Texas Home Living waiver interest lists.
BCBA note
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
2-1-1 Texas
Statewide
Phone and chat
Spanish
The state's referral line. Dial 2-1-1 or chat online to find local programs, including help with Medicaid and other benefits.
BCBA note
Health Insurance Premium Payment (HIPP) Program
Statewide
Medicaid
Premium help
If your child 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, and SSI also brings Medicaid coverage.
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
Free download
Arlington and Tarrant County First 90 Days Checklist
Every Arlington number you need in your first 90 days, in one place.
Parent groups and advocates
People who have done this before and will pick up the phone.
Under 6
Help Me Grow North Texas
Family navigator
County program
A phone line from MHMR of Tarrant County for families who are expecting or have a child under 6. A family navigator links you to local services.
BCBA note
Ages 0-26
PACT Project, Partners Resource Network
Special education rights
Spanish
Help understanding your child's special education rights from the federally funded parent center for Tarrant County, based in Euless.
BCBA note
Texas Parent to Parent
Statewide
Peer support
Spanish
Statewide group whose staff are parents of children with disabilities. Call to talk with a parent who has been where you are.
BCBA note
Autism Society of Texas
Statewide
Free guidance
Spanish
Statewide autism nonprofit with free one-on-one guidance through its Navigating Autism program, plus a Dallas-Fort Worth virtual parent group.
BCBA note
Ages 6-17
Help Me Thrive North Texas
Family navigator
Free
A free family navigator line for parents of children and teens ages 6 to 17 who need help finding services and support.
BCBA note
Under 18
MHMR Child and Family Services, Arlington
Parent groups
County program
MHMR's Arlington center for children and families, with parent groups that include ADHD and Autism Parenting Support and SibShop for brothers and sisters.
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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.
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The Arc of DFW Area
Advocacy
Information
An all-volunteer Arc chapter that gives information, referrals and training on special education, turning 18 and Medicaid supports in Tarrant and nearby counties.
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School help
The district offices, scholarships and programs that shape your child's school day.
Ages 3-21
Arlington ISD Special Education
Public school
Parent training
Arlington ISD's special education department for students ages 3 to 21, with early childhood classes, social learning support and in-home parent training.
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 when you have a question about school services.
BCBA note
Ages 3-21
Kennedale ISD Special Education
Public school
Evaluation
Kennedale ISD's special education office takes Child Find referrals and evaluates students ages 3 to 21 who may have a disability.
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.
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Places to play and explore
Parks, libraries, museums and sports with quieter hours or adapted programs.
Ages 2-10
Arlington Public Library SNAP Sensory Programs
Sensory storytime
Library
Sensory-friendly storytime and art classes plus a quiet Kindness Room at the downtown library, for neurodivergent children and their families.
BCBA note
Ages 4 and up
Miracle League DFW
Adaptive baseball
Buddies
Adaptive baseball in Arlington where every player bats, runs the bases and scores, with a buddy at their side for the whole game.
BCBA note
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools Mansfield, S.N.A.P. Adaptive Lessons
Adaptive swim
Private lessons
Adaptive swim lessons in Mansfield for children with autism and other disabilities, taught one-on-one with goals set for each child.
BCBA note
All ages
AT&T Stadium Sensory Rooms
Sensory room
Stadium
The Cowboys' stadium has three sensory rooms and decompression areas for any guest who becomes overstimulated during a game or event.
BCBA note
All ages
Globe Life Field Sensory Room
Sensory room
Sensory bags
The Texas Rangers' ballpark has a quiet sensory room and sensory bags with headphones and fidgets to borrow for fans who get overwhelmed.
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New Strength Adaptive Fitness
Adaptive fitness
Martial arts
An Arlington gym that adapts strength training, gymnastics, martial arts and yoga for autistic people and anyone who needs adaptive options.
BCBA note
SafeSplash Swim School, Arlington
Adaptive swim
Private lessons
One-on-one adaptive swim lessons in Arlington for swimmers with physical, sensory or developmental challenges, with a trained instructor.
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Six Flags Over Texas Attraction Accessibility Program
Theme park
Ride access card
Guests with cognitive disabilities register for the IBCCES Accessibility Card before the visit, then show it at Guest Services to set up ride accommodations.
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Swimming Elite
Adaptive swim
Private lessons
Private and semi-private swim lessons for children with special needs across Dallas-Fort Worth, taught by coaches certified in the Swim Angelfish method.
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Dentists, haircuts and everyday care
Appointments that go better when the office already knows autism.
Children and adults
Disability Dental
Special needs dentistry
Sedation
A Grand Prairie dental practice built for patients with special needs, both children and adults, with its own anesthesia team for sedation.
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Children and adults
First United Methodist Church of Arlington, First Fridays Respite
Respite
Free
Faith
A free evening off for parents once a month during the school year, with one volunteer for each child with special needs and care for siblings.
BCBA note
Children and teens
iKids Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics
Special needs dentistry
Medicaid
Sedation
Pediatric dental group with offices in north and south Arlington and Mansfield that welcomes children with developmental needs and takes most Medicaid dental plans.
BCBA note
Infants to teens
Pediatric Dentistry of Mansfield
Special needs dentistry
Hospital dentistry
Sedation
Mansfield pediatric dental office that sees children with developmental disabilities and offers care under general anesthesia at a local hospital when a child cannot hold still.
BCBA note
Help in a crisis
Numbers to keep in your phone for the hard days.
All ages
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Free
24/7
Spanish
Call, text or chat 988 any time, day or night, for free and confidential help from a trained counselor.
BCBA note
All ages
MHMR of Tarrant County ICARE Call Center and Mobile Crisis
24/7
Mobile crisis team
County program
Tarrant County's 24-hour mental health crisis line. Call or text, and a mobile crisis team can come to a child, teen or adult.
BCBA note
Here For Texas Mental Health Navigation Line
Free
Helpline
Spanish
A free weekday helpline from the Grant Halliburton Foundation where a trained navigator helps you find mental health and addiction resources.
BCBA note
NAMI Tarrant County
Family support
Classes
The local NAMI affiliate for Tarrant County, with classes and support groups for families of people living with a mental health condition.
BCBA note
All ages
NTBHA Crisis Line and Mobile Crisis Outreach
24/7
Mobile crisis team
The 24-hour crisis line for Dallas and Ellis counties. Use it if your Grand Prairie or Mansfield home sits in one of those counties.
BCBA note
Teens, adults and community life
Work, independence and places to belong after high school.
Ages 14-21
Arlington ISD Transition Services
Public school
Job training
Arlington ISD's planning for life after high school, which must start by the ARD before age 14, with internships such as Project SEARCH.
BCBA note
Ages 14-22
Texas Workforce Solutions Vocational Rehabilitation, Youth and Students
Statewide
Job training
College prep
State job and college help for students with disabilities ages 14 to 22, from work experience to job training. Apply through a local VR office.
BCBA note
A Fair Choice, AFC Connection Day Program
Day program
Waiver provider
A licensed day program in Arlington where people with special needs build life and social skills, plus homes and respite for waiver members.
BCBA note
All ages
Aging and Disability Resource Center of Tarrant County
Free
Options counseling
Free one-on-one help for people of any age with a disability and their caregivers, to understand options and find local support services.
BCBA note
Handitran, City of Arlington
Door-to-door rides
City program
Shared door-to-door rides around Arlington for residents with disabilities and people 65 and over, so a teen or adult who does not drive can get around.
BCBA note
Ages 8 and up
Mansfield ISD Special Olympics
Special Olympics
Public school
Mansfield ISD's Special Olympics delegation offers year-round sports training and competition for students with intellectual disabilities, age 8 and up.
BCBA note
Adults 18 and up
MHMR of Tarrant County Friendship Groups
Social group
County program
Monthly open groups for adults with IDD, with speakers, crafts, games and time with friends. You do not have to get other MHMR services to join.
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 Arlington parents ask
Who do I call first if my toddler in Arlington might have autism?
If your child is under 3, call ECI of North Central Texas, run by MHMR of Tarrant County, at 817-446-8000. Anyone can ask for an evaluation, and fees follow a state sliding scale. If your child is 3 or older, ask your school district's Child Find office for a special education evaluation.
Which school district evaluates my child in Arlington?
Your home address decides the district. Most Arlington families are in Arlington ISD, whose Child Find line is 682-867-7690, and Mansfield ISD also serves sections of Arlington, Grand Prairie and Kennedale at 817-299-4300.
How do I get my child on the Texas waiver interest lists in Tarrant County?
Call MHMR of Tarrant County at 817-569-4140 for the HCS and Texas Home Living lists, and call the state at 877-438-5658 for CLASS, DBMD and MDCP. You do not have to prove your child is eligible to join, and places are first come, first served. Alpaca Health verifies Texas Medicaid and private insurance before the first session.
Ready to start ABA therapy in Arlington?
Tell us about your child and we verify your insurance before the first session.
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