Local Autism Resources in Corpus Christi, TX
Clinics, programs, parks and people in Nueces County and nearby San Patricio County that help families of autistic kids, 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 0-3
CACOST Early Childhood Intervention (ECI Project Niños)
Free evaluation
Home visits
Nueces and San Patricio
The early intervention program for babies and toddlers under 3 in Nueces and San Patricio counties. Anyone can make the referral, and the evaluation costs nothing.
BCBA note
Ages 0-21
Calallen ISD Child Find
School district
Free evaluation
Calallen ISD finds and evaluates children with disabilities from birth to 21 who live in the district, at no cost to families.
BCBA note
Ages 0-21
Corpus Christi ISD Child Find
School district
Evaluation request
How to ask Corpus Christi ISD to evaluate your child for special education, for children from birth to 21, including those homeschooled or in private school.
BCBA note
Driscoll Children's Hospital Developmental Pediatric Medicine
Autism evaluation
Referral needed
Psychology testing
Driscoll's developmental pediatricians and psychologists evaluate autism, ADHD and developmental delays. Your child's primary care doctor sends the referral.
BCBA note
Ages 0-21
Flour Bluff ISD Child Find
School district
Special education
Flour Bluff ISD's special education office finds and evaluates children with disabilities who live in the district. Call to start an evaluation.
BCBA note
Alpaca Health
This is us.
ABA therapy at home across Corpus Christi 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.
All ages
Coastal Bend Aging and Disability Resource Center
Free help
Benefits applications
Free local help for people of any age with disabilities and their caregivers, including filling out Medicaid and CHIP applications.
BCBA note
Ages 0-20
Driscoll Health Plan STAR Kids
Medicaid
Service coordinator
Spanish
A Corpus Christi based STAR Kids health plan for children and young adults with disabilities up to age 20, with a service coordinator who helps plan care.
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
Ages 3 and up
Nueces Center for Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, IDD Services
County authority
Medicaid
Sliding scale
Nueces County's public IDD authority. It checks eligibility and offers service coordination, respite, family support and job help for people with autism or intellectual disabilities.
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
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
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
Parent groups and advocates
People who have done this before and will pick up the phone.
Ages 0-26
PATH Project, Partners Resource Network
Free
Special education rights
Free help understanding your child's special education rights from the federally funded parent center, with a coordinator for the Corpus Christi region.
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 for parents through its Navigating Autism program, plus virtual connection groups.
BCBA note
Coalition of Texans with Disabilities
Statewide
Advocacy
A statewide cross-disability advocacy group that works on disability policy and runs a program letting STAR Kids families hire their own attendants.
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
School help
The district offices, scholarships and programs that shape your child's school day.
Corpus Christi ISD Special Education
School district
Special education
The special education department for children who live in Corpus Christi ISD. Call the district and ask for special education to request an evaluation.
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
Parent-Directed Special Education Services (PDSES) Grant
Statewide
Grant
A one-time state grant for public school students in special education, spent online on extra speech therapy, tutoring, learning materials or devices.
BCBA note
West Oso ISD Special Education
School district
Special education
West Oso ISD's special education team, including diagnosticians and speech staff, for students who live in the district.
BCBA note
Places to play and explore
Parks, libraries, museums and sports with quieter hours or adapted programs.
Ages 5 and up
Miracle League of Corpus Christi
Adaptive sports
Buddies
Sensory accommodations
Adaptive sports through most of the year for players of all abilities, with volunteer buddies and a field with no obstructions from the parking lot.
BCBA note
Texas State Aquarium
Sensory bags
KultureCity certified
The aquarium is KultureCity certified, with trained staff and free sensory bags with headphones and fidget tools at Guest Services.
BCBA note
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools Corpus Christi
Adaptive swim
One-on-one
A Staples Street swim school whose S.N.A.P. program gives one-on-one adaptive lessons to children with autism and other disabilities.
BCBA note
Ages 5-12
Cole Park Play-for-All Playground and Splash Pad
Playground
Splash pad
Bayfront
A city play-for-all playground and fenced splash pad on the Bayfront, built with ADA access for children 5 to 12, including kids with mobility challenges.
BCBA note
Corpus Christi Parks and Recreation Adaptive Swim Lessons
Adaptive swim
One-on-one
City program
The city's adaptive swim lessons are one-on-one with a city instructor. Email the aquatics staff to sign up.
BCBA note
Ages 0-14
La Retama Central Library Sensory Room
Sensory room
Free
Reservation
A free sensory room at the downtown library for children up to 14 with special needs and their families, booked by the hour by phone or in person.
BCBA note
Dentists, haircuts and everyday care
Appointments that go better when the office already knows autism.
Ages 0-21
Driscoll Occupational and Speech Therapy
Speech therapy
Occupational therapy
Feeding
Driscoll's outpatient speech and occupational therapy for children, including sensory integration, feeding and communication devices, at two Corpus Christi clinics.
BCBA note
Kennedy Dental Care
Special needs dentistry
Pre-visit tours
Sedation options
A dental practice with four Corpus Christi offices that adapts visits for kids with autism and sensory needs, with quieter times and a tour before treatment.
BCBA note
Texas Lifespan Respite Care Program, Coastal Bend
Respite
Caregiver training
Short breaks for family caregivers of a person with any disability. The program can pay a temporary provider so you get time off.
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
Nueces Center for Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities Crisis Hotline
24/7
County crisis line
Walk-in
Nueces County's 24-hour mental health crisis line. Call any time, or walk in on Brownlee Boulevard during business hours.
BCBA note
Coastal Plains Integrated Health Crisis Line
24/7
San Patricio County
The 24/7 mental health crisis line for San Patricio County, including Portland, and eight nearby counties.
BCBA note
Ages 6-17
Driscoll Children's Hospital Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Psychiatry
Telepsychiatry
Driscoll's psychiatry clinic for children 6 to 17 with anxiety, depression, OCD and other mental health conditions, with in-person and video visits.
BCBA note
NAMI Greater Corpus Christi
Free
Family support
Classes
The local NAMI affiliate, with free peer-led support groups and classes for families of people living with a mental health condition.
BCBA note
Ages 3-17
Nueces Center for Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, Youth Mental Health
Counseling
Medicaid and CHIP
Sliding scale
Outpatient counseling, case management and medication for children 3 to 17 with emotional or mental health concerns in Nueces County.
BCBA note
Teens, adults and community life
Work, independence and places to belong after high school.
Texas Workforce Solutions Vocational Rehabilitation, Coastal Bend
Job training
Statewide program
Online referral
State job help for people with disabilities, from career planning to support on the job. Start with the local VR team or the online referral.
BCBA note
Adults 18+
Choice Living Community
Day program
Job skills
HCS waiver
A day program for adults with disabilities who have finished school, teaching job, life and social skills at centers in Corpus Christi and Portland.
BCBA note
Coastal Bend Center for Independent Living
Independent living
Assistive technology
Helps people with disabilities live on their own, with independent living skills, an assistive technology demonstration center, housing help and CLASS waiver services.
BCBA note
Coastal Plains Integrated Health IDD Services
San Patricio County
Job skills
Community services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in San Patricio County and nearby counties, with an emphasis on job skills.
BCBA note
Corpus Christi RTA B-Line Paratransit
Paratransit
Public transit
A shared ride service from the Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority for people whose disability keeps them from using regular buses, booked by app or phone.
BCBA note
Del Mar College Access Services
College
Accommodations
The community college office that arranges class and testing accommodations for students with disabilities, starting with a request form and an intake meeting.
BCBA note
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Disability Services
College
Accommodations
The university office that arranges class, testing and housing accommodations for students with documented disabilities.
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 and internships to job training, through a local VR office.
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 Corpus Christi parents ask
Where do I start if I think my child has autism in Corpus Christi?
If your child is under 3, call CACOST Early Childhood Intervention at 361-265-4502, which serves Nueces and San Patricio counties. If your child is 3 or older, ask your school district for a special education evaluation. At any age, your child's primary care doctor can refer you to Developmental Pediatric Medicine at Driscoll Children's Hospital.
How do I get my child on the Texas Medicaid waiver waiting lists in Nueces County?
Call 877-438-5658 for the CLASS, DBMD and MDCP interest lists, and call the Nueces Center for Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, the county's IDD authority, at 361-886-4663 for HCS and Texas Home Living. 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 Corpus Christi?
Children and young adults with disabilities age 20 and younger can get Medicaid through STAR Kids, and Driscoll Health Plan gives each of its STAR Kids members a service coordinator. Families who earn above the usual limit may qualify for Medicaid Buy-In for Children, which charges a monthly premium based on income. Alpaca Health verifies Texas Medicaid and private insurance before the first session.
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