Local Autism Resources in Fort Worth, TX
Clinics, programs, parks and people in Tarrant County and nearby Denton and Parker counties 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 3-21
Fort Worth ISD Child Find
School district
Evaluation
Fort Worth ISD's door for a special education evaluation. Families of children 3 to 6 who live in the district but are not in its schools use the referral form.
BCBA note
Under 6
Help Me Grow North Texas
Free screening
Family navigator
Spanish
A free phone line and online questionnaire to check how your baby or young child is developing. A family navigator calls you with the results and next steps.
BCBA note
Ages 0-3
MHMR of Tarrant County Early Childhood Intervention
Early intervention
County program
Spanish
The early intervention program for babies and toddlers under 3 in Tarrant, Denton, Parker and Johnson counties. Call to ask for an evaluation.
BCBA note
Ages 0-21
Burleson ISD Child Find
School district
Preschool screening
Burleson ISD evaluates children with a suspected disability at no cost and holds regular developmental screenings for 3 to 5 year olds who are not in school yet.
BCBA note
Ages 3-21
Denton ISD Child Find
School district
Free referral
Denton ISD's free referral service for a special education evaluation. Parents of children 3 to 21 who live in the district can fill out the online request.
BCBA note
Alpaca Health
This is us.
ABA therapy at home across Fort Worth 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.
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
MHMR of Tarrant County IDD Services
Local IDD authority
Waiting lists
Tarrant County's local IDD authority and the first call for publicly funded disability programs, including the HCS and Texas Home Living waiting 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 in English or Spanish to find local programs, including help with Medicaid and other benefits.
BCBA note
Parent-Directed Special Education Services (PDSES) Grant
Statewide
Grant
One time
A one-time state grant for public school students in special education, spent online on approved services such as extra speech therapy or on learning materials.
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.
FEAT-North Texas
Parent-run
Support groups
Lending library
A parent-run autism nonprofit with a resource center in Richland Hills, monthly support groups with free childcare, parent mentoring and a free lending library.
BCBA note
Ages 0-26
PACT Project, Partners Resource Network
Parent training
Special education rights
Free help from parent coordinators on special education rights and school planning, for families of children and young adults with disabilities up to age 26.
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 and a Dallas and Fort Worth virtual group for parents and caregivers.
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.
Fort Worth ISD Specialized Learning and Inclusion
School district
Special education
Fort Worth ISD's special education department, with early childhood special education for ages 3 to 5, inclusion support, structured classrooms and transition services.
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
Birdville ISD Specialized Services and Supports
School district
Special education
The special education office for Birdville ISD in North Richland Hills. A full evaluation for a child who may have a disability is free once you give consent.
BCBA note
Keller ISD Special Education
School district
Special education
Keller ISD's special education department, which runs free Child Find evaluations for children from birth to 21 and early childhood special education.
BCBA note
From 18 months
KinderFrogs School at TCU
Early childhood
Lab school
A TCU lab school with an early intervention classroom program for young children with Down syndrome and other developmental delays, starting at 18 months.
BCBA note
Texas Education Freedom Accounts
Statewide
Disability form
If you are applying for a Texas Education Freedom Account, Fort Worth ISD explains when your child needs a full special education evaluation and when a shorter form is enough.
BCBA note
Weatherford ISD Special Programs
School district
Special education
Weatherford ISD's special programs office, the place to call about special education, Child Find and early childhood special education in Weatherford.
BCBA note
Places to play and explore
Parks, libraries, museums and sports with quieter hours or adapted programs.
All ages
Fort Worth Museum of Science and History Sensory Saturday
Sensory-friendly hours
Calming room
Free evenings when the science museum closes to the public, turns down lights and sound and keeps a calming room open for families with sensory needs.
BCBA note
Fort Worth Park & Recreation Dream Club
Adaptive recreation
City program
The city's adapted recreation club for people of all abilities, with classes such as STEM, yoga, adapted PE and gardening, plus a trip each session.
BCBA note
All ages
Fort Worth Zoo
Sensory bags
Quiet zones
Social story
A Certified Autism Center zoo that lends free sensory bags with headphones and a communication board, and marks quiet zones on its map.
BCBA note
All ages
Amon Carter Museum of American Art Sensory Explorations
Museum
Free events
Free art museum events for autistic children and their families, plus a sensory-friendly social night for neurodivergent adults.
BCBA note
Casa Mañana Sensory Friendly Performances
Theater
Sensory-friendly shows
Quiet space
One relaxed children's theater show per production, with house lights partly on, softer sound, no strobes and a quiet space nearby.
BCBA note
Fort Worth Botanic Garden Sensory Kits
Garden
Sensory kits
Borrow a sensory kit at the garden's admission desk, with earmuffs, a weighted lap pad, fidgets and a communication board for your visit.
BCBA note
Fort Worth Inclusive Playgrounds
Playground
City parks
Fort Worth's playgrounds built for kids of all abilities, led by Dream Park in Trinity Park, with musical and interactive pieces for sensory play.
BCBA note
All ages
Fort Worth Public Library Accessibility Toolkits
Library
Sensory toolkits
Communication boards
Every Fort Worth library branch lends sensory toolkits and communication boards, and many branches run adaptive and sensory story times and programs.
BCBA note
Dentists, haircuts and everyday care
Appointments that go better when the office already knows autism.
18 months to 18 years
TCU Miller Speech and Hearing Clinic
Speech therapy
Hearing
University clinic
TCU's speech, language and hearing clinic evaluates and treats children from 18 months to 18 years, and parents can refer their own child.
BCBA note
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools, Fort Worth area
Swim lessons
Adaptive lessons
A swim school with private adaptive lessons, called S.N.A.P., built around each child's needs and goals. Call your nearest Fort Worth area school to ask.
BCBA note
Care Cuts
Haircuts
Sensory-friendly
A sensory-friendly salon in Grapevine that gives haircuts to people with autism and other physical or developmental disabilities.
BCBA note
Hurst Pediatric Dentistry
Dentist
Special needs care
Sedation
A pediatric dental office in Hurst with a special needs dentistry service, led by Dr. Jin Lin, near North Richland Hills.
BCBA note
All ages
TWU Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic
Speech therapy
Feeding therapy
University clinic
Texas Woman's University's speech, language, hearing and feeding clinic in Denton, run by supervised graduate students, with in-person and teletherapy sessions.
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 Crisis Line
24/7
Mobile crisis
County program
Tarrant County's 24-hour mental health crisis line. Call or text for help, and a mobile crisis team can come to children, teens or adults.
BCBA note
All ages
Denton County MHMR Crisis Line
24/7
Mobile crisis
County program
Denton County's 24-hour crisis hotline, with mobile crisis teams and walk-in crisis assessments for people in Denton County.
BCBA note
NAMI Tarrant County
Mental health
Family support
The local mental health nonprofit for the Fort Worth area, with education, support groups and advocacy for people with mental illness and their families.
BCBA note
All ages
Pecan Valley Centers Crisis Line
24/7
County program
The 24-hour mental health crisis line for families in Parker, Johnson and four other nearby counties.
BCBA note
Teens, adults and community life
Work, independence and places to belong after high school.
Ages 6-17
Help Me Thrive North Texas
Family navigator
Free
Spanish
A free line for families of kids 6 to 17. A family navigator answers questions and links you to support and services in the community.
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
All ages
Christ Chapel Bible Church Shine Special Needs Ministry
Faith community
Buddies
Respite night
A church special needs ministry with sensory-friendly Sunday rooms and one-on-one buddies, plus a free respite night for children 5 and older and their siblings.
BCBA note
Denton County MHMR IDD Services
Local IDD authority
Job support
Respite
Denton County's door to public disability services, from service coordination and respite to day programs, job help and supported employment for adults.
BCBA note
Ages 18+
MHMR of Tarrant County Friendship Groups
Social groups
IDD community
Monthly open groups for adults 18 and older with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with speakers, crafts, games and time with friends.
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 Fort Worth parents ask
Where do I start if I think my child has autism in Fort Worth?
If your child is under 3, call MHMR of Tarrant County's Early Childhood Intervention program at 817-446-8000 to ask for an evaluation. If your child is 3 or older, ask your school district for a special education evaluation, such as Fort Worth ISD's Child Find line at 817-815-5430. Help Me Grow North Texas at 844-689-5437 also offers a free developmental questionnaire for children under 6.
How do I get my child on the Texas Medicaid waiver waiting lists?
Call 877-438-5658 for the CLASS, DBMD and MDCP interest lists, and call MHMR of Tarrant County at 817-569-4140 for the HCS and Texas Home Living 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 Fort Worth?
Children and young adults with disabilities age 20 and younger can get Medicaid through STAR Kids, which gives each child a service coordinator at the health plan. 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.
Ready to start ABA therapy in Fort Worth?
Tell us about your child and we verify your insurance before the first session.
Start your intake