Local Autism Resources in Grand Junction, CO
Programs, advocates, school services and crisis lines in Mesa County that help families of autistic kids, from Grand Junction to Fruita, Clifton and Palisade. Each one was checked against the organization's own website, and there are no sponsored listings.
Getting a diagnosis
Where to get an evaluation, and who to call first for a child under 3.
Under 18
Children's Hospital Colorado Developmental Pediatrics, Grand Junction
Autism evaluation
Doctor referral
Hospital clinic
Children's Colorado specialists who evaluate children for autism and developmental delays, with a visiting developmental pediatrics clinic at the Grand Junction outpatient office.
BCBA note
Ages 0-3
Early Intervention Colorado
Free services
Statewide
Colorado's early intervention program for babies and toddlers with a developmental delay or disability. Anyone can refer a child, and services cost families nothing.
BCBA note
Ages 3-5
Mesa County Valley School District 51 Child Find
Free evaluation
School district
District 51's Child Find team screens and evaluates children ages 3 to 5 who may have a developmental delay, at no cost to families.
BCBA note
Ages 0-21
District 51 Audiology
Free hearing tests
School district
District 51's audiology team gives free hearing screenings from birth to age 21 and full hearing evaluations from 6 months, for Mesa County residents.
BCBA note
Individual Matters
Autism evaluation
Psychologist
Private pay
A Grand Junction psychologist's practice for learning and developmental evaluations, including autism, ADHD and learning disabilities, paid privately with no insurance billing.
BCBA note
Alpaca Health
This is us.
ABA therapy by telehealth anywhere in Colorado, and at home where an independent BCBA serves your address. Health First Colorado and private insurance are verified before therapy starts.
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Paying for care
Medicaid, the Innovations Waiver, SSI, grants and local charities.
Under 18
Children's Extensive Support (CES) Waiver
Medicaid waiver
Statewide
A Health First Colorado waiver for children under 18 with a developmental disability or delay who need hands-on care well beyond what is typical for their age.
BCBA note
Under 19
Health First Colorado Buy-In Program for Children with Disabilities
Statewide
Medicaid
Monthly premium
A way for families who earn too much for Medicaid or CHP+ to buy Health First Colorado coverage for a child with a disability, with a monthly premium.
BCBA note
Mesa County Human Services, Health First Colorado (Medicaid)
County office
Medicaid
Apply for or renew Health First Colorado, Colorado's Medicaid program, through Mesa County Human Services by phone, online or at the walk-in office.
BCBA note
Rocky Mountain Health Plans Case Management Agency
Waivers
County door
Mesa County's case management agency, the place to apply for Medicaid waivers such as the Children's Extensive Support waiver and for long-term services at home.
BCBA note
Grand Valley Connects
Free help
Resource navigators
Mesa County resource navigators who help any resident find disability services, health coverage, family support, childcare and other help.
BCBA note
Hilltop Health Access
Free help
Insurance enrollment
Free one-on-one help in Grand Junction to apply for or renew Health First Colorado, CHP+ or marketplace insurance, with a weekly walk-in day.
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Rocky Mountain Health Plans, Health First Colorado regional organization
Medicaid plan
Care coordination
The Health First Colorado regional organization for Mesa County members, which connects your child to primary care, behavioral health care and care coordination.
BCBA note
Free download
IHSS Colorado Application Checklist
Apply for IHSS in Colorado from Grand Junction with every step and document in one place.
Parent groups and advocates
People who have done this before and will pick up the phone.
Family Voices Colorado
Free help
Statewide
Colorado's parent-run Family-to-Family Health Information Center, which helps families of children with special health care needs work through insurance, Medicaid and waivers.
BCBA note
The Arc of Mesa County
Advocacy
Local chapter
Grand Junction's Arc chapter, where advocates help families with IEP and 504 meetings, Medicaid applications and other disability services.
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Autism Society of Colorado
Statewide
Support groups
Colorado's Autism Society, which runs online peer support groups, workshops and social hours for autistic adults, parents and caregivers.
BCBA note
Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition
Advocacy
Statewide
A statewide disability rights group run by and for people with disabilities that helps families with Medicaid appeals and civil rights problems.
BCBA note
Disability Justice (formerly Disability Law Colorado)
Legal advocacy
Statewide
Colorado's protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities, with advocates and attorneys who take on discrimination, abuse and neglect.
BCBA note
Parent to Parent of Colorado
Parent matching
Statewide
Matches you one to one with a trained parent who has been there, plus online groups and virtual support groups for Colorado caregivers.
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School help
The district offices, scholarships and programs that shape your child's school day.
District 51 Special Education
IEPs
School district
District 51's special education department works with families on IEPs, evaluations, speech and occupational therapy at school, and planning for life after high school.
BCBA note
Ages 0-26
PEAK Parent Center
Parent center
Statewide
Colorado's parent training and information center, where parent advisors help you understand IEPs, 504 plans, evaluations and your child's rights at school.
BCBA note
Ages 3-5
District 51 Preschool (Early Childhood Education)
Preschool
School district
District 51 preschool classrooms for children ages 3 to 5, where children with an IEP receive a free appropriate public education under their IEP.
BCBA note
District 51 Section 504 Office
504 plans
School district
District 51's 504 office answers questions about Section 504 plans, which give students with disabilities equal access to school programs and activities.
BCBA note
District 51 Social Emotional Behavior Supports
Mental health
School district
District 51's team for school-based mental health therapy, bullying prevention and positive behavior supports in Grand Junction schools.
BCBA note
Places to play and explore
Parks, libraries, museums and sports with quieter hours or adapted programs.
Special Olympics Colorado, Western Region
Sports
Western Slope
Year-round sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, with a regional team serving Mesa County and the Western Slope.
BCBA note
Ages 4 and up
Colorado Discover Ability
Adaptive sports
Outdoor recreation
A Grand Junction nonprofit offering adaptive skiing, snowboarding, cycling, rafting and summer outdoor days for people with physical or cognitive disabilities.
BCBA note
All ages
Dinosaur Journey Monthly Sensory Hour
Sensory hour
Museum
A quieter monthly hour at the Fruita dinosaur museum, with lights lowered, sounds and motion effects off, and smaller crowds for families with sensory sensitivities.
BCBA note
Ages 0-7
Mesa County Libraries Sensory Storytime
Sensory storytime
Library
A storytime at the Central Library for young children who are neurodiverse or have sensory needs, with dimmed lights, limited sound and a small group.
BCBA note
PEAK Parent Center Virtual Sensory Space
Online
Sensory tools
An online sensory room from PEAK Parent Center with calming visuals, sounds, breathing exercises and live animal cameras for a quick break at home.
BCBA note
Ages 8-13
The Arc of Mesa County Sibshops
Sibling events
Monthly
Monthly events where brothers and sisters of kids with developmental disabilities meet other siblings, play games and talk about their experiences.
BCBA note
Dentists, haircuts and everyday care
Appointments that go better when the office already knows autism.
Ages 0-21
Mesa County Public Health HCP Care Coordination
Free
Nurse care coordination
A free Mesa County Public Health program where a nurse helps families of children with special health care needs find care, clinics and help with insurance.
BCBA note
Community Hospital Grand Valley Pediatric Therapy
Speech therapy
Occupational therapy
Physical therapy
Community Hospital's children's therapy clinic for speech, occupational and physical therapy, including help with sensory processing, feeding and picture or device communication.
BCBA note
Dental Lifeline Network Colorado (Donated Dental Services)
Dentist
Statewide
Volunteer dentists
A statewide program that matches people with disabilities, older adults and people who need medically necessary dental care with volunteer dentists for full treatment.
BCBA note
Grand Valley Transit Paratransit
Paratransit
Curb to curb
Curb-to-curb rides in the Grand Valley for people whose physical or mental disability keeps them from using regular Grand Valley Transit buses.
BCBA note
Smile 4 Kids
Dentist
Special needs
A children's dental practice on North Avenue with a page for children with disabilities and an open invitation to meet the dentist before the first appointment.
BCBA note
Help in a crisis
Numbers to keep in your phone for the hard days.
All ages
988 Colorado Mental Health Line
24/7
Statewide
Call, text or chat
Colorado's free 24/7 line for any emotional, mental health or substance use concern. It replaced Colorado Crisis Services, and the old number still connects.
BCBA note
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
All ages
Health Solutions West, Grand Junction
Counseling
Sliding scale
The Western Slope's community mental health center, with therapy and psychiatry for children, teens and adults at its Grand Junction office.
BCBA note
Youth 18 and under (21 in special education)
I Matter
Free counseling
Statewide
Spanish
Up to six free sessions with a licensed therapist for Colorado youth 18 and under, or 21 and under in special education, with no insurance needed.
BCBA note
Safe2Tell Colorado
Anonymous
24/7
A 24/7 anonymous reporting line from the Colorado Attorney General's Office where students and families can report threats to a child's safety.
BCBA note
Teens, adults and community life
Work, independence and places to belong after high school.
Center for Independence
Independent living
Youth group
Grand Junction's independent living center, led mostly by people with disabilities, with a youth transition group and help finding community resources.
BCBA note
Ages 15-24
School to Work Alliance Program (SWAP), District 51
Employment
School district
A District 51 and Colorado Vocational Rehabilitation program that helps young people ages 15 to 24 find jobs and build skills for life in the community.
BCBA note
Aging and Disability Resources for Colorado (ADRC) at Hilltop
Free help
Disability navigation
Free, one-on-one guidance in Mesa County for people with disabilities and their caregivers on long-term care options, Medicaid and other benefits.
BCBA note
Ages 15 and up
Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Grand Junction
Job training
Transition
State agency
The state vocational rehabilitation office in Grand Junction, which helps teens and young adults with disabilities explore jobs and prepare for work, starting at age 15.
BCBA note
Colorado Mesa University Educational Access Services
College
Accommodations
Colorado Mesa University's disability services office, where students apply for class and testing accommodations and families can learn how the process works.
BCBA note
District 51 Project LIFE
Transition
School district
A District 51 transition program where students with intellectual and developmental disabilities learn independent living, job and community skills through hands-on work.
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 Grand Junction parents ask
Who do I call first if I think my child in Grand Junction has autism?
If your child is under 3, call Early Intervention Colorado at 833-733-3734, and anyone, including a parent, can make the referral. For children ages 3 to 5, District 51 Child Find screens and evaluates at no cost, at 970-254-5405. School-age children are referred through the school that serves your home address.
How do I apply for the Children's Extensive Support (CES) waiver in Mesa County?
In Mesa County, the case management agency for every Medicaid waiver is Rocky Mountain Health Plans, at 970-243-7050 or 800-346-4643. The CES waiver is for children under 18 with a developmental disability or delay who live at home and need direct help at least once every two hours during the day. Waivers can have waitlists, so it helps to call early.
Does Health First Colorado help pay for autism care in Grand Junction?
Health First Colorado is Colorado's Medicaid program, and Mesa County Human Services takes applications and renewals at 970-256-2434 or through Colorado PEAK online. Family and Children's Medicaid covers children from birth to 19 in low-income families, and Rocky Mountain Health Plans coordinates care for Mesa County members. Alpaca Health verifies Colorado Medicaid and private insurance before the first session.
Ready to start ABA therapy in Grand Junction?
Tell us about your child and we verify your insurance before the first session.
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