Local Autism Resources in Laredo, TX
Clinics, programs, parks and people in Laredo and Webb 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, Webb and Zapata Counties
Free evaluation
Home visits
The early intervention program for babies and toddlers under 3 in Webb and Zapata counties. Anyone can refer a child, and the evaluation costs nothing.
BCBA note
Ages 0-10
Gateway Community Health Center Child Development Clinic
Autism evaluation
Referral needed
Laredo's developmental-behavioral pediatrics clinic evaluates and diagnoses autism in children up to age 10. Your child's doctor sends the referral.
BCBA note
Ages 3-21
Laredo ISD Child Find
School district
Evaluation
Spanish
Laredo ISD's line for asking the district to evaluate a child who may need special education. A special education social worker takes the referral.
BCBA note
Ages 3-21
United ISD Child Find and Special Education Office
School district
Evaluation
United ISD's special education office takes Child Find referrals for ages 3 to 21. Anyone who knows a child with delays or learning difficulties can refer.
BCBA note
Ages 0-3
Texas Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) Program Search
Statewide
Early intervention
The state's search for the early intervention program that covers your address, for babies and toddlers under 3 with delays or disabilities.
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.
Start your intake →
Paying for care
Medicaid, the Innovations Waiver, SSI, grants and local charities.
Border Region Behavioral Health Center IDD Services
Local IDD authority
Medicaid waivers
Service coordination
The local authority for intellectual and developmental disabilities in Webb County. Call for an intake to check eligibility for state IDD services and waivers.
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 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
Ages 0-20
City of Laredo Health Department Family Supports for Children with Special Health Care Needs
City program
Referrals
The city health department program for children and youth with special health care needs. It refers families to state programs that can help pay for care.
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
Free download
Laredo and Webb County First 90 Days Checklist
Every Laredo number you need in your first 90 days, in English and Spanish.
Parent groups and advocates
People who have done this before and will pick up the phone.
Families for Autism Support and Awareness
Parent group
Support meetings
A Laredo nonprofit for families of autistic children, with monthly parent support meetings, holiday gatherings and a summer camp.
BCBA note
TEAM Project, Partners Resource Network
Free
Special education rights
Spanish
Free help with your child's special education rights from the federally funded parent center for education service center Region 1, with a Spanish-speaking coordinator.
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 virtual parent groups in English and Spanish.
BCBA note
Navigate Life Texas
Statewide
Parent guides
Spanish
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.
Ages 3-21
Laredo ISD Special Education
School district
Laredo ISD's special education department, the place to ask for an evaluation if your child lives in the district. Put the request in writing.
BCBA note
SPEDTex Special Education Information Center
Statewide
Help line
Spanish
The state's special education help line for parents. Call, email or use the online form, in English or Spanish.
BCBA note
Laredo ISD Section 504 and Dyslexia Services
School district
504 plan
Dyslexia
Laredo ISD's Section 504 office, for students whose disability affects learning but who may not qualify for special education. Parents can appeal its decisions.
BCBA note
Parent-Directed Special Education Services (PDSES) Grant
Statewide
Grant
One time
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
Places to play and explore
Parks, libraries, museums and sports with quieter hours or adapted programs.
Ages 1-3
Laredo Public Library Family Place Workshops
Library
Play workshop
A five-week parent and child play workshop at the library for children 1 to 3, with a child development expert on hand for your questions.
BCBA note
Ages 2+
Special Olympics Texas Area 21, Laredo
Adaptive sports
Young Athletes
Sports training and competition for athletes with intellectual disabilities in the Laredo area, plus a Young Athletes program for children 2 to 7.
BCBA note
Dentists, haircuts and everyday care
Appointments that go better when the office already knows autism.
Ruthe B. Cowl Rehabilitation Center
Speech therapy
Occupational therapy
Nonprofit
A nonprofit outpatient therapy center in Laredo with speech, occupational and physical therapy for children and adults with disabilities. Speech evaluations are offered in Spanish or English.
BCBA note
Tots to Teens Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Laredo
Pediatric dentist
Special needs care
Sedation
A children's dental office in Laredo whose team treats children with autism and other special needs, starting with an evaluation to plan each child's care.
BCBA note
All ages
UT Dentistry Laredo Dental Clinic
Dental clinic
Disability care
Medicaid
A university dental clinic inside Laredo Health that treats children and adults, including patients with medical, physical or mental disabilities, and accepts Medicaid and CHIP.
BCBA note
1st Choice Therapy
Speech therapy
Occupational therapy
Medicaid
A locally owned Laredo clinic with speech and occupational therapy for children and adults. It accepts Medicaid.
BCBA note
Border Region Behavioral Health Center IDD Respite and Community Support
Respite
In-home support
Short breaks for unpaid caregivers of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, at home or elsewhere, plus support at home and in the community.
BCBA note
Little Heroes Dental, Laredo
Pediatric dentist
Special needs care
General anesthesia
A children's dental office on McPherson Road whose team says it is experienced with special needs patients and works to keep each visit calm and supportive.
BCBA note
All ages
Take Time Texas
Statewide
Respite
The state's respite program for family caregivers, so a parent can get a short break from caring for a child or adult with a disability or chronic condition.
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
Border Region Behavioral Health Center 24-Hour Crisis Hotline
24/7
Crisis line
Crisis unit
The local 24-hour crisis hotline for Webb, Zapata, Jim Hogg and Starr counties. Call for support, screening and help in a mental health crisis.
BCBA note
Crisis Text Line
Free
24/7
Text
Text HOME to 741741 any time, day or night, to reach a trained volunteer crisis counselor. It is free and confidential.
BCBA note
Driscoll Children's Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Laredo
Child psychiatry
Hospital clinic
Driscoll Children's Hospital doctors see children and teens for psychiatry at a Laredo clinic, so families do not have to drive to Corpus Christi.
BCBA note
Gateway Community Health Center Behavioral Health
Counseling
Group sessions
Counseling at Laredo's community health center for children, adults, families and couples dealing with depression, anxiety, grief and other mental health concerns.
BCBA note
Here For Texas Mental Health Navigation Line
Free
Helpline
Spanish
A free helpline for finding mental health care for yourself or your child, such as a therapist who takes your insurance. It is not a crisis line.
BCBA note
Ages 5 and up
PILLAR Behavioral Health Clinic
Counseling
Family therapy
A Laredo nonprofit counseling clinic with therapy for children and adults, family therapy and work with parents on home and school life.
BCBA note
Teens, adults and community life
Work, independence and places to belong after high school.
Workforce Solutions for South Texas Vocational Rehabilitation
Job training
Vocational rehab
Spanish
The state's job program for people with disabilities at Laredo's Workforce Solutions center. It helps youth, students and adults get ready for work and keep a job.
BCBA note
Border Region Behavioral Health Center IDD Employment and Day Habilitation
Supported employment
Day program
Job help, supported employment, vocational training and a group day program for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Webb County.
BCBA note
Diocese of Laredo Religious Classes for Children with Special Needs
Faith community
Spanish
The Catholic Diocese of Laredo offers religious education classes for children with special needs at all of its parishes.
BCBA note
El Lift Paratransit
Transportation
Spanish
Laredo's door-to-door public transit for people with disabilities who cannot use El Metro's regular buses. Riders apply for eligibility first.
BCBA note
Laredo College Disability Services
College
Accommodations
Laredo College's office that helps students with disabilities get accommodations and support so they can take part in every part of college life.
BCBA note
Laredo ISD Special Education Transition Services
School district
Transition planning
Laredo ISD's transition specialist helps students in special education plan for life after high school, including college, work and adult services in Laredo.
BCBA note
Texas A&M International University Office of Disability Services for Students
College
Accommodations
Laredo's state university office that helps students with disabilities request academic accommodations for full access to their classes.
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 Laredo parents ask
Where do I start if I think my child has autism in Laredo?
If your child is under 3, call the CACOST early intervention program for Webb and Zapata counties at 361-265-4502, and you do not need a doctor's referral. If your child is 3 or older, ask Laredo ISD or United ISD in writing for a special education evaluation. For a medical diagnosis, ask your child's doctor for a referral to the Gateway Community Health Center Child Development Clinic, which evaluates children up to age 10.
How do I get my child on the Texas Medicaid waiver waiting lists in Webb County?
Call 877-438-5658 for the CLASS, DBMD and MDCP interest lists, and call Border Region Behavioral Health Center's IDD intake line at 956-794-3148 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 Laredo?
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 Laredo?
Tell us about your child and we verify your insurance before the first session.
Start your intake