Local Autism Resources in Plano, TX
Clinics, programs, parks and people in Collin County that help families of autistic kids in Plano, Frisco, McKinney and Allen, 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 2-18
Cook Children's Psychology, Prosper
Hospital clinic
Psychological testing
Cook Children's psychologists in Prosper see children and teens ages 2 to 18 for autism, ADHD, anxiety and other developmental or emotional concerns.
BCBA note
Ages 0-3
LifePath Systems Early Childhood Intervention
Early intervention
Services at home
Collin County's early intervention program for babies and toddlers under 3 who seem behind, with therapy at home or in child care.
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Ages 0-21
Plano ISD Child Find
School district
Online referral
Plano ISD's door to a special education evaluation for children who live in the district or attend a nonprofit private school inside it.
BCBA note
The Warren Center Autism Evaluation
Autism evaluation
Nonprofit
A nonprofit autism assessment in Richardson where the team meets with you afterward to explain what they found, with a written report and a plan.
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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 and you live outside LifePath's counties.
BCBA note
Alpaca Health
This is us.
ABA therapy at home across Plano and by telehealth anywhere in Texas, with independent BCBAs. Texas Medicaid and private insurance are verified before therapy starts.
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Paying for care
Medicaid, the Innovations Waiver, SSI, grants and local charities.
Ages 3 and up
LifePath Systems IDD Services and Waiver Interest Lists
Waiting lists
Service coordination
Collin County's office for intellectual and developmental disability services, where you put your child on the HCS and Texas Home Living waiver lists.
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.
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2-1-1 Texas
Statewide
Referral line
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
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
Plano and Collin County First 90 Days Checklist
Every Collin County 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.
Ages 0-26
PACT Project, Partners Resource Network
Special education rights
Free help
Free help understanding your child's special education rights from the federally funded parent center for North Texas, which has two coordinators for Region 10.
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Texas Parent to Parent
Statewide
Parent support
Statewide group whose staff are parents of children with disabilities. Call to talk with a parent who has been where you are.
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The Arc of DFW Area
Advocacy
Parent training
An all-volunteer disability advocacy group for Collin and eight other North Texas counties, with referrals and trainings on school, adulthood and Medicaid supports.
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Autism Society of Texas
Statewide
Parent groups
Statewide autism nonprofit with free one-on-one guidance through its Navigating Autism program, plus a Dallas-Fort Worth virtual parent group.
BCBA note
National Autism Association of North Texas
Parent support
Grants
A Plano-based, volunteer-run autism group that gives local families scholarships, emergency grants and help finding resources.
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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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School help
The district offices, scholarships and programs that shape your child's school day.
Ages 3-21
Plano ISD Special Education and Parent Navigator
School district
Parent training
Plano ISD's special education department for students 3 to 21, with an online Parent Navigator full of ARD guides, recorded trainings and transition resources.
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.
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Ages 0-21
Allen ISD Child Find
School district
Free evaluation
Allen ISD finds and evaluates children from birth through 21 who may need special education, and the assessment costs parents nothing.
BCBA note
Ages 0-21
Frisco ISD Child Find
School district
Free evaluation
Frisco ISD's special education evaluation for children from birth to 21 who live in the district or attend a nonprofit private school there.
BCBA note
Pre-K to grade 12
Parent-Directed Special Education Services (PDSES) Grant
Statewide
One-time 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.
All ages
Plano Parks and Recreation Adapted Recreation
City program
Respite
Year-round city classes, outings and a monthly dance club for children, teens and adults with special needs, which also give parents a break.
BCBA note
All ages
Plano Public Library Adapted Library
Library
Sensory friendly
Sensory-friendly library programs for neurodivergent kids, teens and adults, including an Adapted Storytime for ages 3 to 5 and sensory backpacks to borrow.
BCBA note
Ages 5 and up
ManeGait Therapeutic Horsemanship
Therapeutic riding
Nonprofit
Weekly therapeutic riding lessons in McKinney for children and adults with disabilities, including autism, led by certified instructors and trained volunteers.
BCBA note
Ages 8 and up
Special Olympics Team Plano
Sports
Volunteer run
A community Special Olympics team for athletes 8 and older with intellectual disabilities, with seasons of practice ending in area competitions.
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Dentists, haircuts and everyday care
Appointments that go better when the office already knows autism.
Callier Center for Communication Disorders, Richardson
Speech therapy
University clinic
UT Dallas speech-language clinic with group and individual therapy for autistic children, including a Richardson preschool program for ages 3 to 5 with significant communication delays.
BCBA note
edc Smiles Children's Dentistry and Orthodontics, Frisco
Dentist
Special needs care
A Frisco pediatric dental office that adapts each visit for children with sensory, developmental or medical differences, starting slowly at the first appointment.
BCBA note
Pediatric Dentistry of North Texas, Richardson
Dentist
Medicaid accepted
A Richardson pediatric dental practice that accepts Medicaid and CHIP and takes extra time to help children with special needs feel comfortable.
BCBA note
Pigtails & Crewcuts, Plano
Haircuts
Call ahead
A kids' hair salon in Plano that asks parents to call ahead about sensory needs so stylists can plan around noise and lights.
BCBA note
Snip-its Haircuts for Kids, Plano
Haircuts
Sensory friendly
A kids' salon in Plano that sets aside every Thursday for children with special needs and sensory sensitivities, with specially trained stylists.
BCBA note
Ages 3-8
The Warren Center Clinic Therapy Services
Speech therapy
Occupational therapy
Clinic-based speech, occupational and physical therapy and therapy groups for children ages 3 through 8 from a Richardson nonprofit.
BCBA note
Help in a crisis
Numbers to keep in your phone for the hard days.
All ages
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
24/7
Free
Call, text or chat 988 any time, day or night, for free and confidential help from a trained counselor.
BCBA note
All ages
LifePath Systems Crisis Line and Mobile Crisis Team
24/7
Mobile crisis
IDD crisis help
Collin County's 24/7 mental health crisis line for children and adults, regardless of insurance or income, with a team that can come to you.
BCBA note
Here For Texas Mental Health Navigation Line
Helpline
Free
A free weekday helpline from the Grant Halliburton Foundation where a trained navigator helps you find therapists, psychiatrists and support groups.
BCBA note
Ages 3 and up
LifePath Systems Youth and Family Services
Mental health
Walk-in clinic
Collin County's public mental health care for children and teens ages 3 and up, with walk-in clinics in Plano and McKinney on weekdays.
BCBA note
NAMI North Texas
Family support
Free classes
Free peer-led support groups and classes for families of people with mental health conditions, serving Collin, Dallas, Denton and Rockwall counties.
BCBA note
Plano Police Take Me Home Program
Police program
Wandering safety
A free, confidential Plano police registry that helps officers identify and bring home a resident with autism who cannot communicate in an emergency.
BCBA note
Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas
24/7
Hotline
A Dallas nonprofit crisis line answered 24 hours a day by trained volunteers for callers across the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
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Teens, adults and community life
Work, independence and places to belong after high school.
Ages 18-22
Plano ISD Charmaine Solomon Adult Transition Center
School district
Transition program
Plano ISD's special education program for students ages 18 to 22, built around job and life skills for adult life.
BCBA note
Ages 14-22
Texas Workforce Solutions Vocational Rehabilitation, Youth and Students
Statewide
Job training
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
Adults
Callier Center Adult Autism Programs
Speech therapy
Social communication
UT Dallas speech-language pathologists in Richardson who evaluate and treat social communication for autistic adults, with a young adult group.
BCBA note
Adults
nonPareil Plano
Tech training
Work readiness
A nonprofit training program in Plano for adults on the autism spectrum, focused on technology skills, work readiness and social engagement.
BCBA note
All ages
Prestonwood Baptist Church Special Friends Ministry
Faith community
Parent support group
Sunday classes, a midweek Bible study and a monthly parent support group for children, students and adults with special needs at Prestonwood's Plano campus.
BCBA note
REACH Resource Centers on Independent Living, Collin County
Independent living
Peer support
A nonprofit that helps people with disabilities in Collin County build independent living skills, find resources and plan the move from school to adult life.
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 Plano parents ask
Where do I start if I think my child has autism in Plano?
If your child is under 3, call LifePath Systems Early Childhood Intervention at 972-562-0331, which serves all of Collin County. If your child is 3 or older, ask your school district for a special education evaluation through Child Find, starting with your child's campus if they already attend Plano ISD. For an autism evaluation outside school, The Warren Center in Richardson and Cook Children's Psychology in Prosper both test for autism.
How do I get my child on the Texas Medicaid waiver waiting lists in Collin County?
Call LifePath Systems at 972-727-9133 for the HCS and Texas Home Living interest lists, and call the state at 877-438-5658 for the CLASS, DBMD and MDCP lists. You do not have to prove your child is eligible to join, and LifePath asks families to update their information at least once every two years.
Does Texas Medicaid help pay for autism care in Plano?
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. Alpaca Health verifies Texas Medicaid and private insurance before the first session.
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