Local Autism Resources in Waco, TX
Clinics, programs, parks and people in McLennan County that help families of autistic kids, from Hewitt and Woodway to Bellmead, 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 0-14
Baylor Scott & White McLane Children's Child Development, Waco
Autism evaluation
Doctor referral
Hospital clinic
Baylor Scott & White child development specialists who evaluate young children for autism and developmental delays, with a specialty clinic on the Hillcrest campus in Waco.
BCBA note
All ages
Baylor Speech-Language and Hearing Clinic
Speech evaluation
University clinic
Baylor's clinic evaluates and treats speech, language, feeding and hearing concerns for all ages, and runs a clinic for autistic children and teens.
BCBA note
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. You can refer your own child.
BCBA note
Ages 0-17
Waco Family Medicine Pediatrics
Medicaid and CHIP
Developmental screening
Pediatric care from birth through 17, with growth and developmental screening and referrals to counselors or specialists. Ask about Medicaid or CHIP.
BCBA note
Ages 0-21
Waco ISD Child Find
Free evaluation
School district
Waco ISD's door for a free special education evaluation, from birth to age 21. A parent or anyone worried about a child can make the referral.
BCBA note
Alpaca Health
This is us.
ABA therapy at home across Waco 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 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
2-1-1 Texas
Statewide
Referral line
The state's referral line. Dial 2-1-1 to find local programs, including help with Medicaid and other benefits.
BCBA note
Friends for Life Children and Youth Program
Family stipends
Respite help
A Waco nonprofit that connects families of children with special health care needs to programs and gives stipends toward costs like supplies, camp and respite.
BCBA note
Health Insurance Premium Payment (HIPP) Program
Statewide
Medicaid
Premium help
If someone in your family 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.
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.
Heart of Texas Autism Network
Parent meetings
Local nonprofit
Waco's own autism nonprofit, with family meetings and speakers, free childcare at meetings when available, and an annual walk and run.
BCBA note
Ages 0-26
PEN Project, Partners Resource Network
Free
Parent training
Region 12
The free parent training and information center for the Waco area. A regional coordinator helps you understand your child's rights in special education.
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 statewide virtual parent groups.
BCBA note
All ages
Heart of Texas Aging and Disability Resource Center
Resource navigator
Walk-in help
A Waco office that helps families of children with special needs, people with disabilities and caregivers find local services, by phone or by walking in.
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
The Arc of Texas
Statewide
IDD advocacy
Pooled trust
The statewide advocacy group for Texans with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with plain resources and a pooled trust for long-term planning.
BCBA note
School help
The district offices, scholarships and programs that shape your child's school day.
Midway ISD Special Populations
School district
Hewitt and Woodway
Special education, Section 504 and behavior support for Midway ISD, the district serving most of Hewitt and Woodway.
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
Waco ISD Special Education
School district
IEP and ARD
Waco ISD's special education department, the office to call about your child's IEP, services, records or a move into the district.
BCBA note
Ages 3-21
La Vega ISD Special Education
School district
Bellmead
Special education for La Vega ISD in Bellmead and east Waco, for students with disabilities ages 3 through 21.
BCBA note
Pre-K to grade 12
Parent-Directed Special Education Services (PDSES) Grant
Statewide
Grant
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
Texas Education Freedom Accounts
Statewide
Education savings account
State-funded education savings accounts created by Senate Bill 2. Waco ISD has a form for families who need IEP records for an application.
BCBA note
Places to play and explore
Parks, libraries, museums and sports with quieter hours or adapted programs.
All ages
Cameron Park Zoo
Sensory kits
Sensory room
Social story
Free sensory kits at the gift shop, a quiet sensory room halfway through the zoo, and a sensory map and social story to plan your visit.
BCBA note
All ages
Mayborn Museum Complex
Sensory backpacks
Social story
Baylor's hands-on natural and cultural history museum lends free sensory backpacks at the ticket desk and has a social story to prepare for a visit.
BCBA note
All ages
Dr Pepper Museum
Sensory bags
Quiet areas
Social story
A Waco history museum certified as sensory inclusive, with sensory bags to borrow, quiet areas and headphone zones, and a social story to read before you go.
BCBA note
Midway ISD Special Olympics
Special Olympics
School team
Midway ISD's Special Olympics team, where students compete in bocce, bowling, basketball, powerlifting and track and field through the school year.
BCBA note
Ages 8 and up
Special Strong Greater Waco
Adaptive fitness
Group classes
Adaptive fitness for children, teens and adults with mental, physical or cognitive challenges, with personal training, group classes and aquatic therapy.
BCBA note
Dentists, haircuts and everyday care
Appointments that go better when the office already knows autism.
Elite Therapy Center, Waco
Speech and OT
Feeding therapy
Medicaid
Pediatric speech, occupational, physical and feeding therapy in a large Waco clinic, with bilingual speech and OT and help applying for grants.
BCBA note
Infants to teens
Brazos Kids Dental
Dentist
Special needs care
Sedation
A Waco pediatric dental office whose dentists are trained to care for children with sensory, behavioral and other special needs, with sedation when needed and Medicaid accepted.
BCBA note
Ages 0-21
Central Texas Therapy Spot
Speech and OT
Feeding therapy
A small Waco pediatric clinic for speech, feeding and occupational therapy, including help for autistic children and sensory processing differences.
BCBA note
Adults
Friends for Life Adult Day Center
Adult day care
Respite
A weekday day center in Waco for seniors and adults with disabilities, so family caregivers can keep working or take a break.
BCBA note
Toddlers to teens
Hewitt Kids Dental
Dentist
Special needs care
Sedation
A pediatric dental office in Woodway that offers special accommodations, sedation and an at-their-pace approach for children with behavioral, physical or developmental needs.
BCBA note
All ages
Take Time Texas
Statewide
Respite
The state's respite program for family members who care for someone of any age with a disability or chronic health condition.
BCBA note
Help in a crisis
Numbers to keep in your phone for the hard days.
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
Crisis Text Line
Free
24/7
Text
Text HOME to 741741 any time for free, confidential support from a trained volunteer crisis counselor.
BCBA note
All ages
Heart of Texas Behavioral Health Network Crisis Hotline
24/7
Mobile crisis team
Walk-in triage
McLennan County's 24-hour mental health crisis line, which can send a crisis team to a child or adult anywhere in the county, day or night.
BCBA note
Waco Family Medicine Behavioral Health
Counseling
Children and adults
Counseling for children and adults in Waco, linked to your child's Waco Family Medicine doctor, for school, behavior, mood, anxiety and family stress.
BCBA note
All ages
State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR)
Statewide
Free
Disaster planning
A free state registry that tells local emergency planners and responders about people who will need extra medical, transportation or personal care help during a disaster.
BCBA note
Children and adults
Waco Police Take Me Home Program
Free
Wandering
Police registry
A free police registry for McLennan County residents who may have trouble communicating, so officers know how to talk with your child and get them home if they wander.
BCBA note
Teens, adults and community life
Work, independence and places to belong after high school.
Ages 14-22
Texas Workforce Solutions Vocational Rehabilitation, Youth and Students
Statewide
Job training
Transition
State job and college help for students with disabilities ages 14 to 22, from career counseling to internships and workplace skills.
BCBA note
Adults
The Arc of McLennan County
Adult day program
Self-advocacy
Waco's chapter of The Arc runs a weekday day program for adults with IDD, a self-advocacy group and an Aktion Club for service projects.
BCBA note
Waco ISD Transition Services
Transition planning
Job training
Waco ISD's transition specialist helps students with IEPs and their families plan for work, school and adult life, from early grades through age 21.
BCBA note
All ages
First Woodway Helping Hands
Faith community
Parent support
A special needs ministry at First Woodway Baptist with Sunday classes for children, teens and adults, buddies for inclusion and parent support.
BCBA note
McLennan Community College Accommodations
College
Accommodations
The office that sets up classroom accommodations for McLennan Community College students with documented disabilities.
BCBA note
Waco Transit Demand Response (ADA Paratransit)
Paratransit
Public transit
A ride service from Waco Transit for people whose disability keeps them from using the regular city bus, booked ahead through an app or by phone.
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 Waco parents ask
Where can I get my child evaluated for autism in Waco?
If your child is under 3, use the state ECI Program Search to find the early intervention program for your address. Waco ISD Child Find evaluates children from birth to 21 at no cost to parents at 254-755-9569, and your pediatrician can screen your child and refer you for a medical evaluation.
Who helps Waco parents with special education?
Start with your district's special education office, which is Waco ISD at 254-755-9473, Midway ISD at 254-761-5610 or La Vega ISD at 254-299-6750. The PEN Project serves Region 12, which includes Waco, and helps parents understand their rights at no cost, and SPEDTex answers questions at 855-773-3839.
Does Texas Medicaid help pay for autism care in Waco?
Children and young adults with disabilities age 20 and younger can get Medicaid through STAR Kids, which gives each child 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.
Ready to start ABA therapy in Waco?
Tell us about your child and we verify your insurance before the first session.
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