ABA Therapy in Colorado Springs: What Families on the South Side of the State Should Know

Colorado Springs is the second largest city in Colorado, and the autism therapy landscape here looks nothing like Denver. You have a massive military population with Tricare insurance. You have families spread across a city that stretches from Briargate in the north all the way down to Fort Carson and Fountain in the south. You have families in Manitou Springs, Woodland Park, and out toward Pueblo who consider Colorado Springs their hub for services.

And yet, the number of quality ABA providers here does not match the demand. Not even close.

If you are a family in Colorado Springs looking for ABA therapy, here is what you actually need to know. Not the optimistic brochure version. The real version.

The Provider Shortage Is Real

Let me be blunt. Colorado Springs does not have enough ABA providers. The Denver metro has dozens of agencies offering services. The Springs has significantly fewer, and some of the ones that do operate here have wait lists stretching three to six months.

The reasons are complicated. The Springs has a lower cost of living than Denver, which sounds great until you realize that ABA agencies compete for the same BCBAs and RBTs who can make more money working in the metro. Reimbursement rates from insurance companies are often the same regardless of location, so there is less financial incentive for agencies to expand into the Springs. The military population creates a unique insurance challenge that some providers avoid.

What does this mean for you? It means you need to start looking for ABA services the moment your child receives an autism diagnosis. Do not wait until you have all your paperwork sorted out. Do not wait until you feel ready. Call providers today, get on wait lists, and keep calling.

Military Families and Tricare

Colorado Springs is home to multiple military installations: Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base, the Air Force Academy, and NORAD. The military population is massive, and a significant number of military families have children with autism.

Tricare covers ABA therapy, but navigating Tricare is its own beast. Here is what military families need to know:

Tricare requires that ABA therapy be authorized through a referral from your child's primary care manager and then approved by the Tricare regional contractor. This process can take weeks. Get started immediately after diagnosis.

Not all ABA providers in Colorado Springs accept Tricare. Some agencies have decided the paperwork and reimbursement rates are not worth the hassle, which is frustrating but real. When you call providers, ask specifically: "Do you accept Tricare?" and "Do you have current openings for Tricare patients?"

If you are an active duty family and you receive PCS orders, your child's therapy will be disrupted. Start planning for this as early as possible. Ask your provider if they have locations near your next duty station. Ask Tricare about continuity of care provisions. Connect with the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) at your installation, because they can help advocate for appropriate services at your next location.

One advantage of being a military family is that the ECHO program (Extended Care Health Option) provides additional autism-related benefits beyond standard Tricare coverage, including respite care and specialized training. Make sure you are enrolled.

The Geography of the Springs

Colorado Springs is laid out differently than Denver. It is basically a long north-south corridor with Pike's Peak sitting to the west and open prairie stretching east. Where you live in the Springs dramatically affects your access to services.

Briargate and the Northside. This is one of the newer, more affluent areas with lots of young families. There are a few ABA clinics in this corridor, and some Denver based agencies extend their service area into northern Colorado Springs. If you live up here, you actually have the best access to services in the Springs area.

Downtown and the Westside. Older neighborhoods with more character but fewer services. If you are in Old Colorado City, Manitou Springs, or the areas around Colorado College, you may need to drive 20 to 30 minutes to reach an ABA clinic. In home therapy is a good option here if you can find a provider willing to come to your area.

Southeast and Fort Carson. A lot of military families live in this area, either on post or in neighborhoods like Security, Widefield, and Fountain. There are fewer ABA providers serving this corridor. The drive to Briargate or central Springs can be 30 to 45 minutes, which is brutal when you are doing it four or five days a week. In home therapy is strongly recommended if you live down here.

East and Falcon. Falcon and the areas east of Powers Boulevard are growing fast, but services have not kept up. If you live out here, you are pretty far from most ABA clinics. You need a provider who does in home therapy in your area or you need to be prepared for a significant commute.

Medicaid and CHP+ in the Springs

A substantial number of families in Colorado Springs are on Medicaid or CHP+. Both programs cover ABA therapy for children with autism, but finding Medicaid accepting ABA providers in the Springs is harder than in Denver.

The issue is reimbursement rates. Medicaid pays less than private insurance for ABA services, and in a market where providers are already stretched thin, some agencies simply do not accept Medicaid patients. This is a systemic problem, not just a Colorado Springs problem, but it hits harder here because there are fewer providers to begin with.

If you are on Medicaid and struggling to find a provider:

• Call every ABA agency in the Springs and ask specifically about Medicaid availability. Some have a limited number of Medicaid slots and maintain separate wait lists for Medicaid versus private insurance.
• Contact your Medicaid managed care organization (like Colorado Access or Rocky Mountain Health Plans) and ask for their provider directory. They may know of providers you have not found on your own.
• Ask about the Regional Accountable Entity for your area. These organizations help connect Medicaid members to services and can sometimes expedite referrals.
• Consider providers who are based in Denver but extend services to the Springs via telehealth for parent training and BCBA supervision, with local RBTs providing direct therapy.

Schools and IEPs in Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs has two major school districts: District 11 (which covers most of the city) and District 20 (which covers the Briargate and northside areas). There are also several smaller districts in surrounding areas like District 49 (Falcon), Fountain-Fort Carson District 8, and Widefield District 3.

Your experience with school based autism services will vary significantly depending on which district you are in. District 20 generally has more resources and a reputation for stronger special education programs. District 11 is larger and more diverse but can be more inconsistent in quality.

Regardless of your district, your child has the right to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) under IDEA. If your child qualifies, they should have an IEP with appropriate supports. ABA therapy can supplement school services but does not replace them, and vice versa.

If you are having trouble getting appropriate school services, contact the Arc of the Pikes Peak Region. They offer free advocacy and can attend IEP meetings with you. Parent to Parent of Colorado also has support available in the Springs area.

Connecting with Other Families

One of the best things about the autism community in Colorado Springs is that families are tight knit. When you live in a city where services are limited, families band together to share information, swap provider recommendations, and support each other.

The Autism Community of the Pikes Peak Region is an active organization that hosts events, support groups, and resource fairs. They are a great starting point if you are new to the area or newly diagnosed.

Military families have an additional network through the EFMP and organizations like Autism on the Seas, which offers recreational events for military families.

Churches and community centers throughout the Springs also host autism friendly events and support groups. Check with your local recreation center for adaptive programs. The City of Colorado Springs Parks and Recreation department runs inclusive programs that your child might enjoy alongside therapy.

What About Pueblo?

If you live in Pueblo or south of Colorado Springs, your options are even more limited. Pueblo has a smaller population and fewer providers. Some Springs based agencies extend services to Pueblo, but it depends on the agency and their staffing.

Telehealth is becoming a viable option for BCBA supervision and parent training, even if direct therapy still needs to happen in person. If you are in Pueblo and cannot find a local provider, ask about hybrid models where an RBT provides in person therapy and the BCBA supervises via video.

The Pueblo community is resilient and resourceful. Connect with local family support organizations, your school district's special education department, and your pediatrician for referrals. And do not give up. Services are limited, but they do exist, and they are growing.

Looking Ahead

Colorado Springs is growing fast. With that growth comes increased demand for services, but also increased interest from providers who want to serve this market. Several ABA agencies that have been Denver only are starting to expand into the Springs. Telehealth options are making BCBA supervision more accessible. The military community is advocating loudly for better autism services near installations.

Things are getting better, slowly. In the meantime, start early, be persistent, and connect with other families who have navigated this path. The autism community in Colorado Springs is small enough that someone knows someone who can help, and that personal connection often makes the difference between a six month wait list and getting started next week.