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Autism in Colorado

You are not alone. Here is what is true about the child population and public systems in Colorado — and where to start with early intervention, school, and coverage.

The short answer for Colorado

  • You are not alone in Colorado — the public systems below exist because many families are on this path.
  • Colorado's child-count figures are being re-checked against their primary sources. We publish a number only once we can name the source behind it.
  • Under 3: Early Intervention Colorado. School age: written evaluation request to the district; statewide info via Colorado Department of Education — Special Education.
  • Coverage: Health First Colorado (Medicaid). Rights: Disability Law Colorado.
  • Published access checklist: 100% (stronger published access path). City numbers only appear later with true local sources.

You are not alone in Colorado

Families across Colorado are navigating evaluation, school plans, and services. The figures below are from primary public sources — Census population and IDEA special-education child counts — not invented totals.

  • A large generation of families is raising children in Colorado. Public systems exist because this is not rare here: Early Intervention Colorado, school special education, Health First Colorado (Medicaid), and Disability Law Colorado.
  • The state's child counts are being re-checked against their primary sources. The pathways on this page are current; the numbers return once each source can be named.

Key numbers for autism families in Colorado

No numbers here yet.

We publish a figure only once we can name the public source behind it. The pathways below are current; the counts are still being checked.

Where to start in Colorado

Pick the path that matches your child. Each bullet is one clear action.

  1. If your child is under 3

    Call early intervention

    • WhoEarly Intervention Colorado
    • Do thisAsk for a developmental evaluation
    • Good to knowYou usually do not need a private autism diagnosis first
    • Phone888-777-4041
    Start a referralProgram homepage
    Source [5]

  2. If your child is 3 or older

    Ask the school for an evaluation

    • WhoYour local school district
    • Do thisSend a written request for a special education evaluation
    • SaveDate the letter and keep a copy
    • Statewide infoColorado Department of Education
    Open special education infoHow IEPs work
    Source [6]

  3. For health coverage

    Check Medicaid

    • WhoHealth First Colorado (Medicaid)
    • Ask aboutChildren’s coverage
    • Also askEPSDT (screening and treatment for kids on Medicaid)
    • Also askAny developmental disability or HCBS waivers
    • RememberThe agency decides eligibility — not this site
    • ExpansionYes in this catalog[9]— re-check before you rely on it
    Open Medicaid site
    Source [7]

  4. If you are stuck or ignored

    Get free disability rights help

    • WhoDisability Law Colorado
    • WhenSchool or an agency will not act
    • Do thisContact them and put your concerns in writing
    • AlsoKeep copies of emails, letters, and meeting notes
    Contact rights helpIf you disagree with the school
    Source [8]

Programs and rights in Colorado

Extra official links from the depth research pass. Only fields with a published source are shown. (Full research template.)

Early intervention

Special education rights

Medicaid, DD services, and waivers

Private insurance mandate

  • Colorado Revised Statutes § 10-16-104 requires many health benefit plans to cover autism spectrum disorders, with statutory parameters for covered treatments. Confirm current C.R.S. text and plan type.[11]
  • Read statute / official source

Other official help lines

What to do next

If your child is under 3

  1. Refer to Early Intervention Colorado using the official intake information on this page (source: ECTA Part C directory).
  2. You can usually refer without waiting for a private autism diagnosis.
  3. Ask about evaluation timelines and the written IFSP process.

If your child is preschool- or school-age

  1. Send a written request for a special education evaluation to your school district (keep a copy and note the date).
  2. Use statewide special education information from Colorado Department of Education — Special Education for parent rights and procedural safeguards.
  3. Ask whether the team is considering IEP or 504 supports and request Prior Written Notice of decisions.

Health coverage and rights

  1. Start with Health First Colorado (Medicaid) for public coverage pathways; ask about EPSDT and any DD or HCBS waivers.
  2. If access or rights are blocked, contact Disability Law Colorado.
  3. Document everything in writing.

At ages 0–4

toddlers and preschoolers
  • Refer to Early Intervention Colorado as soon as you have developmental concerns — do not wait for a private diagnosis.
  • Ask your pediatrician for developmental screening and a parallel EI referral the same week.
  • If your child is approaching age 3, ask EI about the transition to school-based services (Part B).

Changes with the age control at the top of the page.

At ages 5–8

5 to 8 year olds
  • Put a special education evaluation request in writing to the school principal or special education director.
  • Use the state special education page for parent rights materials: https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdesped
  • Ask whether a 504 plan or IEP is under consideration and request Prior Written Notice of decisions.

Changes with the age control at the top of the page.

At ages 9–12

9 to 12 year olds
  • Review the IEP or 504 annually; ask for data on progress, not only compliance with minutes.
  • If the district delays evaluation or services, use state complaint and mediation options via Colorado Department of Education guidance and Disability Law Colorado.
  • Document home and school differences (sleep, shutdowns, learning) in a short written summary for the team.

Changes with the age control at the top of the page.

At ages 13–16

teenagers
  • Confirm transition planning is in the IEP (federally required by age 16; many states start earlier).
  • Ask Health First Colorado (Medicaid) about adult-serving waivers or long-term supports planning well before age 18.
  • Involve your teenager in meetings; Disability Law Colorado can help if rights or access are blocked.

Changes with the age control at the top of the page.

Official autism-related contacts in Colorado

Early intervention under 3 (Early Intervention Colorado)

Early Intervention Colorado[5]
Colorado Department of Early Childhood[4]

Also see: Early intervention guide

School and special education

Start with your local school district (written evaluation request). Statewide:

IEP or 504 · IEP disputes

Medicaid

Ask about EPSDT and any developmental disability or HCBS waivers.

Disability rights help

Cities in Colorado

Metro guides with local intake contacts, district links, and evaluation pathways:

Autism in Aurora →Local entry points for Aurora families: which county office and school district cover your address, the developmental pediatrics team at Children's Hospital Colorado's Anschutz campus — physically inside Aurora — and how Colorado funds ABA now that its autism waiver is gone.5 local resources listedAutism in Colorado Springs →Local entry points for El Paso County families: The Resource Exchange as your early intervention and case management door, Child Find contacts for D-11, Academy D-20, and Harrison D-2, and how Colorado pays for ABA without an autism-specific waiver — every fact sourced.4 local resources listedAutism in Denver →Local entry points for Denver-metro families: the statewide early intervention line and your county's provider, district Child Find contacts, Children's Hospital Colorado pathways, and how Colorado funds ABA without an autism waiver — every fact sourced.8 local resources listed

Common questions about autism supports in Colorado

References

  1. [1]U.S. Census Bureau. Vintage 2023 civilian population by single year of age (SC-EST2023-AGESEX-CIV), ages 0–17 summed for Colorado. As of 2023-07-01. Open source
  2. [2]U.S. Department of Education (IDEA §618). Part B Child Count and Educational Environments, school year 2022-23. Children ages 3–21 reported under the Autism disability category (early childhood + school-age totals). This is a count of children served under that category — not a full census of all autistic children. Open source
  3. [3]CDC ADDM Network. Surveillance year 2022: overall ASD prevalence among 8-year-olds across 16 ADDM Network monitoring sites (not every US community) was 32.2 per 1,000 (about 1 in 31). National monitoring-site context only — not a statewide headcount for Colorado. Open source
  4. [4]ECTA Center · Part C directory. Part C state systems and coordinators directory (used for Early Intervention Colorado program and referral fields). Confirm current details on the state site. Open source
  5. [5]Early Intervention Colorado. Colorado Department of Early Childhood. Official early intervention program site for Colorado. Open source
  6. [6]Colorado Department of Education — Special Education. Statewide special education information for Colorado. Day-to-day IEPs start with the local school district. Open source
  7. [7]Health First Colorado (Medicaid). Public Medicaid / health coverage entry point listed for Colorado. Eligibility is decided by the agency. Open source
  8. [8]Disability Law Colorado. Protection & Advocacy organization linked for Colorado. Open source
  9. [9]Kaiser Family Foundation. Status of State Medicaid Expansion Decisions. Catalog coding for Colorado: expanded. Re-check the live tracker before citing. Open source
  10. [10]U.S. Department of Education (IDEA §618 Part C). Total infants and toddlers birth through age 2 receiving Part C early intervention (all eligibility reasons — not autism-only). OSEP Section 618. Open source
  11. [11]State insurance statute / DOI. Colorado Revised Statutes § 10-16-104 requires many health benefit plans to cover autism spectrum disorders, with statutory parameters for covered treatments. Confirm current C.R.S. text and plan type. Open source

Last checked 2026-08-03. If a link has moved, use the agency’s current homepage.

Last checked 2026-08-03. Programmes and numbers change — always confirm with the agency and your clinician.