Early Intervention and ABA in Florida
Get your child under 3 help now via Early Steps, then layer in ABA if needed.
Start with Early Steps, Not Insurance
If your child is under 3 and you suspect a delay, Florida's Early Steps program is your fastest door. It is the state's Part C early intervention system, and it is federally required in every state. You do not need an autism diagnosis to request an evaluation, and you do not need to wait for a pediatrician referral.
Early Steps is separate from insurance-funded ABA. You can use them in sequence or together. Many families start with Early Steps while they pursue an autism diagnosis and an ABA provider, then add ABA once insurance approval comes through.
How to Request an Evaluation
Call or write to your local Early Steps office and say you want a free evaluation for your child. Put it in writing if you can, because that creates a paper trail. You can find the contact for your county through the Florida Department of Health's Early Steps page, but you can also just call the state Early Steps main line and ask for your area's office.
The evaluation is free and does not commit you to anything. It looks at five areas: cognitive, physical, communication, social or emotional, and adaptive skills. If your child qualifies, you get an Individualized Family Service Plan, or IFSP.
What an IFSP Includes
The IFSP is your family's plan. It lists your child's strengths and needs, your family's concerns, and the specific outcomes you want. It also names the services your child will get, like speech therapy, occupational therapy, or developmental intervention.
You are part of the team that writes it. The plan is reviewed every six months and updated at least once a year. You can request a review anytime if something changes.
Where Services Happen and What They Cost
Services happen where your child naturally is: at home, at a daycare, or in a community setting like a park. A provider comes to you, which removes travel time and lets the therapist see your child in real life.
Early Steps is free or sliding scale, depending on your income. In Florida, families above certain income levels pay a share of the cost, but no family is turned away for inability to pay. Your service coordinator will walk you through the paperwork.
The Transition at Age 3
At age 3, your child ages out of Early Steps. The program must hold a transition conference at least 90 days before the third birthday to plan what comes next. If your child qualifies, they move to the school district's pre-K program for children with disabilities.
That school district program is also free and is governed by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, just like Early Steps. The evaluation for school services is separate from the Early Steps one, so expect a new assessment. Start this process early, because the school district has its own timelines.
Using ABA Alongside Early Steps
Early Steps is not ABA. It is developmental therapy, and it does not replace intensive behavioral intervention. If your child gets an autism diagnosis, you can pursue ABA through your health insurance at the same time you are getting Early Steps services.
Florida has an autism insurance mandate, but it only applies to fully insured plans. If your employer self-funds its health plan, that plan is exempt under federal ERISA law, though many self-funded plans cover ABA anyway. Ask your benefits administrator or insurer directly. The exact question to ask: 'Does my plan cover applied behavior analysis for autism, and are there session limits or a dollar cap?'
What to Ask Your Insurer
Limits vary by plan, so do not rely on what a friend's plan covers. Ask for the specific ABA benefit in your plan document. You want to know the annual or lifetime dollar cap, if any, and whether there is a limit on hours per week or visits per year.
Also ask whether you need a prior authorization and what the deductible and out-of-pocket maximum are. Write down the name of the plan and the date you called. If you get a denial, you have the right to appeal.
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5,340 ABA agencies across 50 Florida counties.