County resource guide
Autism Resources in Bernalillo County, New Mexico
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Bernalillo County. New Mexico statewide resources also apply.
Bernalillo County (Albuquerque) is home to UNM's Center for Development & Disability — New Mexico's federally designated UCEDD and the state's premier autism evaluation resource. EPICS is New Mexico's federally funded PTI providing free IEP advocacy with strong cultural competency serving Native American and Hispanic families. New Mexico requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy, and NM's DD waiver and Family Infant Toddler (FIT) Program serve eligible residents.
Provider directory
Local Providers34 providers in Bernalillo County
About our listings
Provider listings on Autism Parent Club are submitted by practices or researched from public sources. All listings are reviewed by a person before publication, and no provider has paid to appear here. Read how we verify listings, or use the “Suggest a correction” link below to flag anything inaccurate.
0 providers in Bernalillo County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
Diagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Belen · multi-county
Presbyterian Rust Medical Center — Developmental Referrals
Presbyterian Rust Medical Center in Rio Rancho is accessible to northern Valencia County families and provides developmental screening and referral services. For comprehensive autism evaluations, Valencia County families are typically referred to UNM Children's Hospital or UNM CDD in Albuquerque, about 30 miles north.
Rio Grande corridor between Albuquerque and Socorro. UNM CDD in Albuquerque is the recommended evaluation destination for Valencia County families.
Albuquerque · multi-county
UNM Center for Development & Disability (CDD)
New Mexico's federally designated University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, housed at the University of New Mexico. The CDD offers comprehensive autism evaluations, family support, training, and research. The premier clinical resource in the state and the anchor of New Mexico's autism service ecosystem.
New Mexico's UCEDD — federally designated center of excellence. The state's most comprehensive autism evaluation resource.
Albuquerque · multi-county
UNM Center for Development & Disability (CDD) — Albuquerque
Torrance County has no local hospital or specialist services. All autism diagnostic evaluations require travel to Albuquerque, approximately 50 miles west. UNM CDD is the recommended resource — New Mexico's UCEDD offering comprehensive autism evaluations and family support.
Torrance County has no local evaluation resources. Albuquerque (~50 miles) is the destination for all specialists. Telehealth can supplement in-person visits.
Rio Rancho · multi-county
UNM Children's — Neurodevelopmental & Behavioral Sciences (Rio Rancho Families)
Sandoval County families in Rio Rancho are within 30 minutes of UNM Children's Hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico's primary academic center for autism evaluations. Rio Rancho's proximity makes this the best-positioned county outside Bernalillo for NM's top diagnostic resource.
~25-minute drive from Rio Rancho to UNM main campus. Sandoval County families have excellent access.
Albuquerque · multi-county
UNM Children's Hospital — Developmental Pediatrics
Developmental and autism evaluations at UNM Children's Hospital, New Mexico's academic medical center. Connected to the CDD for coordinated care. The primary pediatric evaluation site for Bernalillo County families.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Los Lunas · multi-county
Family Infant Toddler (FIT) Program — Central Region
New Mexico's IDEA Part C early intervention program for Valencia County. Free evaluations and home-based services for children birth to three in Belen, Los Lunas, and surrounding communities along the Rio Grande corridor.
FREE under IDEA Part C. No referral needed. Valencia County families have good access to FIT services.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Albuquerque · multi-county
AtlasCare ABA — New Mexico
ABA therapy in Albuquerque metro, Las Cruces, and Santa Fe areas serving Bernalillo, Doña Ana, and Santa Fe counties.
Source: https://www.atlascareaba.com/location-new-mexico
Albuquerque · multi-county
Center for Social Dynamics — New Mexico
ABA therapy and autism services serving Bernalillo, Doña Ana, and Santa Fe counties with clinic locations throughout New Mexico.
Source: https://csdautismservices.com/about-locations/new-mexico/
Albuquerque
Centria Autism — Albuquerque
In-home and center-based ABA therapy in Bernalillo County. BCBA-supervised. Accepts most commercial insurance and New Mexico Medicaid.
New Mexico requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Belen · multi-county
Centria Autism — Valencia County / Rio Grande Corridor
In-home ABA therapy serving Valencia County through Centria's Albuquerque-area network. Valencia County's location between Albuquerque and Socorro along the Rio Grande corridor gives families reasonable access to metro-based ABA resources. Accepts NM Medicaid.
Valencia County benefits from proximity to the Albuquerque metro provider ecosystem.
Rio Rancho · multi-county
Lovelace Health System — Rio Rancho ABA & Behavioral Services
Lovelace Health's Rio Rancho facilities provide behavioral health services and ABA referrals for Sandoval County children with autism. The Rio Rancho medical campus serves the growing northwest Albuquerque metro.
NM Medicaid (Centennial Care) accepted. Rio Rancho-based Lovelace clinic is convenient for Sandoval County families.
Respite care
Respite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
Statewide · multi-county
New Mexico DOH Respite Program
Short-term temporary care for children and adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, so a caregiver can have a break. New Mexico is unusually flexible about where it happens: the family and provider decide together, and it can be the family's own home, the provider's home, a respite home, or a community setting the family chooses such as a community center, a park or a swimming pool. For a child who does badly with unfamiliar buildings, that flexibility is the whole difference.
Also on (505) 841-4736. Respite is separately funded under the HCBS waivers — worth asking about both, given DD Waiver waits of 10 to 12 years.
~3,000 providers nationwide
ARCH National Respite Locator
A free national database of respite providers searchable by state and locality — home care agencies, community-based organizations and state programs. The single best starting point for finding respite anywhere in the country, and it is the tool state agencies themselves point families toward.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Before you pay out of pocket, check what your state's Medicaid waiver funds — respite is covered by nearly every state waiver, and many families never think to ask.
Most states run one
Your state's Lifespan Respite Care Program
Lifespan Respite Care Programs are federally seeded, state-run programs that help families of any age and any disability find and pay for respite — often including vouchers or subsidies that do not depend on having a Medicaid waiver. Most states have one, they are chronically under-used, and they are rarely mentioned by anyone else in the system.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Search for "[your state] Lifespan Respite" or use the ARCH directory. Ask specifically about voucher or subsidy programs — that is the part families most often miss.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Albuquerque
Autism Society of New Mexico
New Mexico's statewide autism chapter. Support groups, resource navigation, and family events for Bernalillo County and across the state.
Albuquerque · multi-county
Autism Society of New Mexico
Statewide autism family organization providing peer support and resource navigation. Torrance County families are well positioned to connect with Albuquerque-area support groups given the county's proximity to the metro.
Estancia is ~50 miles from Albuquerque — Torrance County families can access metro-area support groups.
Albuquerque · multi-county
Autism Society of New Mexico
New Mexico's statewide autism family organization. Valencia County families along the Rio Grande corridor can connect with Albuquerque-area support groups and the broader statewide network.
Belen/Los Lunas families are ~30 miles from Albuquerque support group meetings.
Rio Rancho · multi-county
Autism Society of New Mexico — Rio Rancho/Sandoval County
The Autism Society of New Mexico connects Rio Rancho and Sandoval County families to peer support, family events, and statewide resources. Rio Rancho's proximity to Albuquerque gives Sandoval County families full access to the metro's autism community.
Rio Rancho families can participate in Albuquerque support group events — many are in the same metro area.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Albuquerque · multi-county
EPICS — Education for Parents of Indian Children with Special Needs / Parents Reaching Out
New Mexico's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center. Free IEP advocacy, training, and one-on-one support for New Mexico families. Serves a uniquely diverse population including Native American families across the state.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Strong cultural competency serving New Mexico's Native American and Hispanic families.
Albuquerque · multi-county
EPICS — Parent Training & Information Center
New Mexico's statewide PTI offering free IEP advocacy and special education rights support for Torrance County families. Phone and remote advocacy are available, especially important for this very rural county where parents may have no local advocate.
FREE. Remote/phone advocacy essential for rural Torrance County families.
Albuquerque · multi-county
EPICS — Parent Training & Information Center
New Mexico's statewide PTI providing free IEP advocacy and special education rights support for Valencia County families. EPICS is easily reachable for Valencia County families given the county's proximity to Albuquerque.
FREE. Valencia County families can sometimes attend in-person EPICS events in Albuquerque.
Activities, clubs & recreation
Clubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
Albuquerque · multi-county
Adaptive Sports Program New Mexico
Adaptive sports lessons for children from age five and adults across the state, explicitly including autistic participants alongside people with amputations and vision impairment. Each summer they run two watersports camps at lakes in eastern and southern New Mexico - three days of camping, cookouts, paddleboarding, kayaking and fishing.
Santa Fe · multi-county
New Mexico Governor's Commission on Disability - recreation and adaptive sports
The state commission maintains a recreation and adaptive sports listing - the closest thing New Mexico has to a statewide index, and worth checking outside Albuquerque and Santa Fe where organized provision is very thin.
Albuquerque · multi-county
VIP Soccer Program
Soccer for children and adults with physical or intellectual disabilities including autism, run through New Mexico youth soccer.
200+ locations nationwide
ACEing Autism
Weekly Saturday tennis clinics built specifically for autistic children aged 5 to 18, run by volunteers at more than 200 locations across the country, serving over 7,000 players. Sessions run in six-week blocks of an hour. This is the clearest example of the interest-based model working: the sport supplies the structure, the turn-taking and the reason to be there, so the social side happens sideways rather than being the task.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Cost varies by location — around $120 for a six-week session at some sites, with scholarships available. Use the map on their site to find your nearest program, schedule and local contact.
~4,000 camps nationwide
American Camp Association — camp finder
A free searchable directory of close to 4,000 summer camps that can be filtered for camps serving autistic campers, by distance, session length, activities and cost. The best single starting point for finding a day or overnight camp anywhere in the country.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Registration for specialized camps typically opens December–February and popular overnight camps fill within days. Start the funding conversation in autumn.
Nationwide — find your local chapter
Best Buddies
One-to-one friendship matching between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, plus employment, leadership and inclusive living programs. Over 4,000 chapters across all 50 states, serving school-age through adult. If what your family wants is a friend rather than an activity, this is the most direct answer in the country.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
A national organization, not a local listing — use the finder on their site, or call 1-800-89BUDDY, to locate your nearest chapter.
Local affiliates across most of the country
Easterseals — camps and recreation
Day and overnight camps run through local Easterseals affiliates, several of them autism-specific, with weekend respite and family camp sessions as well. Many affiliates operate sliding-scale fees, and several camps serve adults alongside children.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Programs vary a great deal between affiliates — check what your nearest one actually runs rather than assuming the national description applies.
Week-long camps hosted nationwide
iCan Shine (iCan Bike)
Teaches people with disabilities to ride a conventional two-wheeled bicycle, using adapted roller bikes over a week-long camp that gradually transfers balance to the rider. Learning to ride a bike is a milestone a lot of autistic children are quietly written off for, and this is the program that most reliably delivers it. Camps are hosted by local organizations across the country, so availability is by host town rather than by chapter.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Check their site for host locations and dates — camps run in different towns each year, so somewhere near you may host this year and not next.
Local chapters in a number of US cities
KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now)
Volunteer-led one-to-one recreation for children and young adults with developmental and physical disabilities, at no cost to families or carers. The one-to-one model is the point: a volunteer is paired with your child for the session, which makes it workable for people who cannot manage a group setting unsupported.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Free to families. Runs through local chapters in a number of US cities rather than everywhere — check whether yours has one.
900+ divisions nationwide
Little League Challenger Division
Baseball for children and adults with a physical or intellectual disability, across more than 900 divisions. The main division serves ages 4–18, or up to 22 if still enrolled in school; the Senior League Challenger Division serves 15 and above with no upper age limit.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Use the league finder on their site to locate the nearest Challenger division, or ask about starting one.
200+ communities
Miracle League
Baseball on purpose-built accessible fields in more than 200 communities. Every player bats and every player scores, so ability differences do not decide the game.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Check their location list for the nearest field — coverage is good but not universal.
Every state — county-level programs
Special Olympics
Year-round sports training and competition at no cost to the athlete or their family, for children and adults alike. Programs run at county level in every state.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Eligibility centers on intellectual disability or a closely related developmental disability. If your child is autistic without an intellectual disability, have a direct conversation about fit before signing up rather than after.
Through local clubs and state associations
TOPSoccer (US Youth Soccer)
The Outreach Program for Soccer — recreational soccer for children and adults with intellectual, emotional or physical disabilities, usually with buddy support on the pitch. Run through ordinary local soccer clubs rather than as a separate organization.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Ask your state youth soccer association which local clubs run TOPSoccer — it is often not advertised on the club's own website.
For providers
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School districts & government services
Public programs and school district contacts for Bernalillo County.
School & special education
- Albuquerque Public Schools — Special Education
APS is New Mexico's largest school district, serving Albuquerque in Bernalillo County.
Services & benefits
- NM DDSD — Bernalillo County Office
Contact NM DDSD's Albuquerque/Bernalillo office for waiver enrollment and DD services.
Adult services
- NM DDSD — Bernalillo County Office
Contact NM DDSD's Albuquerque/Bernalillo office for waiver enrollment and DD services.
Respite & support
- NM DDSD — Bernalillo County Office
Contact NM DDSD's Albuquerque/Bernalillo office for waiver enrollment and DD services.
Helpful guides
Guides for Bernalillo County families
Step-by-step help on the topics that matter most.
School & IEP
Navigating the IEP process
Your rights under IDEA, how evaluations work, and what every IEP section means.
Finding help
ABA, OT, speech and waitlists
How to find qualified providers, navigate insurance, and get off waitlists faster.
Getting started
Where to start after diagnosis
A week-by-week checklist for the first 90 days — from evaluation to early intervention.
Benefits & money
SSI, Medicaid waivers, ABLE accounts
Federal benefits your child may qualify for and how to apply without losing your spot.
Mental health
Co-occurring conditions and support
Managing anxiety, ADHD, and depression alongside an autism diagnosis.
Daily life
Sensory processing and OT
Understanding sensory needs, sensory diets, and how occupational therapy helps.
Adulthood
Employment, housing, legal planning
Supported employment, housing options, guardianship alternatives, and ABLE accounts.
Communities served
Cities in Bernalillo County
Serving families across Bernalillo County including Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, South Valley, Kirtland AFB, North Valley, Paradise Hills, Four Hills, Tijeras, Edgewood and Corrales and more.
See all New Mexico resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in New Mexico.
New Mexico state guide →Common questions
Answered from the providers currently listed for this county — these update as the directory does.
How many autism providers serve Bernalillo County, New Mexico?
We list 22 providers serving Bernalillo County, covering activities, clubs & recreation, ABA therapy, parent & family support, advocacy & legal and early intervention (0–3), plus 2 more. Some are based in the county and others serve it from nearby areas. Every listing is reviewed by a person before it is published.
Which autism providers in Bernalillo County accept Medicaid?
3 of the providers we list for Bernalillo County state that they accept Medicaid, including Centria Autism — Albuquerque, Centria Autism — Valencia County / Rio Grande Corridor and Lovelace Health System — Rio Rancho ABA & Behavioral Services. Coverage and plan participation change often, so confirm directly with the provider before your first appointment.
Where can I find ABA therapy in Bernalillo County?
ABA providers serving Bernalillo County are listed in the ABA therapy section of this page, with phone numbers and websites. Many deliver services in the family's home or at school as well as in a clinic. Ask about waitlists when you call — they vary widely and change month to month.
Are there telehealth autism services for Bernalillo County families?
Yes — 1 provider serving Bernalillo County offers telehealth or virtual sessions. This is often the fastest route to support for families in rural areas or on long local waitlists.
Can autism therapy happen at home in Bernalillo County?
3 providers serving Bernalillo County deliver services in the family's home. Many children do better in a familiar setting than in an unfamiliar clinic room, and in-home visits remove the travel burden.
Does Medicaid pay for autism services in New Mexico?
New Mexico families can apply to the Developmental Disabilities (DD) Waiver, Medically Fragile Waiver and Supports Waiver, a Medicaid waiver that can fund respite, therapies and in-home support. The typical wait is 10–12 years for the DD Waiver, and your place is usually set by the date you apply — so applying early matters even if you are unsure what services you need. Many waivers also disregard parental income, so families who don't qualify for regular Medicaid often still qualify here.
What if I can't find an autism provider in Bernalillo County?
If none of the Bernalillo County providers is the right fit, these New Mexico counties currently have the most listed providers: Valencia County (22), Rio Arriba County (19), Grant County (17), Santa Fe County (17). Many providers travel or offer telehealth, so it is worth calling even if they are not based nearby. You can also tell us about a provider we are missing.
Nearby counties in New Mexico
You know things we don’t
Still missing from Bernalillo County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Bernalillo Countygets an afternoon back. It takes about a minute and you don’t need to know the business details — a name and a rough location is enough for us to check.
- Which dentist here has managed a cleaning without it becoming a fight?
- Who cuts your child's hair without a meltdown?
- Is there a group here where your child has made a friend?
- Which pediatrician here actually listens, and doesn't rush the appointment?
We check everything before it goes up, and nobody pays to be listed. How we verify.
Get told when this page changes
New provider in Bernalillo County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Bernalillo County — no newsletter, no digest, nothing else. Some counties hear from us a few times a year and some stay quiet for months; we would rather send you nothing than send you filler.
We store your address and county, and nothing else. How we handle it.
See something that needs fixing?
Providers move, phone numbers change, and links break — it happens. If anything on this page is out of date, wrong, or no longer working, please tell us and we’ll fix it. Keeping this accurate for autism families is the whole reason we’re here.
Report a correction →Help the community
Know a great provider in Bernalillo County?
If a therapist, clinic, or specialist helped your family, tell us about them and we’ll add them to the directory so other families can find them too.
Tell us about a provider →For providers
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