County resource guide
Autism Resources in Sandoval County, New Mexico
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Sandoval County. New Mexico statewide resources also apply.
Sandoval County (Rio Rancho) is part of the Albuquerque metro and one of New Mexico's fastest-growing counties. Rio Rancho Public Schools provides special education with growing autism programs. Families have convenient access to UNM's CDD in Albuquerque for specialized evaluations. EPICS (NM PTI) provides free statewide IEP advocacy.
Provider directory
Local Providers9 providers in Sandoval County
About our listings
Provider listings on Autism Parent Club are submitted by practices or researched from public sources. All listings are reviewed for accuracy before publication. To suggest a correction, use the “Suggest a correction” link below.
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.
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.
Rio Rancho
Family Infant Toddler (FIT) Program — Sandoval County
New Mexico's IDEA Part C early intervention program for Sandoval County children under 3. Free home-based evaluations and services for Rio Rancho, Bernalillo, Corrales, and Placitas.
FREE under IDEA Part C. No referral needed. Rio Rancho's growth has expanded local EI capacity.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
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.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
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
EPICS — IEP Advocacy for Sandoval County
EPICS, New Mexico's federally funded PTI, provides free IEP advocacy for Sandoval County families in Rio Rancho Public Schools, Bernalillo Public Schools, and other Sandoval County districts.
FREE. Rio Rancho Public Schools is one of NM's largest districts — EPICS handles significant Sandoval County volume.
For providers
Be the first featured provider in Sandoval County
Featured listings include your logo, extended description, a direct contact button, and top placement above standard listings. Families searching for help in Sandoval County see you first.
Missing a provider? Submit a listing — it’s free →
School districts & government services
Public programs and school district contacts for Sandoval County.
School & special education
- Rio Rancho Public Schools — Special Education
Rio Rancho is the largest city in Sandoval County.
Services & benefits
- NM DDSD — Sandoval County Office
Contact NM DDSD for Sandoval County waiver enrollment and DD services.
Adult services
- NM DDSD — Sandoval County Office
Contact NM DDSD for Sandoval County waiver enrollment and DD services.
Respite & support
- NM DDSD — Sandoval County Office
Contact NM DDSD for Sandoval County waiver enrollment and DD services.
Helpful guides
Guides for Sandoval 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 Sandoval County
Serving families across Sandoval County including Rio Rancho, Corrales, Bernalillo, Placitas, Cuba, Jemez Springs, San Ysidro, Zia Pueblo, Jemez Pueblo and Cochiti Lake and more.
See all New Mexico resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in New Mexico.
New Mexico state guide →Nearby counties in New Mexico
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.
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