County resource guide
Autism Resources in Harris County, Texas
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Harris County. Texas statewide resources also apply.
Harris County — home to Houston, the nation's fourth-largest city — has one of the largest concentrations of autism providers in the South. Texas Children's Hospital operates a dedicated Autism Center offering comprehensive evaluations, and Houston ISD's autism programs serve thousands of students across the district. Texas has a strong ABA insurance mandate, meaning most commercial plans must cover ABA therapy. The Autism Society of Greater Houston connects families to local resources and peer support, and the Texas Parent to Parent network (TxP2P) provides free advocacy support statewide.
School evaluation
Request a School Evaluation
Under IDEA, your school district must evaluate your child for free if you request it in writing. Here’s who to contact in Harris County:
Houston Independent School District — Special Education
Texas calls this a Special Education Referral. Submit a written referral to the principal or special education coordinator. District has 15 school days to respond.
Contacts verified May 2026 — call to confirm current numbers
Learn how to write your evaluation request →Provider directory
Local Providers40 providers in Harris 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 Harris 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.
Houston · multi-county
Texas Children's Hospital — Autism Center (Houston Referral)
Houston
Texas Children's Hospital Autism Center
Comprehensive autism evaluations at one of the nation's top pediatric hospitals. Multi-disciplinary team including developmental pediatricians, psychologists, and speech pathologists. Part of the Autism Treatment Network.
Waitlists can be long. Ask about self-pay options and cancellation lists.
Houston
UT Physicians — Autism Specialty Clinic
ASD diagnostic assessments and psychiatric treatment for ages 3–45. Part of UTHealth Houston. Located at 1941 East Road, Suite 2100, Houston.
Source: https://med.uth.edu/psychiatry/autism-spectrum-disorder-asd-and-neurodevelopmental-disorders-specialty-clinic/
Houston
West Houston Psychology
Comprehensive autism evaluations for children, adolescents, teens, and adults in West Houston.
Source: https://www.westhoustonpsychology.com/autism-evaluation
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Baytown · multi-county
ABA Centers of Texas — Baytown/East Harris
Houston
Breakthrough ABA
In-home and center-based ABA therapy plus social skills training for children with autism in the Houston area. BCBA-supervised, accepts most major insurance.
Source: https://breakthroughaba.com
Houston
Elite Spectrum ABA
ABA therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and social skills groups under one roof serving the Houston area.
Source: https://www.elitespectrumaba.com
Houston
Houston Behavior Consultants
In-home and clinic-based ABA therapy for children in the Houston metro. BCBA-supervised sessions with experienced behavior technicians. Accepts most commercial insurance under Texas's ABA mandate.
Texas requires most commercial insurance plans to cover ABA therapy.
Houston · multi-county
Texas Young Autism Project (TYAP)
ABA therapy, speech services, feeding programs, and social skills groups for children with autism. Two clinic locations in the Houston/Katy area.
Source: https://texasyoungautismproject.com
Speech therapy
Speech-language pathology, AAC, pragmatic language, and feeding.
Houston
Speech Pathology Group — Houston
Pediatric speech-language pathology with experience in AAC, social communication, and autism-specific language delays. Multiple Houston-area locations.
Occupational therapy & sensory
Occupational therapy, sensory integration, and sensory diets.
Katy
Sensory Solutions — Houston
Pediatric occupational therapy specializing in sensory processing, motor skills, and daily living skills for autistic children. Sensory gym and home program training.
Katy is in western Harris County. Serves the Houston suburbs.
Houston
SPACE Therapy & Gym
Speech, occupational, physical, and feeding therapy for children with autism. Sensory gym on site. Located at 4606 FM 1960 Rd W, Houston.
Source: https://spacetherapygym.com
Houston
Therapy For Life
ABA, speech, and occupational therapy under one roof in Northwest Houston and Bridgeland. Serves children with autism and developmental delays.
Source: https://therapyforlife.com
Respite care
Respite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
Statewide · multi-county
Take Time Texas — Texas Lifespan Respite Care Program
The state's respite program, for families caring for someone of any age with any chronic condition or disability. It provides vouchers of roughly $800 to $1,000 per eligible family, usable for in-home or facility-based respite, all at once or spread across three months. Apply through your local Area Agency on Aging. Texas is one of the more generous states here and the money is routinely left unclaimed.
Ask for the Texas Lifespan Respite Care Program by name. The Texas Respite Coordination Center is the central point of contact if your Area Agency is unhelpful.
~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.
Houston · multi-county
Autism Society of Greater Houston
The Houston chapter of the Autism Society of America. Provides support groups, resource navigation, social events for autistic individuals and their families, and an annual conference.
Houston · multi-county
Autism Society of Greater Houston — East Chapter
Sugar Land · multi-county
Autism Society of Greater Houston — Fort Bend Families
The Greater Houston chapter serves Fort Bend County families with support groups, resource navigation, and family events. Monthly meetings and an annual resource fair.
League City · multi-county
Autism Society of Greater Houston — Galveston County
The Greater Houston Autism Society chapter serves Galveston County families with parent support groups, resource navigation, and family events. League City and Clear Lake area families have access to Houston metro resources.
Conroe · multi-county
Autism Society of Greater Houston — Montgomery County
Greater Houston chapter serving Montgomery County families north of Houston. Support groups in The Woodlands and Conroe area, resource navigation, and community events.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Austin · multi-county
Texas Parent to Parent (TxP2P)
Statewide peer support and advocacy network connecting families of children with disabilities. Parent mentors, IEP navigation support, and resource connection. Free to families.
Federally funded Parent Training and Information (PTI) center for Texas.
Sugar Land · multi-county
Texas Parent to Parent (TxP2P) — Fort Bend County
Statewide PTI connecting Fort Bend families to peer mentors, IEP support, and disability resources. Free for all Texas families.
Federally funded — no cost to families.
Conroe · multi-county
Texas Parent to Parent (TxP2P) — Montgomery County
Statewide peer support connecting Montgomery County families to IEP coaching, peer mentors, and special education resources. Free for all Texas families.
Activities, clubs & recreation
Clubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
Center Point · multi-county
Camp CAMP (Children's Association for Maximum Potential)
515 Skyline Drive, Center Point, TX 78010
A 55-acre American Camp Association-accredited camp on the Guadalupe River, running since 1979, with an aquatic center, healthcare center, arts and crafts center, nature center and cabins. Summer camp runs as six-day, five-night sessions for children AND adults aged 5 to 55 with mild to severe disabilities — medical, physical, intellectual or developmental — and siblings aged 5 to 13 without a disability can attend alongside them. Medical staff and a care clinic are available to campers around the clock. Respite weekend camps run monthly through the school year from September to May, Saturday morning to Sunday afternoon, so a family can get an actual break without waiting for summer.
Accepts respite funding through the CLASS, DBMD, HCS, Texas Home Living and STAR Kids/MDCP waivers, and offers subsidised rates based on income — so a family already on a waiver may pay little or nothing. San Antonio office: (210) 439-9581.
Houston · multi-county
J.E. & L.E. Mabee Adaptive Sports Complex
16725 Longenbaugh Drive, Houston, TX 77095
A purpose-built adaptive sports complex in north-west Houston, home to Miracle League baseball among other adaptive programs. Miracle League formats are particularly well suited to autistic players — every player bats, every player scores, and ability differences do not decide the outcome.
San Antonio · multi-county
Morgan's Wonderland
5223 David Edwards Drive, San Antonio, TX 78233
The world's first ultra-accessible theme park, built in San Antonio by a father whose autistic daughter was left out of play by other children on holiday. Twenty-five acres of rides, three playgrounds on rubberized surfaces under misted awnings, adapted and traditional swings that take a wheelchair, a 500-seat amphitheater, and a Sensory Village with a grocery store, an interactive theater and a simulated TV station. The adjoining Morgan's Inspiration Island splash park has waterproof wheelchairs available. Over three million people have visited since 2010.
Admission is free for anyone with a special need, and has been since the park opened — no questions asked. Under-3s free; $19 adult day pass otherwise, less for under-18s, over-62s and military. Worth the drive from anywhere in central or south Texas.
San Antonio · multi-county
Special Olympics Texas
P.O. Box 47106, San Antonio, TX 78265
Year-round sports training and competition at no cost to athletes or families, organized into local Areas across the state so training is genuinely local rather than centralised.
Find your Area on their site rather than ringing the state office. Greater Dallas (Area 10): (817) 284-0074. North Texas (Area 9): (737) 704-6379. Houston / Heart of East Texas (Area 6): (832) 617-0930. Eligibility centers on intellectual disability — ask about fit if your family member is autistic without one.
Kingwood · multi-county
YMCA of Greater Houston — adaptive programs and Miracle League
Lake Houston Family YMCA, 2420 W. Lake Houston Pkwy, Kingwood, TX 77339
Adaptive and accessible programming across the Houston YMCA network, including the Miracle League at Lake Houston Family YMCA in Kingwood. YMCA programs are usually among the cheapest structured activities available and are spread widely enough that one is likely to be near you.
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
Are you a provider serving this county?
Help families find accurate information about your services. Submit your practice for review so parents in this area can better understand their options.
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School districts & government services
Public programs and school district contacts for Harris County.
School & special education
- Houston ISD — Special Education
Largest school district in Texas.
Services & benefits
- The Harris Center — IDD Services
LIDDA serving Harris County; Medicaid waiver intake.
Adult services
- The Harris Center — IDD Services
LIDDA serving Harris County; Medicaid waiver intake.
Respite & support
- The Harris Center — IDD Services
LIDDA serving Harris County; Medicaid waiver intake.
Helpful guides
Guides for Harris 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 Harris County
Serving families across Harris County including Houston, Pasadena, Pearland, Baytown, The Woodlands, Sugar Land, Katy, Spring, Humble and Conroe and more.
See all Texas resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Texas.
Texas state guide →Common questions
Answered from the providers currently listed for this county — these update as the directory does.
How many autism providers serve Harris County, Texas?
We list 28 providers serving Harris County, covering ABA therapy, parent & family support, speech therapy, activities, clubs & recreation and occupational therapy & sensory, plus 3 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.
Where can I find ABA therapy in Harris County?
ABA providers serving Harris 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.
Can autism therapy happen at home in Harris County?
2 providers serving Harris 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.
How do I get a free evaluation for a child under 3 in Harris County?
Contact Houston Independent School District — Special Education, the Early Intervention program serving Harris County. Under Part C of IDEA you can request an evaluation yourself — you do not need a doctor's referral, and the evaluation is free. Contact details are listed in the key contacts section of this page.
Does Medicaid pay for autism services in Texas?
Texas families can apply to the Home and Community-based Services (HCS) Waiver, a Medicaid waiver that can fund respite, therapies and in-home support. The typical wait is 10–13 years, 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 Harris County?
If none of the Harris County providers is the right fit, these Texas counties currently have the most listed providers: Tarrant County (26), Dallas County (23), Potter County (19), Rusk County (19). 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 Texas
You know things we don’t
Still missing from Harris County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Harris 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 Harris County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Harris 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 Harris 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
Are you a provider serving Harris County?
Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
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