Taylor County, Texas

Abilene

Hendrick Medical Center — Pediatric Developmental Services

Hendrick Medical Center is the major health system in Abilene and Taylor County. Pediatric services include developmental screenings and referrals for autism evaluations. Comprehensive autism assessments may require travel to Lubbock or Dallas, though telehealth evaluation options are increasingly available through Hendrick's network partners.

For full ADOS-2 evaluation, expect referral to Lubbock (~2 hrs) or telehealth. Hendrick pediatricians can initiate the referral process.

Abilene

Action Behavior Centers — Abilene

Texas's largest ABA therapy chain serving Taylor County from the Abilene area. BCBA-supervised center-based and in-home ABA. Abilene has limited ABA options for a city its size — call early for waitlist placement. Accepts most commercial insurance and Texas Medicaid under the ABA mandate.

West Central TX has limited ABA options. Telehealth ABA may supplement in-person care — ask at intake.

Abilene

Hardin-Simmons University — Communication Sciences Clinic

University-based speech-language pathology clinic at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene. Autism-specific communication therapy, AAC assessment, and social language services supervised by licensed SLPs. Reduced-cost services available for qualifying families — a valuable option in a region with limited private practice options.

University clinic rates are typically lower. Graduate clinicians supervised by certified SLPs.

Abilene · multi-county

Autism Society of Texas — Big Country / Abilene Area

Parent support and resource navigation for autistic individuals and families in Abilene and Taylor County. Connected to the Autism Society of Texas statewide network. Community peer support in a region where specialty services require travel.

Abilene · multi-county

Texas Parent to Parent (TxP2P) — Taylor County

Statewide PTI center connecting Abilene-area families to IEP coaching, peer mentors, and disability resources. Free for all Texas families. TxP2P is especially valuable in West Central TX where local specialists are sparse.

Ask TxP2P for telehealth ABA and evaluation options for Abilene-area families.