Colorado's Early Intervention Cuts Leave Vulnerable Children Behind — What Families Can Do Now

A Looming Crisis for Colorado's Youngest and Most Vulnerable

Thousands of Colorado families are reeling after sudden news that critical early childhood services will be cut due to a $4 million budget shortfall. These changes will begin affecting children as early as this week—and the consequences are especially severe for families relying on Medicaid.

Under the new emergency cost-saving measures, therapy hours through the state’s Early Intervention program will be slashed to just four hours per month. For children with complex developmental delays—those who currently receive weekly support from speech, physical, and occupational therapists—this means hard choices and long delays.

As providers and families scramble for alternatives, many are asking the same question: What now?

Early Support Matters More Than Ever

Research has long shown that early intervention leads to better developmental outcomes, fewer special education needs later, and stronger lifelong learning potential. This is not just a matter of therapy sessions—it’s about giving children a fair start at life.

The state’s decision to narrow eligibility and restrict access to non-Medicaid-covered therapies (such as developmental intervention, behavioral support, and social-emotional services) disproportionately impacts low-income families. These are often the very children who benefit most from early, consistent, and coordinated support.

And yet, those families now face being pushed to the back of an already-overwhelmed waitlist—or worse, left without services entirely.

How the Cuts Affect Autism and ABA Therapy Services

While Medicaid may still cover services like physical, speech, and occupational therapy, behavioral therapies such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)—a foundational support for many children with autism—are often more difficult to access consistently. These budget cuts will almost certainly increase wait times and reduce access, making it even harder for families to secure early autism services during the most critical window for intervention.

That’s why now, more than ever, families are seeking alternative ways to ensure their children don’t fall behind.

There Is Still Hope: Private ABA Therapy in Colorado

As a provider of high-quality, family-centered ABA therapy in Colorado, we at New Dawn ABA understand the urgency and frustration that families are feeling right now. We work with children with autism and developmental delays to create customized therapy plans that meet their needs—and we’re committed to helping parents navigate this challenging time with empathy and guidance.

Whether your child is facing new delays in services or you're just starting to explore options after an autism diagnosis, we’re here to support you through every step.

Don’t Wait—Act Now for Your Child’s Future

This moment calls for fast action. The earlier we intervene, the greater the impact we can have.

Get in touch today to learn how we can help your child access compassionate, evidence-based ABA therapy in Colorado—even in the face of statewide cutbacks. Your child deserves the best possible start, and we’re ready to help you make that happen.