Autism Resources in Arizona
A statewide guide to autism services across Arizona — for families in Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, Flagstaff, Yuma, and communities across the state, including the Navajo Nation and Arizona's 21 other federally recognized tribes.
Arizona's autism services system has some genuinely distinctive strengths — a Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) system with no waiting list for eligible members (rare among states), a strong nonprofit anchor in the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC), one of the nation's earliest autism insurance mandates (Steven's Law), and universal Empowerment Scholarship Accounts that many autism families use for private school and therapies. Arizona also has real challenges — diagnostic wait times, services concentrated in metro Phoenix, and long distances for rural and tribal families.
This page walks through how the pieces fit together and where the gaps are.
We've written this as a starting point. Arizona readers who know specifics better than we do — tell us what we got wrong or missed.
Find your city
Jump to a local guide with providers, schools, and activities near you.
Arizona at a glance
Early intervention program
Insurance mandate
Medicaid waivers (3)
- ALTCS (Arizona Long Term Care System) through DDD
- DDD state-funded services
- AHCCCS / EPSDT (children under 21)
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Support organizations
Phoenix-based nonprofit (with growing Tucson programs) providing diagnostics, early intervention, a community school, teen and adult services, employment support, family programs, and research.
Raising Special KidsArizona's federally designated Parent Training and Information Center. Free help for families navigating special education, DDD/ALTCS, and healthcare systems, statewide and in Spanish.
Arizona Center for Disability LawArizona's federally designated protection and advocacy organization. Legal advocacy for Arizonans with disabilities.
Arizona Autism United (AZA United)Phoenix-based nonprofit providing ABA, habilitation, respite, and family support services, with a family-centered approach.
Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD)DES division administering developmental disability services and ALTCS long-term supports — the central front door for autism services funding in Arizona.
Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (ADDPC)State council funding advocacy, systems-change projects, and resources for Arizonans with developmental disabilities.
Autism resources, in your inbox
Join 1,000+ families. Free, weekly.
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