Autism Resources in Scottsdale, Arizona

Scottsdale is one of the more resourced cities in the Phoenix metro for autism families — home to Cortica (formerly the Melmed Center, founded by developmental pediatrician and SARRC co-founder Dr. Raun Melmed), Gateway Academy (a private school built specifically for twice-exceptional autistic students), a dense cluster of private ABA, speech, and OT clinics, and OdySea Aquarium, Arizona's first Certified Autism Center attraction. Scottsdale's affluence means more private, self-pay, and multidisciplinary options than most Arizona cities — plus the same statewide funding stack (DDD/ALTCS with no waiting list, AHCCCS/EPSDT ABA coverage, Steven's Law, and Empowerment Scholarship Accounts) that levels the field for families relying on public coverage. This guide covers diagnosis, therapy, schools, community, and funding for Scottsdale families, with an eye toward the mix of public and private options this city offers.