Autism Therapy Help in San Antonio (2026): Texas Just Expanded Its Children’s Autism Program to Age 21

If your child with autism lost state therapy help when they turned 16, this page is for you. On August 25, 2026, Texas changed the rules for its Children’s Autism Program. The program now covers children and teens younger than 22 — not just ages 3 to 15.

Many websites still show the old ages — including, when we checked on October 30, the state’s own program page. The new rule is the law now. This page explains what changed, who it helps, and how to get your child on the list.

What the Children’s Autism Program is

The Children’s Autism Program (CAP) is a Texas state program run by the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). It is not Medicaid. The state pays local agencies, called contractors, to give children focused ABA therapy — a kind of autism therapy that works on specific skills and behaviors.

Families pay part of the cost based on their income and insurance. Some families pay nothing. HHSC and its contractors run the program, and they decide who qualifies.

What changed on August 25, 2026

• Age: the program now covers a child who is younger than 22. Before, it stopped at 15 — services ended on the 16th birthday. Now services end on the 22nd birthday.
• Hours: the old limit of 180 hours of therapy per year is gone. The lifetime limit of 720 hours stays.
• Diagnosis: more professionals can give the autism diagnosis the program accepts — a doctor, a psychologist, or a nurse practitioner or physician assistant with training in developmental disorders.
• Parent training: parents take part in training at least two times a month. It is a required part of the program.
• The waiting list (called an interest list): contractors must check their lists every 6 months. A child who was in the program before, left, and still has hours left gets priority over a child who was never served.

To qualify, a child must be a Texas resident, younger than 22, with a documented autism diagnosis from a qualified professional. Qualifying is not the same as starting therapy — see the honest part below.

The honest part: a place on the list is not a start date

Getting on an interest list does not enroll your child. Contractors start children when they have money and room. In the state’s 2026 budget year, the program served 583 children across Texas, and contractors report more than 1,000 children waiting on interest lists statewide. The list is long — and joining it is free. A family that never joins has no place in line at all.

How to get on the list in San Antonio

1. Call 2-1-1. HHSC tells families to call 2-1-1 Texas (just dial 2-1-1) to reach the contractor serving their area. The 2-1-1 team can connect you with the contractor for the San Antonio area and start the interest-list process.
2. Questions about the program itself: HHSC’s Children’s Autism Program office answers at 512-438-5356 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and at Childrens.Autism.Program@hhs.texas.gov.
3. Have your child’s diagnosis paperwork ready if you have it. If your child was diagnosed years ago, say so — the contractor will tell you what they need.

If your child has Medicaid, there is a second door

Texas Medicaid covers ABA therapy for members age 20 and younger. That has been true since February 1, 2022. It takes three things: a current autism diagnosis, a signed referral, and a prior authorization — an approval ahead of time — from your child’s health plan. Ask your child’s pediatrician or Medicaid health plan to start it.

Medicaid and the Children’s Autism Program are different doors. A child can ask at both.

If your child has CHIP, read this carefully

CHIP does not pay for ABA therapy. The health plans say so in their own autism guidelines: the autism ABA benefit is not covered for CHIP members. CHIP does pay for the autism evaluation, and for speech, occupational, and physical therapy.

That is exactly why the Children’s Autism Program matters for CHIP families: it is a state program, not insurance, and it is the ABA route built for families whose plan will not pay.

You may have heard the program could end. Here is the true picture.

HHSC’s newest budget request proposes ending this program’s funding in 2028–29. A proposal is not a decision. The Texas Legislature writes the budget when it meets, starting in January 2027. And even if lawmakers agreed to end it, HHSC says services would keep running through August 31, 2027.

So there is no reason to panic — and one calm reason to act now: the bigger program is real today, the lists are long, and your child’s place in line costs nothing.

Autism touches more than therapy

A child with a disability can connect your family to other help — SSI for children, SNAP food help, Medicaid or CHIP, and childcare help. Our free 2-minute checker shows what your family may qualify for: Check what you qualify for. If paperwork is the hard part, our free Apply for Me help can walk it with you. Neither one promises an approval — they help you find the right doors and knock.

Helpful links & phone numbers

• Get on the Children’s Autism Program interest list — dial 2-1-1 (2-1-1 Texas), free, 24 hours
• HHSC Children’s Autism Program office: 512-438-5356 · Childrens.Autism.Program@hhs.texas.gov · hhs.texas.gov — Children’s Autism Program
• Medicaid ABA questions: your child’s Medicaid health plan (the number is on the back of the card) or their pediatrician
• San Antonio Benefits free checker: See what you may qualify for
• Apply for Me — free help with applications: Request free help

We checked these facts on October 30, 2026, against the state’s new rule (26 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 358, in effect August 25, 2026) and HHSC’s program page. One honest note: HHSC’s public page still showed the old ages (3 to 15) and the old 180-hour yearly limit when we checked — the new rule is what counts. Programs can change; 2-1-1 and HHSC always have the newest word.