NoCal Behavioral Services (NCBS) is proud to serve families across California, Washington, Idaho, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. Below you’ll find resources organized by state: your state’s early intervention or developmental disabilities agency, information about your state’s insurance requirements for autism and ABA therapy coverage, and your state’s federally funded Parent Training and Information (PTI) Center.
These resources are provided for informational purposes. Programs, links, and benefit amounts can change over time, so we recommend confirming current details directly with the agency or your insurance provider before making decisions based on this page. Information below was verified as of September 2026.
California
Early Intervention / Developmental Disabilities
California Department of Developmental Services (DDS), Early Start Program
Delivered through the statewide network of 21 nonprofit Regional Centers, Early Start provides assessment, case management, and individualized early intervention supports for infants and toddlers (birth to age 3) with developmental delays or disabilities, including autism. Families can call the Baby Line at 1-800-515-BABY (2229).
https://www.dds.ca.gov/services/early-start/
State Insurance Mandate
California Department of Insurance (CDI), Autism Coverage page
Explains California’s mental health parity law (including SB 946) requiring state-regulated health plans to cover medically necessary ABA therapy for autism, and covers the Independent Medical Review process for denied claims.
https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/110-health/60-resources/05-autism/
Parent Training and Information (PTI) Center
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF)
A federally funded Parent Training and Information Center serving Central and Northern California, offering free training, IEP and special education advocacy, and connections to community resources for families of children with disabilities, including autism.
https://dredf.org/special-education/parent-training-and-information-center/
Washington
Early Intervention / Developmental Disabilities
Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT), Dept. of Children, Youth & Families
Washington’s early intervention program for children birth to age 3 with developmental delays or disabilities, including autism, providing evaluation and individualized intervention at home, in childcare, or in the community.
https://www.dcyf.wa.gov/services/child-development-supports/esit
State Insurance Mandate
Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC), Mental Health Parity
Washington does not have a standalone autism mandate page. Instead, autism/ABA coverage is required through the state’s Mental Health Parity Act, which requires state-regulated health plans to cover medically necessary behavioral health treatment on par with medical and surgical benefits.
https://www.insurance.wa.gov/insurance-resources/health-insurance/mental-health-and-substance-use-disorders/mental-health-parity
Parent Training and Information (PTI) Center
PAVE (Partnerships for Action, Voices for Empowerment)
Washington’s federally funded Parent Training and Information Center, based in Tacoma, offering free support and training for families of children and youth with disabilities, including special education and IEP help and disability rights advocacy.
https://wapave.org
Idaho
Early Intervention / Developmental Disabilities
Idaho Infant Toddler Program (ITP), Dept. of Health and Welfare
Idaho’s early intervention program for children birth to age 3 with developmental delays or diagnosed conditions, including autism, offering no cost services such as service coordination and developmental, speech, occupational, and physical therapy. Families can self-refer.
https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/children-families-older-adults/about-infant-toddler-program
State Insurance Mandate
Idaho Department of Insurance, Guidance 18-02
Idaho does not have a standalone autism insurance mandate statute. This 2018 guidance clarifies that state-regulated insurers cannot exclude autism spectrum disorder treatment, including ABA, if they already cover comparable rehabilitative services, and that coverage must be provided at parity with other medical or mental health benefits. This applies to state-regulated commercial plans only, not Medicaid or self-funded employer plans; if you have Idaho Medicaid, ABA billing categories changed in December 2025, so check with your plan for current details.
Idaho DOI Guidance 18-02 (PDF)
Parent Training and Information (PTI) Center
Idaho Parents Unlimited, Inc. (IPUL)
Idaho’s federally funded Parent Training and Information Center, offering free training and one-on-one support on special education rights, early intervention, Medicaid navigation, and youth behavioral health.
https://ipulidaho.org/
Florida
Early Intervention / Developmental Disabilities
Florida Early Steps, Florida Department of Health
Florida’s early intervention program for infants and toddlers up to 36 months with developmental delays or disabilities, including autism, providing service coordination and in-home or natural-environment therapy.
https://floridaearlysteps.com/
State Insurance Mandate
Florida Department of Financial Services, Autism Spectrum Disorder Consumer Protections
Explains Florida’s insurance mandate (Fla. Stat. §627.6686) requiring large-group and state employee health plans to cover ABA and related autism treatment for individuals under 18, with a minimum benefit of $36,000 per year and $200,000 lifetime. Individual and small-group plans are not covered by this mandate.
https://www.myfloridacfo.com/division/consumers/consumerprotections/autism-spectrum-disorder
Parent Training and Information (PTI) Center
Family Network on Disabilities (FND)
Florida’s federally funded Parent Training and Information Center, offering parent training, multilingual resource libraries, workshops, and family advocacy across Florida.
https://fndusa.org/
Alabama
Early Intervention / Developmental Disabilities
Alabama’s Early Intervention System (AEIS), Dept. of Rehabilitation Services
Alabama’s early intervention program for children birth to age 3, including evaluation, eligibility determination, developmental and behavioral therapies, and service coordination. Child Find line: 1-800-543-3098.
https://www.rehab.alabama.gov/services/ei
State Insurance Mandate
Code of Alabama, Title 27, Chapter 54A, Autism Spectrum Disorder Coverage
Alabama’s autism insurance mandate, effective for plans issued or renewed on or after October 1, 2017. Requires plans from employers with 51 or more employees to cover ABA therapy (supervised by a BCBA or BCaBA) for individuals 18 and under, with annual benefit caps that scale down by age and can be exceeded with prior insurer approval when medically necessary.
https://law.justia.com/codes/alabama/title-27/chapter-54a/section-27-54a-2/
Parent Training and Information (PTI) Center
Alabama Parent Education Center (APEC)
Operates Alabama’s federally funded Parent Training and Information Center, providing training and support to parents of children with disabilities (birth to age 26), with outreach to underserved, minority, and low-income families.
https://alabamaparentcenter.com/
Georgia
Early Intervention / Developmental Disabilities
Babies Can’t Wait (BCW), Georgia Department of Public Health
Georgia’s early intervention program for infants and toddlers birth to age 3 with developmental delays or diagnosed conditions, including autism, providing evaluations and coordinated services delivered in natural environments such as the home or daycare.
https://dph.georgia.gov/babies-cant-wait
State Insurance Mandate (Ava’s Law)
Georgia Code § 33-24-59.10, Coverage for Autism
Known as Ava’s Law, this statute requires state-regulated health plans to cover diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder, including ABA therapy, for individuals age 20 and under, with an annual cap of $35,000 that may apply specifically to ABA. Small-group plans of 10 or fewer employees are exempt.
https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-33/chapter-24/article-1/section-33-24-59-10/
Parent Training and Information (PTI) Center
Parent to Parent of Georgia, Inc.
Georgia’s federally funded Parent Training and Information Center, offering free help with special education rights, IEP navigation, and dispute resolution for families of children with disabilities from birth to age 26.
https://www.p2pga.org/about-us/our-programs/pti/
South Carolina
Early Intervention / Developmental Disabilities
BabyNet, South Carolina Dept. of Health and Human Services
South Carolina’s early intervention program for children birth to age 3 with developmental delays or diagnosed conditions, including autism, offering service coordination and speech, physical, and occupational therapy. Families can self-refer without a doctor’s referral.
https://www.scdhhs.gov/resources/programs-and-initiatives/babynet
State Insurance Mandate (Ryan’s Law)
S.C. Code of Laws, Title 38, Chapter 71, Section 38-71-280
Known as Ryan’s Law, this statute requires state-regulated health plans to cover medically necessary autism spectrum disorder treatment, including ABA, on par with coverage for physical illness, with an annual behavioral therapy benefit maximum for individuals diagnosed by age 8. That maximum was originally $50,000 and is adjusted for inflation each year; as of a 2025 South Carolina Department of Insurance bulletin, it is expected to be $73,400 for calendar year 2026. Because this amount adjusts annually, please confirm the current cap with your insurance provider.
https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t38c071.php
Parent Training and Information (PTI) Center
Family Connection of South Carolina
South Carolina’s federally funded Parent Training and Information Center, offering parent-to-parent support, IEP and special education advocacy, and Medicaid or TEFRA waiver navigation help.
https://www.familyconnectionsc.org/family-connection-south-carolinas-parent-training-and-information-center/