Understand what each therapy does, who provides it, how families usually access it, and what to expect before making your first call.
Therapy is not a last resort. Many children receive support for communication, sensory needs, movement, feeding, behavior, safety, daily routines, and parent strategies. Most children use more than one support over time.
Open the cards below for more details on each therapy option.
What it is: Speech therapy focuses on how a child understands, expresses, and uses communication. This may include spoken words, gestures, signs, picture systems, or an AAC device.
Daily-life example: A child may learn to request a snack, say “help,” answer simple questions, follow directions, or communicate “all done” before melting down.
How to access it: Ask your pediatrician for a referral, contact private speech clinics, ask CDSA for under age 3, or request school evaluation through Child Find for age 3+.
What it is: OT helps children participate in daily life. For young children, that often means play, dressing, eating, using hands, tolerating sensory input, and managing routines.
Daily-life example: OT may help a child tolerate toothbrushing, use utensils, handle clothing textures, transition between activities, or stay regulated in busy places.
How to access it: Ask your pediatrician for a referral, contact private OT clinics, ask CDSA for under age 3, or request school evaluation if sensory or motor needs affect school participation.
What it is: PT focuses on larger body movement, including strength, balance, walking, climbing, stairs, posture, coordination, and safe movement.
Daily-life example: PT may help a child climb playground steps, walk safely, build core strength, jump, run with better coordination, or navigate stairs without falling.
How to access it: Ask your pediatrician for a PT referral, contact pediatric PT clinics, ask CDSA for under age 3, or request school-based evaluation if movement affects school access.
What it is: ABA uses behavior-based teaching strategies to build skills and reduce behaviors that interfere with safety, learning, communication, or daily routines.
Daily-life example: ABA may help with transitions, waiting, communication, elopement safety, play skills, daily routines, and learning readiness.
How to access it: An autism diagnosis is not strictly required to benefit from ABA therapy . However, if you want your insurance company to pay for the sessions, a formal ASD diagnosis is almost always mandatory. Contact ABA providers, ask your pediatrician or diagnosing provider for referrals, and check insurance requirements. Many programs have waitlists and require authorization.
What it is: Feeding therapy helps children who struggle with eating, drinking, chewing, swallowing, food variety, or stressful mealtimes.
Daily-life example: It may help a child safely chew, try new textures, reduce distress at meals, expand a limited diet, or address oral-motor and sensory barriers.
How to access it: Start with your pediatrician, especially if there are choking, swallowing, weight, nutrition, or growth concerns.
What it is: Parent coaching helps caregivers use practical strategies during everyday routines. The caregiver is an active participant, not just an observer.
Daily-life example: A coach may help with bedtime, meals, transitions, play, communication, meltdowns, and routines that are easier for the whole family to follow.
How to access it: Parent coaching may be part of CDSA, ABA caregiver training, speech/OT sessions, private parent coaching, or nonprofit programs.
Across therapy types, the first questions are usually the same: who can refer, who pays, whether there is a waitlist, and whether the provider accepts your insurance.
For speech, OT, PT, and feeding therapy, a pediatrician referral is often a practical first step. Ask what evaluation or prescription is needed before calling providers.
Ask about referrals, prior authorization, diagnosis requirements, copays, deductibles, visit limits, and in-network providers before starting services.
Many therapy providers have waitlists. It is reasonable to call more than one provider and ask how quickly they can evaluate or begin services.
Ask about insurance, Medicaid, waiver waitlists, sliding-scale clinics, university clinics, nonprofit programs, and school-based supports.
Therapy recommendations often come directly from developmental, speech, OT, psychological, and autism evaluations. Learn what the reports mean and how to use them.
Understand Evaluations & Reports →
