Autism Diagnosis Support · Southeast Florida
A new autism diagnosis can feel overwhelming. Most families do not know where to start. Sunshine Behavioral Health Services guides families across Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Monroe Counties through every step — from understanding the diagnosis to starting ABA therapy as quickly as possible.
Free
Initial Consultation
No cost to you
100%
BCBA-Supervised
Every session, every case
4
Counties Served
Miami-Dade · Broward · Palm Beach · Monroe
What Is Initial Consultation ABA Therapy?
Receiving an autism diagnosis for your child is a significant moment — and for most families, it is followed immediately by confusion. What does this diagnosis mean? What should we do first? Who do we call? How do we pay for it? How soon can therapy start? These are the questions we answer every day. Sunshine Behavioral Health Services exists to make the path forward as clear and as fast as possible for families across Southeast Florida. This window of time is when the brain is most flexible and most responsive to learning. Research consistently shows that children who begin intensive ABA therapy during these years make the largest and most lasting gains — in communication, social skills, adaptive behavior, and daily living.
The most important thing to know right now is this: the earlier ABA therapy begins after a diagnosis, the greater the impact. Research consistently shows that children who begin intensive ABA therapy within months of diagnosis make the most significant long-term gains. Every week of delay is a week of missed progress during the most critical developmental window. Learn about our early intervention program →
The second thing to know is that you do not have to navigate this alone. Our team handles the parts that families find most overwhelming: verifying your insurance coverage at no cost, explaining your benefits in plain language, scheduling the initial BCBA assessment, and getting therapy started as quickly as possible. Most families move from first contact to first therapy session within two to four weeks.
What we help families navigate after diagnosis
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Understanding what the diagnosis means in practical terms
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Identifying the right ABA therapy services for your child
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Verifying insurance coverage at no cost within 24 hours
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Explaining your benefits and out-of-pocket costs clearly
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Scheduling the initial BCBA assessment quickly
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Navigating school evaluations and IEP processes
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Coordinating with your child’s pediatrician and other providers
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Preparing your family for what ABA therapy looks like
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Getting therapy started without unnecessary delay
Everything we do is built around one priority: getting your child the right support as quickly as possible. It starts with a thorough Functional Behavior Assessment and reviewed regularly by your child’s BCBA.
Your Next Steps
Most families go from first contact to first therapy session within three to four weeks. Here is exactly what those weeks look like.
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Call us or fill out our contact form. Our team will verify your ABA therapy insurance benefits within 24 hours at no cost. We will explain your coverage, your deductible, and exactly what you will pay before anything else happens. No surprises.
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A board-certified behavior analyst meets your family, reviews your child’s diagnosis and developmental history, and evaluates your child’s current skills and behaviors. This assessment typically takes two to four hours. It results in a written FBA report and a draft treatment plan with specific, measurable goals.
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Once insurance authorization is confirmed and your family has reviewed and signed the treatment plan, therapy begins on a schedule that works for your family. Most families start within three to four weeks of their first call. The sooner therapy begins, the greater the long-term impact. Learn about early intervention →
How We Support Your Family
Everything starts with a phone call or a contact form submission. From there, our team takes over the administrative burden that most families dread. We start with a thorough Functional Behavior Assessment by a BCBA. The assessment evaluates your child’s current communication, play, social, and adaptive skills. It also looks at any challenging behaviors to understand what is maintaining them. This assessment is the foundation of everything that follows.
Once insurance is verified, we schedule the initial BCBA assessment. This is not a second diagnostic evaluation — it is a behavioral assessment that tells us exactly what skills your child currently has, what behaviors are most interfering with learning and daily life, and what goals to target first. Your family’s priorities guide every decision.
We also help families navigate two areas that are consistently overwhelming after a new diagnosis: school and insurance. If your child is school age, we can help you request a school-based evaluation, understand your rights under IDEA, prepare for IEP meetings, and coordinate ABA therapy goals with the school. Learn about school-based ABA →
On the insurance side, we handle prior authorization submissions, appeals if coverage is initially denied, and ongoing communication with your insurer. Most families find this the most stressful part of accessing ABA therapy. We take it off your plate entirely. Learn about insurance verification →
Once therapy begins, your family stays informed and involved. You receive regular progress reports, your BCBA is available to answer questions, and all major clinical decisions are made collaboratively with you. Parent training is included in every program so you understand the techniques your child’s therapist uses and can apply them at home. Learn about parent training → Parent training is built into every early intervention program.
What we handle for your family
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Insurance verification within 24 hours — at no cost
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Insurance authorization and appeals handled for you
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Initial BCBA assessment scheduled quickly
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Treatment plan developed collaboratively with your family
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Parent training included in every program
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School evaluation and IEP guidance available
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Treatment plan reviewed every 3 to 6 months
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Regular progress reports in plain language
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Coordination with pediatricians and other providers
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Full services in English and Spanish
Most insurance plans cover ABA therapy after an autism diagnosis
Florida law requires most insurance plans to cover ABA therapy for children with an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. We verify your coverage at no cost within 24 hours. Verify your coverage →
Common Questions Families Ask
Every family responds to a new autism diagnosis differently. Here are three of the most common situations we see — and how we help.
"We just got the diagnosis and have no idea where to start."
If you have a new diagnosis and do not know where to begin, we are the first call to make. We will explain ABA therapy in plain language, verify your insurance within 24 hours, answer every question you have, and schedule your child’s initial assessment quickly. You leave the first call with clarity and a plan. Contact us today → Read our toddler ABA guide →
"We have been on waitlists for months and can't wait any longer."
Long ABA therapy waitlists are a real problem in Southeast Florida. While you are waiting on other providers, contact us. We process insurance verification and BCBA assessments quickly. Many families start therapy with us within two to four weeks of their first call — months faster than typical waitlists. Telehealth parent training can begin even sooner. Start with telehealth parent training →
"We are not sure if ABA therapy is the right choice for our child."
If you have questions or concerns about ABA therapy — whether it is right for your child, how it works, what the commitment looks like, or what the evidence says — we will give you honest answers. There is no pressure. A free consultation is just a conversation. Learn what ABA therapy actually involves → Read our preschool ABA guide →
What to Expect From ABA Therapy
Many families wait too long before starting ABA therapy — often because they are told to “wait and see” or because they are not sure what they are looking for. These are some of the signs that suggest your child could benefit from an early intervention evaluation.
Every child is different, and outcomes depend on many factors — the child’s age when therapy starts, the intensity of services, family involvement, and the quality of the treatment plan. Your child’s BCBA will set realistic, specific goals at the outset and review progress with you regularly. Read about ABA therapy outcomes → Read our full guide on signs to watch for →
What ABA therapy typically achieves:
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Measurable improvement in communication and language skills
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Reduction in challenging behaviors that interfere with learning
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Better emotional regulation and self-management
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Improved social interaction with peers and family
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Greater independence in daily living and self-care
What to realistically expect:
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Progress is gradual — most families see meaningful gains within 3 to 6 months
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Early intervention produces the largest outcomes — starting sooner matters significantly
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Parent involvement is one of the strongest predictors of faster progress
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ABA therapy is not a cure — it builds skills and reduces barriers to learning
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Goals are reviewed and updated regularly as your child grows and progresses
Have more questions? Our FAQ page answers the most common questions families ask after a diagnosis. Or contact us directly for a free, no-pressure conversation.
The first step is to contact an ABA therapy provider and start the insurance verification process. Do not wait for things to feel less overwhelming — the verification and assessment process takes time, and starting sooner means therapy begins sooner. Call us or fill out our contact form and we will walk you through every step. Most families are in therapy within two to four weeks of their first call.
Most insurance plans require a formal autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis from a licensed physician or psychologist before they will authorize ABA therapy. However, you do not need a diagnosis to contact us or to begin the intake process. We can help you understand the diagnostic evaluation process, navigate the next steps, and start insurance verification as soon as a diagnosis is confirmed.
Contact us and we will verify your insurance benefits at no cost within 24 hours. Most major Florida plans — including Medicaid, BCBS, Aetna, UHC, Cigna, and Florida Blue — cover ABA therapy for children with an autism diagnosis under Florida law. We handle prior authorization submissions, follow-ups with the insurer, and appeals if coverage is initially denied. Visit our insurance verification page for full details.
With Sunshine Behavioral Health Services, most families go from first contact to first therapy session within two to four weeks. This includes insurance verification (24 to 48 hours), the initial BCBA assessment (one to two sessions), treatment plan development, and scheduling. The timeline depends partly on insurance authorization, which can take longer for some plans. We move as fast as the process allows.
Yes. If your child is school age, notifying the school triggers their obligation to conduct a free educational evaluation under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This can result in an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that provides additional support and services inside the school. Our team can help you prepare for school evaluation meetings and coordinate ABA therapy goals with the school’s program. Learn about school-based ABA →
It is completely normal to have questions and concerns about ABA therapy after a diagnosis. Modern ABA is very different from older approaches — it is child-led, naturalistic, play-based for young children, and focused on building skills your child will actually use. We encourage you to ask us anything. A free consultation is just a conversation with no commitment required. Read our plain-language ABA guide →
Parent training teaches families the ABA techniques used in therapy so progress continues at home. It is included in every program and is one of the most impactful components of early ABA intervention.
The FBA is the foundation of your child’s ABA therapy program. It identifies current skills, behavior functions, and the most important goals to target. It is the first clinical step after insurance is verified.
In-home ABA therapy is the most common delivery setting for young children after diagnosis. Skills are taught in the natural environment where your child actually lives, which supports faster generalization.
For school-age children, school-based ABA therapy coordinates with teachers and IEP teams to support your child inside the classroom. We help families navigate the IEP process after a diagnosis.
Where We Serve
We support families following an autism diagnosis across all major cities in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Monroe Counties. In-home, school-based, center-based, and telehealth ABA therapy available.
