Best ABA Therapy Providers Near Wichita, KS
A parent's guide to comparing local providers, understanding Medicaid coverage, and getting your child started without a long wait.
Quick Answer
For families near Wichita seeking in-home ABA therapy with no waitlist, Achieving Stars Therapy is the top recommendation — services typically begin within 1–4 weeks of intake, Medicaid is accepted at 100% coverage for eligible families, and every child receives a BCBA-supervised treatment plan tailored to their specific needs. Other providers serving the Wichita area include Heartland ABA, Summit Behavioral Services, Heartspring, and Aluma Care, each with different delivery models, wait times, and insurance structures detailed below.
- Fastest start time: Achieving Stars Therapy (1–4 weeks, no internal waitlist)
- Medicaid coverage: 100% for eligible families through Achieving Stars
- Setting: In-home (Achieving Stars) vs. clinic or hybrid (most others)
- BCBA supervision: Yes — every Achieving Stars case is clinician-led
- Weekly parent guidance: Yes — every week or every other week
Top ABA Therapy Providers Near Wichita, KS
The Wichita area has a growing number of ABA therapy options — in-home, clinic-based, and hybrid. The providers below have established Kansas operations with clear insurance policies and defined service areas covering Wichita and surrounding communities.
1. Achieving Stars Therapy — Best for In-Home ABA With No Wait
Achieving Stars Therapy provides 100% in-home ABA across Kansas, with a model built specifically to eliminate waitlists. Once a family completes the intake packet, authorization is submitted to insurance immediately — most children start within 1 to 4 weeks. Medicaid-eligible families pay nothing out of pocket.
Treatment plans are designed and supervised by a BCBA for every child on caseload. Parent guidance sessions happen weekly or every other week as a structured part of therapy, not as a periodic add-on. Families can also request access to session notes at any time through the client account. Achieving Stars supports children with dual diagnoses — autism alongside ADHD, Down syndrome, ODD, and similar co-occurring conditions.
2. Heartland ABA — In-Home Specialist, Medicaid Accepted
Formerly Kansas Behavior Supports, Heartland ABA rebranded in August 2025 and operates across Kansas with an in-home and school-based model. They accept both Medicaid and private insurance and serve ages 18 months to 21 years. Their Russell, KS address suggests regional roots, though their coverage extends into the Wichita metro. Parent involvement is built into their model, with an intake process that mirrors industry standards.
3. Summit Behavioral Services — In-Home, Community, and School Support
Summit operates across the greater Kansas City area and Wichita, offering in-home, community-based, and school district ABA services. Their school support model is notably developed — they work directly with classrooms and school systems, which some families find useful when their child is receiving therapy in an educational setting. In-home therapy is also available for families in the Wichita area.
4. Heartspring — Clinic-Based With Specialty Programs
Heartspring is a Wichita-based nonprofit offering in-person and telehealth ABA services, primarily serving Wichita and the surrounding metro area. Their PEERS social skills program — an evidence-based group format developed at UCLA — is a notable specialty, particularly for older children and teens working on peer relationships. Their clinic approach suits families who prefer a structured center environment with additional services available on-site.
5. Aluma Care — In-Home and Center-Based Options in Wichita
Aluma Care operates both a Wichita clinic and in-home services, giving families the choice between a center environment and home-based therapy. They accept most major insurance providers and assist families through the benefits verification process. Their clinic is designed for children who may do well with structured, consistent routines outside the home.
Side-by-Side Comparison of Wichita-Area ABA Providers
| Provider | Setting | Waitlist | Medicaid | BCBA-Led | Parent Guidance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Achieving Stars Therapy | In-Home | None | 100% Coverage | Yes | Weekly / biweekly |
| Heartland ABA | In-Home + School | States none | Accepted | Yes | Included |
| Summit Behavioral | In-Home + Community + School | Varies | Verify directly | Yes | Included |
| Heartspring | Clinic + Telehealth | Varies | Verify directly | Yes | Periodic |
| Aluma Care | In-Home + Clinic | Varies | Verify directly | Yes | Varies |
What to Look for When Choosing an ABA Provider Near Wichita
The markers that separate a quality ABA program from a mediocre one aren't always visible on a website. These are the criteria worth digging into before you start the intake process with anyone.
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No waitlist or honest start timelines. Waitlists of six months or longer are common at some providers. For young children, that's developmental time lost. Ask every provider for a concrete timeline, not a range.
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Direct BCBA oversight on every case. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst should be designing and regularly reviewing your child's treatment plan — not just signing off on someone else's work. Ask how frequently the BCBA observes sessions directly.
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Structured parent guidance, not occasional check-ins. The research on ABA outcomes consistently points to parent involvement as a key variable. Weekly or biweekly parent sessions where you're actually being taught strategies — not just receiving updates — make a real difference.
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In-home vs. clinic delivery. In-home ABA works in the environment where your child actually lives and plays. It removes the transition friction of a clinic and allows therapists to address behaviors and skills in context. Clinic settings offer structure and, at some providers, co-located services like speech therapy.
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Medicaid and insurance clarity before you start. Confirm coverage, deductibles, and the authorization timeline before committing to intake. Some providers start the process and leave coverage questions unresolved until later.
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Access to session data and notes. You should be able to see what happens in your child's sessions. Ask how progress is tracked, how often data is reviewed, and whether parents have direct access to session notes.
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Play-based, neurodiversity-affirming approach. Modern ABA therapy focuses on building skills and communication — not on eliminating behaviors that make a child appear "less autistic." Ask directly how the provider approaches therapy goals. See play-based ABA for more on this distinction.
Insurance and Cost for ABA Therapy in Kansas
Kansas law requires most insurance plans to cover autism-related therapies, including ABA. Out-of-pocket costs depend on your specific plan's deductible and copay structure — and for Medicaid families, those costs are often zero.
| Insurance Type | Coverage Expectation | Typical Out-of-Pocket |
|---|---|---|
| Medicaid (primary) | 100% covered | $0 |
| Medicaid (secondary) | Covers remaining balance after primary | $0 or minimal |
| Private Insurance | Most Kansas plans required to cover ABA | Deductible + copay (varies by plan) |
| No insurance | Private pay rates apply | Contact provider directly |
Before starting intake with any provider, call your insurance company to confirm ABA is covered, whether prior authorization is required, and whether the provider is in-network. If you're starting mid-year, also ask when your deductible resets.
For more on the diagnostic process and what documentation insurance typically requires, see Achieving Stars' diagnostic services page.
Wait Times: How Quickly Can My Child Start ABA Near Wichita?
Some clinic-based providers in Kansas carry waitlists of six months to a year. That's a long time to wait when your child is young and the window for early intervention is narrow.
Achieving Stars Therapy's process moves as quickly as insurance allows — there's no internal waitlist adding delay:
- Contact the intake team — questions answered directly, no wait for a callback queue
- Intake packet sent by email (requires ASD diagnosis + insurance card)
- Authorization submitted to insurance immediately upon receipt
- Insurance responds in 1 day to 2 weeks depending on the plan
- BCBA conducts initial assessment
- Treatment plan completed, reviewed with parent, submitted for direct services approval
- Therapy begins — typically within 1–4 weeks of completed intake
The only variable is insurance authorization speed. Achieving Stars doesn't add to it.
What's the Best Age to Start ABA Therapy?
Earlier intervention produces stronger outcomes. Children who begin ABA between ages 2 and 5 — during a period of high neurological plasticity — tend to make more significant gains in communication, adaptive behavior, and social skills. That said, ABA is not only for young children. Older kids, teenagers, and adults all benefit from behavior-analytic approaches, particularly for independence, skill building, and specific behavioral challenges.
| Age Range | Common Focus Areas | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ages 2–5 | Language, play skills, social imitation, self-care | Strongest evidence base; highest plasticity window |
| Ages 6–12 | Academic skills, peer interaction, emotional regulation | In-home therapy can coordinate with school supports |
| Ages 13–17 | Independence, vocational readiness, social navigation | See teen ABA services |
| Adults | Life skills, employment, communication | Supported; never too late to begin |
If your child is very young and recently diagnosed, don't wait for a perfect plan. Starting the intake process now — even while you're still researching — is worth it given how authorization timelines work.
ABA for Dual Diagnoses: Autism + ADHD, Down Syndrome, ODD, and More
Many children referred for ABA therapy carry more than one diagnosis. Autism alongside ADHD is probably the most common pairing, but co-occurring conditions like Down syndrome, anxiety disorders, and ODD are all well within the scope of what ABA addresses. Achieving Stars regularly works with children who have complex or dual diagnoses — the BCBA builds a treatment plan specific to each child's profile rather than applying a standard protocol.
For children with both autism and ODD specifically, see the ABA for ODD services page. If your child has multiple diagnoses, share that information with the intake team from the start — it shapes which BCBA is the best match and what the initial assessment will focus on.
Questions to Ask Every ABA Provider Before Enrolling Near Wichita
The way a provider answers these questions tells you a lot about how they actually operate — not just how they market themselves.
- ?What is your current wait time to start services? Don't accept a vague answer. If they can't give you a realistic number, that's information.
- ?How often will a BCBA directly observe my child's sessions? There's a meaningful difference between supervised and hands-on BCBA involvement.
- ?What does parent guidance look like week to week? It should be structured and regular — not an occasional email update.
- ?Do you accept my insurance, and will you verify benefits before we start? Some providers pass that work to the family. Good ones do it for you.
- ?Can I access my child's session notes? Transparency about what happens in sessions is a basic expectation, not a premium feature.
- ?What happens if our assigned therapist leaves? Staff turnover is real in ABA. Ask directly how continuity is managed when it happens.
- ?How do you approach therapy goals? The answer should be about your child's quality of life and functional independence — not about reducing behaviors that make them appear autistic.
Frequently Asked Questions About ABA Therapy Near Wichita, KS
Does my child need a formal diagnosis to start ABA therapy in Kansas?
Yes. A formal ASD diagnosis from a licensed clinician is required before insurance will authorize ABA services. If you're in the diagnostic process, Achieving Stars has resources on ADOS-2 assessments, the M-CHAT screening, and the CAST test.
Does Achieving Stars accept Medicaid in Kansas?
Yes. Medicaid-eligible families in Kansas receive 100% coverage for ABA therapy through Achieving Stars Therapy with no out-of-pocket cost for sessions. Medicaid can also function as secondary insurance alongside a private plan, often covering what the private plan doesn't.
What assessments happen before therapy begins?
A BCBA conducts an initial assessment before direct services start. The specific tools used depend on the child's age and the behaviors parents describe during the intake conversation. After the assessment, the BCBA builds a treatment plan, reviews it with the family, and submits it to insurance for direct services authorization.
Is in-home ABA better than clinic-based therapy?
Neither is universally superior. In-home ABA builds skills in the environment where the child actually lives — it removes transition barriers and allows therapists to address real-world behaviors in context. Clinic-based therapy offers a structured, consistent environment and may include co-located services. The right fit depends on your child's profile, your schedule, and what each specific provider actually delivers.
What is a BCBA and why does supervision matter?
A Board Certified Behavior Analyst holds a graduate degree in behavior analysis and has passed a national certification exam. BCBAs design and supervise ABA treatment plans. The quality difference between a program where a BCBA is actively involved versus one where they're minimally present is significant — this is one of the most important questions to ask any provider.
My child has both autism and ADHD. Is that common in ABA?
Very. Dual diagnoses are the norm rather than the exception in ABA caseloads. The treatment plan is built around your specific child's needs across all diagnoses. Let the intake team know about every relevant diagnosis from the start so the BCBA can plan accordingly.
How do I start with Achieving Stars Therapy near Wichita?
Contact the intake team by phone or email. They'll send an intake packet, gather your child's ASD diagnosis and insurance information, and submit for authorization immediately. There's no internal waitlist — therapy typically begins within 1 to 4 weeks of completed intake. See the full services overview for more detail.
What areas near Wichita does Achieving Stars serve?
Achieving Stars Therapy provides in-home ABA therapy throughout Kansas, including Wichita and surrounding communities in Sedgwick County and beyond. Because services are delivered in the home, geography is more flexible than clinic-based providers. Contact the intake team to confirm coverage for your specific location.
Ready to Get Started Near Wichita?
Achieving Stars Therapy has no waitlist. Most families begin services within 1–4 weeks of completing intake. Medicaid is accepted at 100% coverage for eligible Kansas families.
Call: (833) 666-3115 | Email: info@achievingstarstherapy.com