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<title>How Do I Apply for the Kansas Autism Waiver, and Is There a Wait? The Real Waitlist Numbers, and Why the Waiver Does Not Pay for ABA Therapy | Achieving Stars Therapy</title>
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<div class="hero"><div class="hero-inner"><span class="location-badge">Kansas Funding</span><h1>The Kansas Autism Waiver: Apply, but Not for ABA</h1><p>The Kansas Autism Waiver is a support program for children ages 0 to 5, run by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services. It funds respite, parent training, and family counseling. It does not fund ABA therapy, and the wait is long.</p></div></div>
<div class="quick-info"><div class="info-item"><div class="info-label">Ages</div><div class="info-value">0 to 5</div></div><div class="info-item"><div class="info-label">Served</div><div class="info-value">About 60</div></div><div class="info-item"><div class="info-label">Waiting</div><div class="info-value">About 797</div></div><div class="info-item"><div class="info-label">Covers ABA?</div><div class="info-value">No</div></div></div>
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<section><p>The Kansas Autism Waiver is a Medicaid home and community based services (HCBS) waiver for young children with autism spectrum disorder. A child must be <strong>age 0 to 5</strong> and meet a hospital level of care.</p>
<p>Now the part that saves you months. <strong>The waiver does not pay for applied behavior analysis.</strong> What it actually funds is respite care, financial management services, family adjustment counseling, and parent support and training. Useful things. Not behavior therapy.</p></section>
<section><h2>The wait is real</h2><p>Kansas reported roughly <strong>60 children being served</strong> on the Autism Waiver, with about <strong>797 more on the proposed recipient list</strong>. Read those two numbers next to each other and the picture is clear enough.</p>
<div class="highlight-box"><p><strong>Do not wait on the waiver to start ABA.</strong> This is the most expensive mistake Kansas families make. They apply, land on a list of several hundred, and hold off on therapy for a program that would not have paid for therapy anyway. Meanwhile KanCare covers ABA, and KanCare has no waiver queue.</p></div></section>
<section><h2>How to apply anyway, and you probably should</h2><p>The respite and parent training are genuinely worth having, and applying costs nothing but paperwork.</p>
<ol>
<li>Contact the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services and ask for the Autism Waiver application.</li>
<li>If your child meets the criteria, you get a letter placing them on the proposed recipient list with a numbered position.</li>
<li>When a slot opens, the program manager contacts you and a functional assessment is scheduled.</li>
</ol>
<p>Apply for the waiver <em>and</em> start ABA through KanCare at the same time. Separate tracks. Neither blocks the other.</p>
<p>KanCare, the state's Medicaid program, covers ABA for children under the EPSDT benefit. That is the funding route, and there is no slot to wait for. Achieving Stars Therapy accepts KanCare and delivers in-home ABA across <a href="/location/states/aba-therapy-kansas">Kansas</a>, including <a href="/location/city/aba-therapy-wichita-ks">Wichita</a> and <a href="/location/city/aba-therapy-topeka-ks">Topeka</a>.</p></section>
<section><h2>Frequently Asked Questions</h2>
<div class="faq-item"><h3>My child turns 6 soon. What then?</h3><p>The Autism Waiver ends at 5, and children do not roll automatically onto the I/DD Waiver, which has thousands waiting. Kansas has been standing up a newer Community Support Waiver for ages 5 and up that does include behavior therapy. Ask the state about its current status; it is recent enough that many case managers are still catching up.</p></div>
<div class="faq-item"><h3>What about early intervention?</h3><p>Kansas runs tiny-k for birth to 3. It is free regardless of income and has no waiting lists. The statewide referral line is <strong>1-800-332-6262</strong>.</p></div>
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<p class="disclaimer">Waiver services and enrollment figures verified against the federal Medicaid waiver record and Kansas legislative testimony on July 14, 2026. Enrollment moves; confirm current figures with KDADS.</p>
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<h2>Get ABA Without the Waiver Wait</h2>
<p>Free benefits check. BCBA-led, in-home, flexible day and evening scheduling.</p>
<a href="https://www.achievingstarstherapy.com/contact" class="cta-button">Check Your Coverage</a>
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<div class="cta-item"><div class="cta-item-label">Call</div><div class="cta-item-value"><a href="tel:8336663115">(833) 666-3115</a></div></div>
<div class="cta-item"><div class="cta-item-label">Email</div><div class="cta-item-value"><a href="mailto:info@achievingstarstherapy.com">info@achievingstarstherapy.com</a></div></div>
<div class="cta-item"><div class="cta-item-label">Ages</div><div class="cta-item-value">18 months to 15 years</div></div>
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