ESA Funding for Autism & ABA Therapy
Education Savings Accounts provide crucial support for children with autism spectrum disorder, covering ABA therapy, specialized schools, and individualized educational services.52% of Arizona's ESA students have autism diagnoses.
What ESAs Cover for Autism Students
ABA Therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy from licensed BCBAs and RBTs. Many states explicitly allow ESA funds for in-person or virtual ABA services.
Autism-Specific Schools
Private schools specializing in autism education with trained staff, sensory rooms, and individualized learning plans designed for the spectrum.
Speech Therapy
Speech-language pathology services from licensed SLPs focusing on communication skills, language development, and social communication challenges.
Occupational Therapy
OT services for sensory integration, fine motor skills, daily living activities, and self-regulation strategies from licensed occupational therapists.
Assistive Technology
AAC devices, communication apps, adaptive learning software, noise-canceling headphones, weighted items, and other autism-specific tools and technology.
Specialized Curriculum
Autism-friendly educational materials, visual learning tools, social stories, sensory-friendly textbooks, and individualized learning programs.
State-Specific Autism ESA Programs
Arizona
Empowerment Scholarship Accounts
- ABA therapy (in-person or virtual)
- Speech, OT, PT from licensed practitioners
- Aquatic therapy, hippotherapy, music therapy
- Private school tuition
North Carolina
Personal Education Savings Account
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Hearing impairment
- Moderate to severe intellectual disability
- Orthopedic or visual impairment
Florida
Family Empowerment Scholarship
- IEP or 504 Plan (both accepted)
- Autism spectrum disorder qualifies
- No waitlist (expanded in 2024)
Indiana
Education Scholarship Account (INESA)
- Designed specifically for disabilities
- Covers therapies and services
- Individual classes allowed
- Extracurricular activities covered
Indiana allows families to mix and match services - use some funds for private school, some for ABA therapy, and some for individual tutoring all in one account.
How Families Use ESAs for Autism
The Johnson Family - Arizona
Son (age 7) with autism, uses $7,800 annual ESA
How They Allocate Their ESA:
The Johnsons chose homeschooling combined with intensive therapy services. Their son has made significant progress in communication and social skills. "The ESA gave us the freedom to create exactly the program our son needed," says Mrs. Johnson.
Autism ESA FAQs
Ready to Apply for Autism ESA Funding?
Our Concierge Service helps families navigate the application process, find autism-specific schools and therapists, and maximize your ESA benefits for just $149.