If your toddler has just been diagnosed with autism, you may have been told to "call Early Steps." A common next question is whether your child still has to pass a developmental test to get in. Under the Florida Department of Health's Early Steps Policy Handbook (updated 14 October 2026), the answer is usually no. Autism spectrum disorder is an established condition, and a child under 3 with a confirmed autism diagnosis is eligible on that basis alone. This article explains what that means, who can confirm the diagnosis, what to do if you are still waiting for an evaluation, and what eligibility does and does not give you.
Does an autism diagnosis qualify my toddler for Early Steps?
Yes, if your child is under 36 months and the diagnosis is confirmed in writing. Early Steps is Florida's early intervention program under Part C of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), run by the Department of Health under section 391.308 of the Florida Statutes. Policy 3.1.1 of the handbook says a child under age 3 is eligible if they meet one of several criteria. One of them, Policy 3.1.2, is having an established condition in one of these areas:
- genetic and metabolic disorder;
- neurological disorder;
- autism spectrum disorder;
- severe attachment disorder;
- sensory impairment (vision or hearing);
- infants who weighed less than 1,200 grams at birth; or
- other conditions.
The Early Steps Established Conditions list (revised 2025) groups "Autism Spectrum Disorders" together and names autism spectrum disorder, Asperger's disorder, pervasive developmental disorder and Rett's syndrome under that heading. The list says it is not exhaustive.
The practical point: an established condition is a different route from the developmental delay route. Your child does not have to score a certain number of standard deviations below the mean on a test to qualify. The diagnosis itself is the qualifying condition.
Who has to confirm the autism diagnosis?
For most established conditions, the handbook requires written confirmation of the diagnosis from a licensed physician. Autism has a specific exception. Policy 3.1.2 B says that in the case of severe attachment disorder or autism spectrum disorder, "a healthcare practitioner acting within his/her scope of practice" may confirm the diagnosis. The written confirmation must be kept in your child's Early Steps record.
In everyday terms, the confirmation can come from the professional who diagnosed your child, as long as diagnosing autism is within that person's professional scope. The handbook does not publish a list of professions, so your local Early Steps office decides whether a particular report meets the rule. If you are unsure, ask the intake coordinator before your eligibility meeting. Our article on who can diagnose autism in Florida explains the professions that usually do.
Two things are worth knowing:
- A screening is not a diagnosis. A positive result on a screening questionnaire at a well-child visit is a reason to evaluate, not a confirmed diagnosis. See the M-CHAT-R/F screening explained.
- Behavior analysts do not diagnose. A BCBA's assessment for an ABA treatment plan is not a diagnostic evaluation and will not count as confirmation of autism.
What if my toddler is still waiting for an autism evaluation?
Do not wait for the diagnosis to refer. Early Steps has a second route, Policy 3.1.3: a child is eligible with a developmental delay, measured by appropriate diagnostic instruments and procedures and informed clinical opinion, that exceeds:
- 1.5 standard deviations below the mean in two or more developmental domains, or
- 2.0 standard deviations below the mean in one or more domains.
The five domains are cognitive, physical (including vision and hearing), communication, social or emotional, and adaptive. Many toddlers who are later diagnosed with autism show delays in communication and social or emotional skills, so they may qualify through this route while the autism evaluation is pending. The handbook also allows:
- Records from the past 90 days. Medical and other records can establish delay-based eligibility without a new evaluation, if they show your child meets the criteria and are from within the past 90 days (Policy 3.1.3 C).
- Informed clinical opinion. The team's professional judgment can establish eligibility even when a test score does not (Policy 3.1.3 D).
If your child is found eligible through a delay and later receives an autism diagnosis, share the written diagnosis with your service coordinator so it goes in the record.
How is eligibility different from services?
Eligibility opens the door; it does not decide the services. Even with an established condition, Early Steps still assesses your child. The Northeastern Early Steps program in Jacksonville puts it this way on its referral page: children with an established condition are automatically eligible, and "an assessment of the child will determine the scope of services."
After eligibility, you and the team write an Individualized Family Support Plan (IFSP). Under Policy 6.1.2, services are determined by the IFSP team. The handbook's list of services that must be available includes special instruction, speech-language pathology, occupational and physical therapy, family training and home visits, and psychological services (including mental health and behavioral services). The local program must evaluate and hold the first IFSP meeting within 45 calendar days of receiving the referral. Read more in your child's IFSP explained.
Early Steps eligibility is also not the same as insurance coverage for ABA, and it is not school eligibility. Each system makes its own decision:
| System | What a confirmed autism diagnosis does | Who decides |
|---|---|---|
| Early Steps (under 3) | Qualifies the child as an established condition, no delay testing needed for eligibility | Local Early Steps office, then the IFSP team for services |
| Private insurance for ABA | Usually required before a plan will authorize ABA; the plan also reviews medical necessity and a treatment plan | The health plan |
| School district (age 3 and up) | Is considered, but the district runs its own evaluation under Rule 6A-6.03023 and the child must also need special education | The district's eligibility team |
What should I do this week if my toddler was just diagnosed?
- Get the written report. Ask the diagnosing professional for a signed copy that states the diagnosis. Keep several copies.
- Refer to Early Steps. Anyone can refer a child from birth to 36 months. Call the statewide line at 1-800-218-0001 or use the online form linked from floridaearlysteps.com. No doctor's referral is needed. Our step-by-step referral guide has a phone script.
- Mention the diagnosis at referral. Say "My child has a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, which is an established condition." This helps the office plan the right next steps.
- Watch the calendar. The local office must contact you within five calendar days of receiving the referral (Policy 2.3.6). If your child is close to 3, act quickly: if a referral reaches Early Steps fewer than 45 days before the third birthday, Early Steps is not required to evaluate or write an IFSP. With your consent it refers your child to the school district instead (Policy 2.3.7).
- Check your insurance for ABA. If you are thinking about ABA as well, ask your plan what it requires. Many families run both; see Early Steps and private ABA.
Does it cost anything, and is there an income limit?
Early Steps does not charge families. Policy 1.5.1 says the system of payments "does not include any sliding or cost participation fees," and Policy 1.5.2 says parents "are not charged any out-of-pocket costs" for Part C services. With your written consent, Early Steps can bill your insurance, but every IFSP service is available whether or not you give that consent. The host programs we checked, such as USF's Bay Area Early Steps, also state there is no income requirement. Details are in Is Early Steps really free?
How Hope Center can help alongside Early Steps
Hope Center for Behavior Change does not run Early Steps and cannot make eligibility decisions. What we can do is help with the next pieces. Our clinical director, Aisha Albright-Jourdan, LCSW, BCBA, offers diagnostic evaluations with a supervising licensed psychologist, which can help families who are still waiting for a diagnosis. The diagnostic report is usually ready within about a week once parents finish all the questionnaires. We provide early intervention ABA at home, at daycare and at our centers, with weekly parent training, and we are glad to coordinate with your Early Steps team. We have no waitlist and offer a free benefits check. See early intervention ABA, read the full Early Steps guide, or contact us at 561-337-8865.