Many Florida parents of autistic toddlers ask whether they have to choose between Early Steps and ABA (applied behavior analysis). Usually they do not. Early Steps and private ABA are different services, paid for by different systems, with different strengths. This article compares them side by side, explains how insurance works when you use both, and gives practical steps to keep your child's goals and schedule in one coherent plan.
Can my toddler get Early Steps and private ABA at the same time?
Often, yes. Early Steps is Florida's IDEA Part C early intervention program for children from birth to 36 months, run by the Department of Health. Private ABA is a health service delivered by a behavior analysis provider and paid for by your health plan or by you. We found nothing in Florida's Early Steps Policy Handbook (updated 14 October 2026) that ends a child's Early Steps services because the family also arranges private therapy; services are decided by the IFSP team based on your child's needs. What matters is that the two fit together, and that your child's week is not overloaded.
Whether ABA is right for your child, and how many hours, are decisions for you and your child's clinicians. Insurance coverage is decided by your plan.
How are Early Steps and private ABA different?
| Early Steps | Private ABA | |
|---|---|---|
| Ages | Birth to 36 months | Any age the provider and plan serve |
| Who qualifies | A qualifying developmental delay or an established condition such as autism spectrum disorder | For insurance: usually an autism (or Down syndrome) diagnosis and medical necessity; self-pay does not require a diagnosis |
| Plan | Individualized Family Support Plan (IFSP), reviewed at least every 6 months | ABA treatment plan written by a BCBA after an assessment; reviewed on the provider's and insurer's schedule |
| Who decides services | The IFSP team, including you | The BCBA with you, then the health plan's authorization |
| Typical approach | A team-based primary service provider model: one lead provider coaches you and other caregivers to support learning in daily routines (Policy 6.2.1) | Direct teaching sessions by an RBT, supervised by a BCBA, plus parent training |
| Where | To the extent possible, the child's natural environment, such as home or child care (s. 391.308) | Home, center, daycare, school or community, depending on the provider and plan |
| Cost to family | No family fees, copays or deductibles for IFSP services | Depends on the plan (copays, coinsurance, deductibles) or self-pay rates |
| Ends | At age 3, with transition to the school district | When goals are met and discharge is planned, or when coverage changes |
What does Early Steps actually provide?
The handbook (Policy 6.1.1) lists services every local program must make available, including special instruction, speech-language pathology, occupational and physical therapy, family training and home visits, psychological services (including mental health and behavioral services), service coordination, assistive technology, audiology, vision services and translation or interpretation. The list is not exhaustive, and your IFSP team decides what your child receives.
Early Steps is built around coaching. UF's Northeastern Early Steps program in Jacksonville describes it as providers visiting regularly to help you support your child's learning during everyday routines, an approach Florida calls Florida Embedded Practices and Intervention with Caregivers (FL-EPIC). That is a strength: you learn strategies for meals, bath time and play. It also means Early Steps visits are usually less frequent than a structured ABA program. Ask your local office what behavioral support it can offer your child.
What does private ABA add?
ABA programs for young children usually include:
- an assessment by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and a written treatment plan with measurable goals;
- regular sessions with a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) who works directly with your child;
- BCBA supervision of the RBT and ongoing data collection;
- parent training so skills carry over into family life.
For toddlers, good ABA is play-based and follows the child's interests. Read ABA for toddlers: gentle, play-based foundations and our page on early intervention ABA.
How does insurance work if we use both?
Early Steps may bill your insurance only with your written consent, and your child receives every IFSP service whether or not you consent (Policies 1.5.2 and 1.7.1). If you consent, two things are worth checking before you sign:
- Visit limits. The handbook warns of possible long-term costs from using insurance, such as loss of benefits under annual or lifetime coverage caps (Policy 1.5.6). If your plan limits visits for speech, occupational or physical therapy, Early Steps visits billed to your plan may count toward those limits.
- Network rules. When you consent, Early Steps must use providers on your plan for IFSP services (Policy 1.6.8).
ABA is usually authorized separately, under your plan's behavioral health or autism benefit. Florida's autism insurance law (section 627.6686) requires fully insured large-group plans and HMOs to cover ABA for eligible children with autism or Down syndrome, with a treatment plan prescribed by the treating physician. It does not apply to self-funded employer plans or to individual and small-group plans, where coverage depends on the plan document. See fully insured vs self-funded plans and Is Early Steps really free?
How do we coordinate goals between the two?
Coordination is where families get the most value from using both. Practical steps:
- Tell each team about the other. Let your Early Steps service coordinator know your child is starting ABA, and tell your BCBA about the IFSP.
- Share plans, with consent. Sign releases so the BCBA can see the IFSP outcomes and the Early Steps team can see the ABA goals. You control what is shared.
- Invite the BCBA. The handbook says IFSP meetings include other people "as requested by the parent(s)" (Policy 5.5.3), so you can ask your BCBA to join, in person or by phone, if their schedule allows.
- Use the same words and routines. If Early Steps is working on requesting during snack and ABA is working on requesting with toys, agree on the same signs, words or pictures.
- Watch the calendar. Toddlers need rest, play and family time. Spread appointments across the week and tell both teams about naps and daycare hours.
- Plan for age 3 together. Transition planning starts at least 90 days before the third birthday. Your BCBA can help you prepare for the IEP meeting with the school district. See turning 3: the transition checklist.
Which should we start first?
You do not have to pick an order. Many families refer to Early Steps right away because it is free, needs no doctor's referral and has a 45-day timeline to the first IFSP. At the same time, they check insurance coverage for ABA, because authorization can take weeks. Starting both conversations in the same week usually saves time.
| Your situation | A reasonable first step |
|---|---|
| Under 3, no diagnosis yet, concerns about development | Refer to Early Steps (1-800-218-0001) and ask your pediatrician about an autism evaluation |
| Under 3 with an autism diagnosis | Refer to Early Steps and request a benefits check for ABA |
| Nearly 3 (within about 45 days of the birthday) | Refer anyway; Early Steps can refer your child to the school district. Ask about ABA now |
| Self-funded plan or no ABA coverage | Early Steps for free services; ask ABA providers about self-pay options |
How Hope Center works with Early Steps families
Hope Center for Behavior Change provides play-based, assent-based early intervention ABA at home, at daycare and at our centers. Programs are written by BCBAs, delivered by RBTs with weekly supervision, and include weekly parent training. We are glad to coordinate with your Early Steps service coordinator and providers. We accept Florida Blue, Aetna, Cigna (Evernorth), UMR, Personify Health and TRICARE East, and offer self-pay for all services with a sliding scale. We have no waitlist. Read the full Early Steps guide, or contact us for a free benefits check at 561-337-8865.