Boca Raton sits at the south end of Palm Beach County, so most of the public offices that serve Boca families are county or regional offices, not city ones. What is different about Boca is the mix of options: a university autism center on the FAU campus, a large number of private schools, and many small ABA providers to choose from. This guide lists the offices Boca parents use most, explains the private-school and scholarship questions that come up often here, and gives you a practical way to compare ABA providers. For the full county picture, see our Palm Beach County autism resources guide. Phone numbers and addresses below come from each agency's own page as of October 2026; confirm before you visit.
Who do I call first in Boca Raton?
Start with your child's age.
- Under 3: Treasure Coast Early Steps, run by Easterseals Florida, serves Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee counties. To make a referral, call 561-882-6426. The statewide Early Steps line is 1-800-218-0001. Our Early Steps guide explains eligibility and what happens at age 3.
- Ages 3 to 5, not in kindergarten: FDLRS Alpha handles Child Find screening for Palm Beach County. It is at 3300 Forest Hill Blvd., Suite A-203, West Palm Beach, FL 33406, phone 561-434-8975.
- School age: see the school section below. Where you start depends on whether your child is in a district school, a charter school, a private school or home education.
- Any age, diagnosis questions: ask your pediatrician for a referral for a diagnostic evaluation. Our guide to getting an autism diagnosis in Florida explains who can diagnose and how to keep the wait short.
Does FAU CARD have an office in Boca Raton?
Yes. The Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at Florida Atlantic University serves Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee counties, and lists two offices: one on the Boca Raton campus at 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431, and one on the Jupiter campus. The main line for both is 561-213-5751, and the email is card@fau.edu.
CARD centers are created by Florida law (s. 1004.55) to provide resource and training services for people with autism and related disabilities of all ages and their families: family consultation, help with school, training and connections to local resources. CARD is not an ABA provider and does not replace your child's therapy or school team. FAU CARD's site lists programs such as a parent support group and a directory of service providers; ask about current programs and any costs when you call. See which CARD serves my county.
Where is the APD office for Boca Raton families?
The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) serves Floridians whose developmental disability, including autism, began before age 18. Boca Raton is in APD's Southeast Region, and Palm Beach County is served by the West Palm Beach office:
- 111 South Sapodilla Avenue, Suite 204, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
- Phone: (561) 837-5564
APD services can include support coordination and, through the iBudget waiver, home and community supports. Waiver funding usually involves a long wait, so families often apply early. Our guide on how to apply for APD services walks through the application.
My child is in a Boca Raton private school. Can the district still evaluate?
Yes. Boca Raton has many private schools, and parents are often unsure who handles evaluations. The School District of Palm Beach County says Child Find for students over age 5 enrolled by their parents in private schools in the county, including religious schools, goes through its ESE private school program: call 561-434-8287 or email ESEprivateschoolprogram@palmbeachschools.org. For other situations:
- District or charter school: contact your child's school ESE coordinator.
- Home education: contact the ESE coordinator at your zoned school.
- Ages 3 to 5: start with FDLRS Alpha.
The district's main office is at 3300 Forest Hill Boulevard, West Palm Beach, FL 33406, phone (561) 434-8000. Under Florida's evaluation rule, once you give consent the evaluation must be completed within 60 calendar days, with some school breaks not counted. If your child attends a district school and you want a private BCBA or RBT to observe or work with them there, Florida law (s. 1003.572) sets the rules; see private ABA in Palm Beach County schools.
How much is FES-UA for a Boca Raton student?
Many Boca families use the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA), run by Step Up For Students, for private school tuition or therapies. The amount depends on the student's county of residence, grade band and matrix level. Step Up's 2026-27 table lists these Palm Beach County amounts:
| Matrix level | Grade band | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Levels 1 to 3, or a qualifying diagnosis without an IEP | Ages 3 and 4, and grades K to 3 | $11,054 |
| Levels 1 to 3 | Grades 4 to 8 | $10,452 |
| Levels 1 to 3 | Grades 9 to 12 | $10,255 |
| Level 4 (254) | All grades | $22,439 |
| Level 5 (255) | All grades | $35,893 |
New 2026-27 applications are accepted until November 15, 2026. A student on the scholarship gives up the district's duty to provide a free appropriate public education while enrolled in it. Read our FES-UA explainer before you decide, and ask any ABA provider directly whether Step Up has approved it.
How do I compare ABA providers in Boca Raton?
Boca Raton has many ABA options, which is good for families but makes comparing harder. Ask every provider the same questions, in writing if you can, so the answers are easy to line up.
| Question | Why it matters | What a clear answer looks like |
|---|---|---|
| When could services realistically start? | A short start time means little if the schedule never gets staffed. | A specific next step and a typical timeline, labelled as typical, not promised |
| Is my plan in network, and will you check benefits first? | Costs depend on your plan, not the provider's website. | A benefits check before the assessment, with your share explained |
| Which settings can you staff here: home, school, daycare, center? | Many Boca families need a mix of home and school sessions. | A named setting and who will cover it |
| Can parent training happen in our home language? | Training only helps if everyone at home can use it. | A staff member who speaks your language, or a clear plan |
| How often does the BCBA supervise and see my child? | Supervision is where the plan gets adjusted. | A stated frequency and a way to reach the BCBA |
| Will your team join IEP or private-school meetings? | School and therapy goals work better when they match. | Yes, where the school allows it |
Our intake timeline shows each step from the first call to the first session, so you can compare it with what other providers describe.
Should my Boca Raton family register for the special needs shelter?
Palm Beach County's special needs shelter is for residents with certain medical needs: people who depend on electrically powered life-support equipment, need help transferring or a Hoyer lift, receive help with activities of daily living and need to evacuate with a caregiver, or have progressive Alzheimer's disease or dementia. Caregivers must accompany their patients, and space is limited. Autism alone is not on the county's list. If your child needs hands-on help with daily activities, call the county's Special Needs Coordinator at 561-712-6362 to ask whether they qualify, and register well before a storm. See how to register for a special needs shelter.
Are there library options for Boca Raton kids?
The Boca Raton Public Library is a city library with two locations, Downtown (561-367-7019) and Spanish River (561-393-7920). We did not find a sensory-friendly program listed on the library's page in October 2026, so call before you go and ask about quieter times, storytime size and whether your child can take breaks. Many libraries can also suggest picture books that help explain a new routine.
ABA therapy in Boca Raton with Hope Center
Hope Center for Behavior Change provides ABA in Boca Raton homes, schools, daycares and community settings. We do not have an office in Boca Raton; our nearest center is in West Palm Beach at 750 S Military Trail, Suite D-E, West Palm Beach, FL 33415, open Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- No waitlist. Services usually begin 3 to 5 business days after insurance approves the plan; from the first call, it can be as little as three weeks, longer if paperwork is slow.
- BCBAs write each plan, RBTs deliver sessions, the clinical director reviews every plan before it goes to insurance, and parents get weekly training.
- Our team speaks English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Bengali and Russian.
- We work with Blue Cross Blue Shield (Florida Blue), Aetna, Cigna (Evernorth), UMR, Personify Health and TRICARE East, and offer self-pay with a sliding scale. Your costs depend on your plan.
See our West Palm Beach ABA page and school-based ABA, or request a free consultation and benefits check. You can also call 561-337-8865.