Delray Beach is in southern Palm Beach County, between Boynton Beach and Boca Raton. For autism support, Delray families are part of the Palm Beach County system: the same Early Steps program, the same school district, the same CARD center and the same county emergency management office. What differs is distance. Hope Center's center is in West Palm Beach, so for many Delray families the real comparison is between a drive north and therapy at home or school. Contacts below come from each agency's own site as of October 2026; please confirm before you go. The Palm Beach County autism resources guide has the county-wide view.
Where can a Delray Beach child get ABA?
Hope Center has no office in Delray Beach. Our Palm Beach County center is at 750 S Military Trail, Suite D-E, West Palm Beach, FL 33415 (Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.). From that office we also provide ABA in homes, schools (when the school agrees), daycares and community settings. Whether we can staff your neighborhood and your preferred hours depends on the schedule, so ask when you call 561-337-8865.
In-home, school or center ABA: how do they compare?
| Factor | In-home | School or daycare | West Palm Beach center |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel for your child | None | None beyond the school day | A drive north on I-95 |
| Typical goals | Daily routines, communication at home, sleep, meals | Classroom routines, transitions, peer play | Structured learning, group play, practicing new skills away from home |
| What must be in place | A caregiver at home during sessions | Teacher and principal consent under Fla. Stat. 1003.572 | A schedule that fits the drive |
| Parent training | Happens in your real routines | Usually separate sessions at home or by arrangement | Weekly, at the center or by arrangement |
Many families combine settings. See center versus in-home ABA.
Which public offices serve Delray Beach?
FAU CARD
The Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at Florida Atlantic University serves Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee counties and says it provides consulting, training and support at no charge. For Delray families, the nearer office is on FAU's Boca Raton campus, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431. The main line is 561-213-5751 and the email is card@fau.edu. CARD does not provide ABA; it helps families find services, understand autism, and work with schools. See which CARD serves my county.
Early Steps and FDLRS Alpha
For a child under 3, call Treasure Coast Early Steps (Easterseals Florida) at 561-882-6426. For a child 3 to 5 who is not yet in kindergarten, FDLRS Alpha runs free Child Find screening for Palm Beach County at 561-434-8975. Our Early Steps guide explains eligibility and what happens at age 3.
APD Southeast
The Agency for Persons with Disabilities serves Palm Beach County from 111 South Sapodilla Avenue, Suite 204, West Palm Beach, FL 33401, phone (561) 837-5564. APD can fund supports such as the iBudget waiver for eligible people with autism; see how to apply for APD services.
How do Delray Beach families request a school evaluation?
Delray Beach public and charter schools belong to the School District of Palm Beach County (3300 Forest Hill Boulevard, West Palm Beach; (561) 434-8000). Contact your child's school ESE coordinator, or your zoned school's ESE coordinator if you home educate. For a child over 5 in a private school in the county, the district's ESE private school program is at 561-434-8287 or ESEprivateschoolprogram@palmbeachschools.org.
A written request starts the clock under Rule 6A-6.0331: 30 days for the district to seek consent or refuse in writing, then 60 calendar days to complete the evaluation after you consent (some breaks excluded). Fla. Stat. 1003.572 lets your child's private BCBA or RBT observe and work at school when the teacher and principal agree on time and place. See private ABA in Palm Beach County schools.
Are there accessible beaches, playgrounds and library hours in Delray Beach?
Delray Beach's parks department does not list an autism-specific program, but the city and county list several accessibility features (checked October 2026):
- Beach access. The city says access mats are deployed at the main beach access at Atlantic and A1A and at Atlantic Dunes Park, and beach wheelchairs are available at the S1, S3, S5 and Atlantic Dunes Park lifeguard towers. Free surf chairs can be borrowed for a limited time with a companion; ask a lifeguard. The beach conditions line is (561) 272-3224.
- Playgrounds. The Family Recreation and Fitness Center at 850 N. Congress Ave. has a wheelchair-accessible playground, and Palm Beach County lists Lake Ida West Park in Delray Beach among its sensory-rich, barrier-free play areas.
- Library. The county's Hagen Ranch Road Branch (14350 Hagen Ranch Road, Delray Beach, (561) 894-7500) is one of the branches that host the Sensory Friendly Browsing Hour.
- City accommodations. For help at a city program or event, the city's ADA coordinator is at (561) 243-7000, ext. 7042.
County adaptive recreation. Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation runs a Therapeutic Recreation section with adaptive recreation programs for people with disabilities and their families, based at 2728 Lake Worth Road, Lake Worth, FL 33461 (561-966-7015; pbcTherapeuticRec@pbc.gov; Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Its Recreation Connections social events and Sports in Motion programs are open to participants with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and some programs use a seasonal registration lottery, so ask early.
How can we plan a beach day that works for our child?
Living near the ocean is a big part of Delray life, and many autistic children love the water. A few planning ideas parents and BCBAs often use:
- Preview it. Show photos or a short video of the beach, the parking lot and the restrooms before you go. A simple first-then card ("first sunscreen, then sand") helps.
- Go at quieter times. Early mornings and weekdays usually mean fewer crowds and less noise.
- Bring a calm kit. Headphones, a towel your child likes, a familiar snack, shade and a clear "all done" signal.
- Treat water as the top safety priority. Stay within arm's reach near water, choose lifeguarded areas, and talk to your child's team about water-safety goals. The Florida Department of Health says drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death for Florida children ages 1 to 4.
ABA goals can include beach skills too, such as tolerating sunscreen, waiting at the water's edge, or coming back when called. Read more in sensory-friendly beaches in Florida and drowning prevention for autistic children.
What about hurricane season?
Palm Beach County Emergency Management runs the county Special Needs Shelter, which is staffed by physicians and nurses but is not a medical facility. Its criteria are medical (life-support equipment that needs power, help transferring or a Hoyer lift, help with daily living activities while evacuating with a caregiver, or progressive Alzheimer's or dementia), and caregivers must come along. Autism alone is not listed, so call the county before storm season to ask about your child. Applications go online or by mail to the Special Needs Coordinator, 20 South Military Trail, West Palm Beach, FL 33415. See registering for a special needs shelter.
How does Hope Center get started?
We have no waitlist. You call 561-337-8865 or request a free consultation and benefits check; we collect documents, verify benefits, and a BCBA completes a 2 to 4 hour assessment at home or at the center. The plan takes up to two weeks, our clinical director reviews it, and it goes to your insurer. Services usually start 3 to 5 business days after approval. 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. More on our West Palm Beach ABA page.