Riviera Beach sits just north of West Palm Beach, along the Intracoastal and Singer Island. Being this close to the county seat means many of the offices autism families need are a short drive away. For many Riviera Beach parents, the bigger question is cost: how to pay for ABA, and which free public services to use alongside it. This guide compares the payment routes and lists local contacts, taken from each agency's own page in October 2026. Confirm before you go. The Palm Beach County autism resources guide has the full county picture.
How can a Riviera Beach family pay for ABA?
| Route | Who it fits | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial insurance | Families with employer or individual plans | Hope Center works with Blue Cross Blue Shield (Florida Blue), Aetna, Cigna (Evernorth), UMR and Personify Health. Deductibles, copays and coinsurance depend on your plan. |
| TRICARE East | Military families, including those stationed or retired in the area | Hope Center works with TRICARE East (Humana Military). Referrals and authorizations follow TRICARE's rules. |
| Self-pay with a sliding scale | Families without coverage, or who want services insurance will not fund | Self-pay is available for all of Hope Center's services and does not require a diagnosis. The sliding scale can help with deductibles and copays. |
| FES-UA scholarship | Eligible students ages 3 to 21 with an IEP or a qualifying diagnosis | Can pay approved providers for therapies including ABA. At Hope Center, families can use FES-UA funds toward balances left after insurance, most often BCBA supervision and parent training; call to confirm for your child. |
| APD iBudget waiver | People found eligible by APD | Funds home and community supports; many families wait a long time for funding |
If your child has Medicaid, ask your Medicaid plan for its list of in-network ABA providers. Hope Center does not accept Medicaid, and under center policy a child who has Medicaid cannot be seen self-pay at Hope Center. If your family adds marketplace or employer insurance, which we accept, the sliding scale can help with your share. Our sliding scale and self-pay guide explains how self-pay works, and our insurance page lists plans. A free benefits check is the first step.
How much is FES-UA for a Palm Beach County student?
Step Up For Students, which runs the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities, publishes award amounts by the student's county of residence. Its 2026-27 table lists these amounts for Palm Beach County:
| Matrix level | Grade band | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Levels 1 to 3 (251 to 253), or a qualifying diagnosis | 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 full-time public school student cannot receive FES-UA, and while a student uses the scholarship the district is not obligated to provide a free appropriate public education. Weigh that trade-off before you apply; read our FES-UA explainer.
What does APD Southeast do, and where is it?
APD (Agency for Persons with Disabilities) serves Floridians with developmental disabilities, including autism. Its Southeast Region office for Palm Beach, Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee and St. Lucie counties is in downtown West Palm Beach, a short drive from Riviera Beach:
- 111 South Sapodilla Avenue, Suite 204, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
- Phone: (561) 837-5564
APD can help eligible people with support coordination, respite and, through the iBudget waiver, a range of home and community services. Apply early; funding often involves a long wait. See how to apply for APD services.
What free help is available before and alongside ABA?
- Treasure Coast Early Steps (Easterseals Florida), for children under 3: 561-882-6426.
- FDLRS Alpha, free Child Find screening for ages 3 to 5: 561-434-8975.
- FAU CARD, consulting, training and support at no charge for autistic people of all ages and their families: 561-213-5751, card@fau.edu.
- Your school's ESE coordinator in the School District of Palm Beach County, for school evaluations and IEPs. For private school students over 5, call the district's ESE private school program at 561-434-8287.
School evaluations are free. Under Rule 6A-6.0331, after a written parent request the district has 30 days to seek consent or refuse in writing, and 60 calendar days after consent to finish the evaluation. If your child has private ABA, Fla. Stat. 1003.572 lets the provider work with your child at school when the teacher and principal agree. See private ABA in Palm Beach County schools.
What local help does Riviera Beach offer?
Riviera Beach Police Special Needs Registry. The Riviera Beach Police Department runs a special needs registry, which it describes as an outreach program to help officers better serve people living with autism or other cognitive impairments. You can sign up through the form on the city's website, call the non-emergency line at (561) 845-4123, call the Community Services Division at (561) 635-7587, or email specialneedsregistry@rbpublicsafety.org.
Beach wheelchairs. Palm Beach County lists beach wheelchairs at Ocean Reef Park and at Phil Foster Memorial Park in Riviera Beach; contact a lifeguard on arrival. A companion must be available to help.
Library and recreation. The Riviera Beach Public Library (2129 North Congress Avenue, (561) 845-4195) did not list sensory programs in its October 2026 calendar. Nearby, the Palm Beach County Library System holds a Sensory Friendly Browsing Hour at branches across the county; check its events calendar.
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 do Riviera Beach families plan for hurricanes?
Much of Riviera Beach is along the water, so know your evacuation zone before storm season. Palm Beach County Emergency Management runs a Special Needs Shelter for residents with certain medical needs: people who depend on powered life-support equipment, who need help transferring or a Hoyer lift, who receive help with daily living activities and need to evacuate with a caregiver, or who have progressive Alzheimer's or dementia. Caregivers must accompany them, and space is limited. Autism alone is not on the list, so ask the county whether your child qualifies. Apply online or by mail to the Special Needs Coordinator, 20 South Military Trail, West Palm Beach, FL 33415; the county lists 561-712-6362 for updating or confirming registry entries.
Whether your family goes to a general shelter, a special needs shelter or relatives inland, pack a sensory kit and practice the plan. See registering for a special needs shelter.
Getting ABA with Hope Center
Hope Center has no office in Riviera Beach; Riviera Beach families are served from our West Palm Beach center 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.), and with ABA at home, school or daycare where we can staff it. We have no waitlist; services usually start 3 to 5 business days after insurance approves the plan, and first call to first session can be as little as three weeks. Our team speaks English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Bengali and Russian. Call 561-337-8865, request a free consultation and benefits check, or visit our West Palm Beach ABA page.