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10 Best ABA Therapy Providers in Gaithersburg, MD (2026)

Compare 22 ABA providers serving Gaithersburg. Explore the full ranked list and find a provider that feels right for your child.

Children practicing social skills together with Epic Minds Therapy
1

Epic Minds Therapy

Premium
5.0(1 review)Serving Gaithersburg, MDAges 1+Accepting new clients

Epic Minds Therapy provides in-home ABA therapy in Raleigh, North Carolina and surrounding communities for children on the autism spectrum. Our BCBAs and RBTs build individualized programs that develop communication, social, and daily-living skills in the places children spend their days: at home, at school, and out in the community. Care is assent-based and family-centered, with dedicated parent and caregiver training so progress continues between sessions. We also offer telehealth support and help families access a virtual autism evaluation, and we accept Medicaid and major North Carolina insurance plans.

  • In-home
  • School-based
  • Telehealth
  • Autism spectrum disorder
Blue Cross Blue ShieldCarelon+ 7 more
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Blossom ABA Therapy featured cover
2

Blossom ABA Therapy

Premium
Serving Gaithersburg, MDAges 1-14Accepting new clients

Blossom ABA Therapy is a multi-state group that pairs upbeat branding with evidence-based applied behavior analysis. The Baltimore team focuses on communication, flexibility, and daily living skills while keeping you informed with clear data and practical coaching. Sessions can happen at home, in school, or in the community depending on where the goals need to live. That flexibility lets learners practice store trips, classroom transitions, or sibling play in the real settings you care about. Billing specialists help Eastern Shore families interpret authorizations and lock in weekly hours insurers will fund. Other Maryland hubs can keep you inside the same provider network if you split time between the Shore and the Baltimore and Washington corridor.

  • In-home
  • School-based
  • Lower Eastern Shore
  • Flexible Settings
Insurance Accepted
ABA therapist working one-on-one with a child during an in-home session
3

Bright Builders ABA

Premium
Serving Gaithersburg, MDAges 0-12Accepting new clients

In-home and community-based ABA therapy for children with autism across the Baltimore metro area and surrounding Maryland communities. Bright Builders ABA brings patient, compassionate, evidence-based care into the places where children already live, learn, and play, so new skills carry over into everyday routines. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst personally assesses each child and designs an individualized plan focused on communication, social skills, and independence, and a dedicated provider delivers each session under ongoing BCBA supervision. A care coordinator guides families through paperwork and insurance eligibility from the first call, and parent training is built in so progress continues between sessions. The team includes 5 BCBAs and 18 RBTs, is currently accepting new clients with no waitlist, and works with Medicaid plus major commercial plans including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield (CareFirst), Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare.

  • In-home
  • Community-based
  • Medicaid
  • Parent training
AetnaBlue Cross Blue Shield (CareFirst)CignaUnitedHealthcare+ 1 more

Other ABA Providers in Gaithersburg

Proud Moments ABA

Proud Moments ABA

Listed
Gaithersburg, MD
Ages:Ages 0-12

At our Gaithersburg location on Perry Parkway, we provide clinic-based ABA for children from birth through age 12. This site offers clinic sessions rather than in-home services. BCBAs and licensed behavior analysts oversee individualized treatment, with intake covering authorization, assessment, and a written plan before therapy begins. We accept Aetna, CareFirst, Kaiser Permanente, and TRICARE; coverage varies by plan.

  • Center-based
  • Medicaid
  • Birth through age 12

Move Up ABA

Listed
5(1)
Serving Gaithersburg, MD
Ages:Ages 0-12

Move Up ABA delivers in-home and school-based ABA therapy for children with autism across the Baltimore and Washington metro areas. Each child receives an individualized, BCBA-supervised plan focused on communication, social skills, and independence, with assessments and parent training included. Sessions take place where children spend their day so progress generalizes across settings.

  • In-home
  • School-based
  • Medicaid
  • Parent training
Actify ABA Therapy

Actify ABA Therapy

Listed
Serving Gaithersburg, MD
Ages:Children

Actify provides in-home ABA centered on Olney with outreach to Brookeville, Ashton, Sandy Spring, Cloverly, Gaithersburg, Rockville, Germantown, and Bethesda. There is no center to tour; BCBAs and RBTs work in your home and community. Because therapy happens in your space, caregivers see goal updates firsthand and can practice the same prompts and reinforcement the team models. Intake regularly coordinates benefits with Medicaid, Aetna, Cigna, Amerigroup, Blue Cross Blue Shield, CareFirst, Priority Health, and UnitedHealthcare. Employer tiers and county rules still vary, so confirm network status before you start services.

  • In-home
  • Medicaid
  • Telehealth
  • Family-centered autism care

All Star ABA

Listed
Serving Gaithersburg, MD
Ages:Birth and up

All Star ABA provides transformative ABA therapy tailored for children with autism, empowering families in Catonsville and the Greater Baltimore area. With a compassionate and individualized approach, our experienced team focuses on fostering essential skills that help children thrive socially, emotionally, and academically. Our BCBAs and RBTs deliver therapy in home-based, center-based, and community settings, ensuring a comprehensive support system that accommodates each child's unique needs. We understand that early intervention is crucial and are committed to building strong foundations for brighter futures. Join us in creating a personalized path for your child's growth and development. From improving communication to enhancing daily living skills, All Star ABA is dedicated to empowering children and their families every step of the way.

  • In-home
  • Center-based
  • Medicaid
  • Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy

Behavioral Framework

Listed
Serving Gaithersburg, MD
Ages:Ages 0-12

Behavioral Framework offers in-clinic, in-home, and community-based ABA therapy for children with autism in Rockville and across Montgomery County. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst designs an individualized plan for each child, with autism diagnostic evaluations, early intervention, and school support available. Families can choose the setting that fits, with parent involvement throughout.

  • Center-based
  • In-home
  • Medicaid
  • Evaluations
Gold Standard ABA

Gold Standard ABA

Listed
Serving Gaithersburg, MD
Ages:Ages 0-12

Gold Standard ABA provides in-home ABA therapy for children with autism across Silver Spring, Wheaton, and Montgomery County. Care is built around an individualized, BCBA-supervised plan and delivered one-on-one in the home, with parent training and autism assessment available. The focus is on communication, social skills, and independence in everyday settings.

  • In-home
  • Medicaid
  • Parent training

Helping Hands Family

Listed
Serving Gaithersburg, MD
Ages:Ages 2-6

Helping Hands Family offers one-to-one, center-based ABA therapy at its South Baltimore clinic for children approximately ages 2 through 6. Individual learning blocks are paired with small-group play and classroom-like routines to support communication, behavior, social participation, independence, and kindergarten readiness. The Little Hands day program provides an extended daytime schedule with peer activities layered into individualized care.

  • Center-based
  • Early childhood ABA
  • School-readiness support

Helping Hands Family

Listed
Serving Gaithersburg, MD
Ages:Ages 2-6

Helping Hands Family provides personalized ABA therapy for children aged 2 to 6 in Lanham, MD. Our dedicated approach focuses on understanding each child's unique needs, creating tailored treatment plans that aim to improve communication, enhance social skills, and build independence. With a strong emphasis on early intervention, our experienced team works collaboratively with families, ensuring that every child has the support they need to thrive before entering kindergarten. At our center, we utilize a child-led, play-based learning approach, transforming therapy into engaging activities that promote skill development in a safe and nurturing environment. Our goal is to empower children affected by autism through compassionate and effective treatment, guiding them toward meaningful and lifelong success.

  • Medicaid
  • Child-led Learning
  • Positive Reinforcement
  • Individualized Treatment Plans

Helping Hands Family

Listed
Serving Gaithersburg, MD
Ages:Ages 2-6

Helping Hands Family offers personalized ABA therapy services in Bowie, MD, aimed at enriching the lives of children with autism aged 2 to 6. Our engaging therapy clinics provide a nurturing environment where children can thrive through tailored, play-based programs. Each child benefits from individualized attention, blending one-on-one lessons with interactive group activities, designed to promote developmental growth and joy in learning. Our evidence-based approach focuses on improving communication, behavior, and social skills using methods that are child-led and adaptive to their unique abilities. With a commitment to family collaboration, we ensure open communication with parents at every step of the therapy process. Our empowering strategies aim not only to enhance outcomes for children but also offer valuable support and insights for families to integrate ABA principles into daily routines. We understand the importance of creating a positive and encouraging atmosphere, fostering a love for learning that lasts a lifetime.

  • Center-based
  • In-home
  • Developmental Support

Helping Hands Family

Listed
Serving Gaithersburg, MD
Ages:Ages 2-6

Helping Hands Family offers compassionate Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy in North Bethesda, MD, for children ages 2 to 6 diagnosed with autism. Our dedicated team of Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) collaborates with families to create personalized therapy plans tailored to each child's unique needs. We focus on essential skills such as motor development, functional communication, and behavioral modification through a blend of fun activities and positive reinforcement. We recognize that family involvement is key to successful outcomes. Parents are encouraged to be active participants in the therapy journey, helping integrate learned skills into daily routines for maximum effectiveness. With our nurturing approach and focus on early intervention, we aim to foster significant improvements in cognitive function, socialization, and communication for all our young clients engaged in ABA therapy.

  • In-person
  • Telehealth
  • Early intervention
Proud Moments ABA - Woodbridge

Proud Moments ABA - Woodbridge

Listed
Serving Gaithersburg, MD

Proud Moments ABA - Woodbridge offers center-based ABA therapy in Woodbridge, VA for children with autism spectrum disorder and related developmental needs. The center serves families across Prince William County, including Woodbridge, Dale City, Lake Ridge, Manassas, and Lorton, with a structured clinic environment built for communication, social skills, behavior support, and daily independence. Each child’s care plan is individualized after assessment and guided by Board Certified Behavior Analysts and Licensed Behavior Analysts. Services include one-to-one ABA therapy, social skills groups, caregiver collaboration, parent training, and ongoing progress monitoring so families can carry therapy goals into everyday routines. The Woodbridge center is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM and accepts Medicaid plus several major insurance plans. Families comparing ABA therapy providers near Woodbridge can use the intake process to discuss availability, coverage, clinical fit, and next steps with the Proud Moments ABA team.

  • Center-based
  • Medicaid
  • Communication Skills
  • Social skills
Shining Star Clinic

Shining Star Clinic

Listed
Serving Gaithersburg, MD
Ages:Ages 0-12

Our Silver Spring clinic provides one-to-one, center-based ABA for children with autism. BCBAs develop individualized programs focused on communication, social skills, and independence, and parents take part in the work so strategies carry into home routines. The clinic serves families in Montgomery County. Maryland Medicaid is accepted.

  • Center-based
  • Medicaid

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Planning guides

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Use these guides before you ask about intake, insurance, school coordination, parent training, or waitlists.

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Why Choose ABA Therapy in Gaithersburg?

Gaithersburg sits along I-270 in upcounty Montgomery County, and families seeking ABA therapy for an autistic child here compare clinics in Gaithersburg, Rockville, and Germantown with in-home teams that travel the upcounty corridor. Montgomery County runs its own Infants and Toddlers Program, and Children's National has an autism evaluation site a short drive away on Shady Grove Road.

Comprehensive Autism Therapy Services in Gaithersburg

Children from birth to 34 1/2 months start with the Montgomery County Infants and Toddlers Program, run by the county Department of Health and Human Services. From age 3 to kindergarten, MCPS Child Find screens at no cost. Maryland Medicaid covers ABA for members under 21 through Carelon Behavioral Health with prior authorization, and Insurance Article § 15-835 reaches many private plans. County DHHS also coordinates Autism Waiver services with MCPS.

When exploring special needs educational programs alongside behavioral therapy, families in Gaithersburg often find that coordinated services produce the best outcomes.

Understanding Insurance Coverage for ABA Therapy in Gaithersburg

Maryland's habilitative services law, Md. Code, Insurance § 15-835, requires insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and HMOs that issue individual or group coverage in Maryland to cover habilitative services for children until at least the end of the month they turn 19. Maryland Insurance Administration regulations (COMAR 31.10.39) make clear that, for a child with autism, this benefit includes behavioral health treatment such as applied behavior analysis, along with psychological and therapeutic care. A plan may not deny ABA as experimental. It also may not deny coverage based only on the number of prescribed hours when the request is 25 hours a week or fewer for a child from 18 months to age six, or 10 hours a week or fewer from age six until 19. Plans may require a comprehensive evaluation, a prescription with treatment goals, and an annual review, and normal copays, deductibles, and network rules still apply. Plans do not have to pay for services delivered through early intervention or school programs. Self-funded employer plans follow federal ERISA rules rather than Maryland law. Maryland Medicaid covers medically necessary ABA for members under 21 who have an autism diagnosis from a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation. The child is referred to the state's behavioral health administrative services organization, which manages and authorizes ABA services.

Maryland Autism Support Programs and Regulations

The Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program, led by the Maryland State Department of Education, serves children from birth to age three with developmental delays or disabilities through a local program in every county and Baltimore City. Anyone, including a parent, doctor, or child care provider, can make a referral, and services are free to families. At age three, families of children who qualify for preschool special education can move to an IEP through the local school system or choose the Extended IFSP Option, which continues early intervention until the start of the school year after the child's fourth birthday. The Autism Waiver, which the State Department of Education runs for Medicaid, serves children with an autism diagnosis from age one until the end of the school year in which they turn 21. A child must need an institutional level of care and have an IEP or IFSP with at least 15 hours a week of services, and only the child's own income and assets count. Services include intensive individual support, respite, and family consultation. Families join the Autism Waiver registry and wait for an opening. When exploring specialized educational programs to complement ABA therapy, Gaithersburg families have access to a comprehensive network of support services.

Selecting the right ABA therapy provider in Gaithersburg is an important decision that can significantly impact your child's progress. The 22 therapy providers serving the Gaithersburg area each bring unique strengths, from specialized early intervention programs to school-based services and intensive behavioral support. Many Gaithersburg providers offer comprehensive parent training, ensuring that therapeutic strategies extend seamlessly into daily life. With Maryland's strong insurance protections and regulatory framework supporting autism treatment, families in Gaithersburg can confidently access high-quality, evidence-based ABA therapy services designed to help children reach their full potential.

Frequently Asked Questions About ABA Therapy in Gaithersburg

How do ABA wait lists work in Gaithersburg?
Upcounty providers each run their own list, and intake follows the same steps everywhere: a diagnosis report, payer approval, a BCBA assessment, and a technician who can cover your hours. Ask whether a provider staffs in-home cases north of Rockville or only near its clinic, which intake step is backed up, and whether morning or early afternoon hours open sooner than after-school slots. Sign up with more than one provider.
How does Maryland Medicaid approve ABA for a Gaithersburg child?
Medicaid covers ABA for members under 21 under its EPSDT benefit, and Carelon Behavioral Health reviews every request. First, a qualified clinician such as a developmental pediatrician or psychologist completes a diagnostic evaluation and prescribes ABA. Next, a BCBA or psychologist assesses your child and writes a treatment plan. Then Carelon grants prior authorization. Medicaid pays ABA fee-for-service, not through your child's managed care plan, so confirm the provider is registered with Carelon.
Will private insurance cover ABA for a Gaithersburg child?
Often, if the plan is fully insured in Maryland. Insurance Article § 15-835 makes insurers and HMOs cover habilitative services for children through at least the month they turn 19, and Maryland Insurance Administration rules include ABA as autism treatment. Federal employee plans and self-funded employer plans follow federal rules instead. Ask HR which rules apply and how many ABA hours the plan authorizes.
Center-based or in-home ABA in Gaithersburg?
A center gives a structured room, peers, and a BCBA on site, which suits a child getting ready for MCPS preschool or kindergarten. In-home ABA skips rush-hour trips on I-270 and MD 355 and builds skills around meals and bedtime. Pick the model that can staff a steady weekly schedule first, and ask each provider which hours it can fill now.
Where can a Gaithersburg family get an autism evaluation?
Children's National's Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders runs a Montgomery County site on Shady Grove Road in Rockville, close to Gaithersburg, and accepts intakes for youth where autism is a concern but not yet confirmed. Families request an evaluation through its intake form. Ask for a written report naming the diagnosis and recommending ABA, since Carelon and private plans require it.
Where does a Gaithersburg family start for a child under 3?
Refer to the Montgomery County Infants and Toddlers Program, part of the county Department of Health and Human Services, which serves children from birth to 34 1/2 months at no cost. Referrals go through the state's online referral site or the county program. After that age, MCPS Child Find takes over with free screenings from age 3 to kindergarten. Early intervention and private ABA can run at the same time.
Who coordinates the Maryland Autism Waiver for Gaithersburg families?
The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services provides Autism Waiver service coordination under an agreement with MCPS; it does not decide eligibility. The waiver funds home and community supports outside school hours for autistic children, and school-age children need an IEP with 15 or more hours a week of special education. Slots open through attrition and go first come, first served from the state Autism Waiver Registry, so register early.
Does private ABA replace MCPS services in Gaithersburg?
No. MCPS decides special education eligibility through Child Find for preschoolers and through the neighborhood school from kindergarten to 21. Maryland's § 15-835 also says private plans need not pay for habilitative services delivered through early intervention or the schools, so the IEP and the ABA plan are funded separately. With a signed release, a BCBA can share goals with your child's teachers so skills carry between home, clinic, and class.

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