If your child has been receiving early intervention services, you may already be familiar with the support system that exists for children from birth to age three. Early intervention programs provide a valuable foundation. But at age three, eligibility for those programs ends. Families then face a transition that can feel abrupt and uncertain.
The good news is that turning three does not mean services stop. It means the type of services and the systems that provide them change. For many children with autism, this is the point at which ABA therapy becomes the primary framework for continued support. Planning ahead for this transition can make a significant difference for your child and your family.
This guide is written for families in Georgia, Colorado, and Maryland who are approaching or navigating this transition and want to know what to expect.
Understanding the Age Three Transition
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requires states to provide early intervention services to eligible children from birth to age three. These services typically take place in the home and support development across all areas, including communication, motor skills, and social-emotional growth.
When a child turns three, eligibility for early intervention under Part C of IDEA ends. Children who still need support then transition to Part B services, which are school-based special education services through the local school district. For children with autism, this often includes a preschool program with special education support.
School-based services alone are not always sufficient for children with autism who need more intensive, individualized support. ABA therapy after early intervention fills that gap. ABA therapy can run alongside school-based services and provides additional hours of targeted intervention in the home environment.
What Changes and What Stays the Same
One of the most reassuring things to know is that the skills your child built through early intervention do not disappear at age three. The foundation is real, and ABA therapy builds on it rather than starting over.
What changes is the structure and the setting. Early intervention services are largely informal and relationship-based. ABA therapy is more data-driven and goal-oriented. A supervising BCBA develops a formal treatment plan and tracks progress systematically. For many children, this increased structure is exactly what they need as their goals become more complex.
The family-centered approach remains a constant. Good ABA therapy, like good early intervention, keeps parents and caregivers at the center of the process. Parent training continues to play a key role. The skills children practice during sessions are designed to carry over into daily home life.
How the Transition Works in Georgia and Colorado
Georgia
In Georgia, the Babies Can’t Wait program refers children transitioning at age three to their local school district for a special education eligibility evaluation. Families receive written notice of this transition several months before their child’s third birthday. A transition planning meeting then takes place to discuss what services will look like going forward.
For Georgia families moving from early intervention to ABA therapy, the school transition is a good moment to simultaneously begin the intake process with an ABA provider. Ideally, ABA services should be in place, or at least in progress, before early intervention ends. This prevents gaps in support.
Colorado
Colorado’s Early Intervention Colorado program follows a similar transition process. The program connects families to their local school district as their child approaches their third birthday. A transition planning conference takes place at least 90 days before services end. Proactive planning makes this shift manageable.
Colorado families who begin the ABA therapy intake process a few months before their child’s third birthday give themselves the best chance of a smooth, uninterrupted transition. Score ABA works with families to move through intake and authorization as efficiently as possible so children avoid unnecessary gaps in care.
How to Plan Ahead for a Smooth Transition
The single most effective thing families can do is start planning early. Do not wait until your child’s third birthday to begin researching ABA providers. Insurance authorization and provider onboarding both take time. Starting a few months ahead gives everything room to fall into place without a gap in services.
Ask your early intervention team for a summary of your child’s current goals and progress. This documentation helps the ABA intake process and gives the new clinical team a clear picture of where your child is and what to build on. The steps after early intervention should feel like a continuation, not a restart.
Also keep your child’s autism diagnosis documentation accessible. ABA providers and insurance companies will need it to begin the authorization process.
Score ABA Is Ready When You Are
Transitioning from early intervention to ABA therapy is a big step, but it does not have to be a stressful one. Score ABA works with families across Georgia, Colorado, and Maryland to make that transition as smooth and well-supported as possible. Our in-home ABA therapy meets your child where they are and carries their progress forward.
Reach out to Score ABA today. The earlier you start the conversation, the smoother the path ahead.
Phone: 973-412-3663
Email: info@scoreaba.com
Colorado: 720-214-3326
Maryland: 410-204-0102
Georgia: 315-239-8008
Visit scoreaba.com to fill out an intake form and get started.
