Laredo, Texas –  The City of Laredo Public Health Department has released a new report titled Autism Service Access Barriers, developed by the department’s Autism Surveillance Division. The report provides an overview of autism prevalence, current service capacity, and barriers families face when seeking care and support within the community. The report combines national data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with local population estimates to better understand the potential number of individuals affected by autism spectrum disorder in Webb County. Using the CDC’s national prevalence estimate, the report offers a clearer picture of how many children and families in the region may require autism related services. 

In addition to prevalence estimates, the report examines barriers that families often encounter when attempting to access services. These barriers include limited availability of specialized therapies, transportation challenges, long waitlists, and workforce shortages in specialized fields such as Applied Behavior Analysis therapy. Applied Behavior Analysis therapy is widely recognized as an evidence based intervention that can help children with autism improve communication, social skills, and daily functioning. The report provides an overview of local ABA therapy providers while also highlighting the need for expanded access to these services within the community. To better understand the needs of local families, the Autism Surveillance Division also conducted the preliminary 2026 Autism Needs Survey. Early results from the survey emphasize the importance of increasing access to ABA therapy and reducing barriers that prevent families from receiving timely care and support. 

The Autism Service Access Barriers report is intended to support community awareness, guide future program planning, and encourage collaboration among healthcare providers, educators, policymakers, and families.

To view the full report please click here.

For more information, please visit the City of Laredo Public Health Department website or email clhd@ci.laredo.tx.us.

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