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Texas proposes eliminating autism therapy program for low-income children

Health agency budget plan would slash Children's Autism Program serving 583 kids and 1,000+ on waitlists.

newest coverage 7h agosummary written 1d ago6 pieces2 likes & upvotes NewswiresRedditMastodon

What to know

  • Texas HHSC proposed eliminating the Children's Autism Program entirely in its 2028-2029 budget request, citing a 3% spending cut directive from state leadership.
  • CAP currently serves 583 children with ABA therapy at reduced or no cost; at least 1,000 more are on waitlists.
  • The program was recently expanded to serve children up to age 21 and remove yearly hour caps, making the proposed elimination particularly abrupt.
  • Parents, providers, and autism advocates expressed shock, with calls to fight the proposal during the legislative budget process.
some voices

The program elimination reflects problematic budget priorities that harm vulnerable children.

  • “Has changed, but from all reports, still torturous and still meant to ease caretaking at the expense of the kids.”

    Mec26 · reddit ↗

Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) State agency proposing eliminationGreg AbbottGreg Abbott Texas GovernorElizabeth Solis Parent and CAP beneficiaryJacquie Benestante Executive director, Autism Society of Texas

Texas proposes eliminating autism therapy program for low-income children
texastribune.org

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlespostscomments

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  1. 1

    Autism Society of Texas calls elimination shocking

    Jacquie Benestante, executive director of the Autism Society of Texas, expressed shock at the program's proposed elimination, contrasting it with past funding battles.

    “We were really shocked to see nothing, and it's just blank where the line item should be. We're used to having to fight for funding, but to actually have a program just slashed and canceled is pretty shocking.”
    — Jacquie Benestante
    • bich@apobangpo.space

      "In its budget request to the Legislature for the 2028-2029 biennium, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) proposed eliminating funding for the Children’s Autism Program (CAP) entirely, stunning advocates, providers and parents." https://www. texastribune.org/2026/10/12/te xas-childrens-autism-program-elimination-threat/ #…

      bich@apobangpo.spaceMastodon7h ago1▲view on Mastodon ↗
    1 more of the top 2 · 2 posts in this stretch

    • Has changed, but from all reports, still torturous and still meant to ease caretaking at the expense of the kids.

      Mec26r/politics1d agoview on r/politics ↗
    all of them →
  2. background

    HHSC proposes eliminating Children's Autism Program in budget request — The Texas Health and Human Services Commission proposed eliminating funding for the Children's Autism Program entirely in its budget request to the Legislature for the 2028-2029 biennium. The program currently serves 583 children and has at least 1,000 more on waitlists. CAP has contracted with 16 providers since 2008 to provide applied behavior analysis therapy to autistic children at reduced costs based on family income and insurance coverage.

  3. background

    Abbott, Patrick, Burrows direct state agencies to cut spending by 3% — Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and House Speaker Dustin Burrows issued a directive to state agencies, appellate courts, and universities to reduce spending by 3% in the next biennium.

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 2 outlets Texas health agency proposes eliminating children's autism program

    first by PBS NewsHour, 15h ago · also Texas Tribune

What people are saying 0 voices from 0 sites · best of 2 · verbatim