For years, seven-year-old Israel Solis struggled to connect with the world around him. Diagnosed with autism and being nonverbal, he often resorted to biting and scratching himself in frustration when his needs went unrecognized. However, thanks to therapy provided through a state-subsidized program, he has gained a means to express himself using a picture communication system learned from his providers in Houston.
Now, this vital program faces the threat of elimination due to state budget cuts. In its budget proposal for the 2028-2029 biennium, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has recommended scrapping funding for the Children’s Autism Program (CAP) entirely, leaving advocates, service providers, and families in disbelief.
“If the doors just completely close to access that at all, you just feel like it’s all caving in on you, like ‘how am I going to get some help?’” lamented Elizabeth Solis, Israel’s mother, who also has another son benefiting from a CAP-funded program at the University of Houston-Clear Lake’s Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, where she pays nothing for their services.
Established in 2008, CAP collaborates with 16 providers across Texas to offer applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy to autistic children at a reduced cost, based on their families’ income and insurance status. Eligible children can receive up to 720 hours of ABA therapy over their lifetime—treatment widely recognized as the gold standard for autism care.
In the past two years, the state allocated $13.7 million to fund CAP, which recently expanded its eligibility criteria to include individuals up to 21 years old and lifted the annual hour cap. In fiscal year 2026, the program supported treatment for 583 children; however, contractors report that over 1,000 more children are currently on waitlists throughout the state.
“We were really shocked to see nothing, and it’s just blank where the line item should be,” stated Jacquie Benestante, executive director of the Autism Society of Texas. “We’re accustomed to fighting for funding, but to see a program completely slashed and canceled is truly shocking.”
In July, Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, and House Speaker Dustin Burrows instructed state agencies, appellate courts, and universities to reduce spending by 3% for the forthcoming biennium. When asked about the decision to eliminate the program, HHSC officials cited their budget reduction summary, which claims that the agency prioritized cuts with the lowest impact on direct services to clients while minimizing effects on federal funding.
Yet, in their budget request proposing the elimination of CAP, officials acknowledged the pressing need for autism therapy. “The demand for services exceeds the availability of qualified providers, especially in rural areas,” the request states, adding that despite coverage from private and public insurance for treatment services, availability remains limited in various regions.
If the Legislature approves the elimination of CAP, children would still have access to services until August 2027, according to HHSC.
Many public programs in Texas receive federal matching funds. Jeff Miller, a senior policy specialist at Disability Rights Texas, noted that since CAP is solely state-funded, it may have appeared to be an easy target for budget cuts without jeopardizing federal funding.
Issues surrounding Medicaid coverage for ABA therapy may also play a role in the proposed cuts. In 2022, Medicaid began covering ABA therapy for individuals aged 20 and younger, which made the state autism program seem redundant. However, relying solely on Medicaid could leave many families without access to necessary therapy, explained Jolene Pohl, advocacy director for the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities.
“It would make more sense to increase the funding and get those kids off the waitlist and give them the services that they need,” Pohl argued, adding that failing to provide timely services to eligible families could ultimately cost the state more in the long run.
Single mother Emily Pena shared her experience with the challenges of finding a provider for her daughter, Lila Rodriguez, 5, despite Lila being on Medicaid. After some difficulty, she discovered a CAP-funded program at the University of Houston-Clear Lake’s autism center.
Initially nonverbal and struggling in pre-K, Lila benefited greatly from ABA therapy, which utilizes positive reinforcement to encourage desired behaviors. Therapists helped her cope with meltdowns during transitions, allowing her to enjoy “somewhat of a normal childhood” as she attended the program two to three times a week until graduating in June.
Over the past two decades, diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder have surged by 300%, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University. As the demand for ABA therapy continues to rise in Texas, wait times for CAP-affiliated programs extend into years rather than weeks.
The University of Houston-Clear Lake’s autism center has been involved with the state since CAP’s inception. Last year, the center’s CAP programs served 41 families, while an additional 200 families remain on the waitlist. Dorothea Lerman, the center’s director, described the proposal to eliminate CAP as “devastating.”
“There is no other option for the majority of them, and so they would basically have no services,” Lerman explained. “It would greatly impact the quality of the whole family’s life—affecting their ability to take their child to the grocery store or out to a restaurant, as well as their performance in public school.”
Without the necessary infrastructure to accept Medicaid or insurance, Lerman stated that her center would have until August 2027 to secure alternative funding before shutting down its CAP programs.
Hailey Johnson expressed her confusion and frustration over the situation. Her son, Micah Ortiz, diagnosed with autism at 18 months, attended a CAP-funded program for several months and awaits a return to the program. Johnson noted that ABA therapy significantly improved his communication skills and reduced his meltdowns and aggressive behavior.
“It’s already hard enough on families with kids with autism … We don’t have that many resources as it is,” Johnson said. “This was a really great one, and they’re going to take that away.”
