Special education in Union County runs town by town, not county wide

Learn how special education for ABA therapy works town by town in Union County, NJ. Find steps for school and insurance-based services.

Published August 30, 2026 · Union County, New Jersey

Why your town matters for ABA services

Union County has 52 registered ABA providers spread across its 21 municipalities. Every town has a provider within 7 miles, and 17 towns have at least one provider inside their own borders. But special education services, including ABA therapy when it is part of a child's school program, are not organized county wide. Each of the 21 municipalities operates its own school district (or is part of a smaller district like Garwood Boro). That means the process you follow, the forms you fill out, and the people you talk to depend entirely on where you live.

If your child is under 3 years old, the New Jersey Early Intervention System handles services. For children ages 3 through 21, the school district where you live is the primary gateway for special education. ABA therapy can be provided through the school district as a related service under an Individualized Education Program (IEP), or it can be delivered through your health insurance (private or NJ FamilyCare). This article focuses on the school-based route, because that is where the town-by-town difference is most important.

Step 1: Request a special education evaluation from your district

To get ABA therapy through the school, you first need an IEP that includes ABA as a related service. Write a letter to your school district's director of special services asking for a full evaluation. Address it to the child study team. The school districts in Union County include: Berkeley Heights School District, Clark Township Public School District, Cranford Public School District, Elizabeth Public Schools, Garwood Boro, Hillside Public School District, Kenilworth School District, Linden Public School District, Mountainside School District, and Plainfield Public School District. If your town is not listed, it is likely part of a regional district or a sending district. Call your town's board of education to confirm the correct contact.

Your letter should state your child's name, age, and your concern that they may need ABA therapy for autism. Keep a copy. The district has 20 calendar days to respond. They must either agree to evaluate or explain why they think an evaluation is not needed. If they agree, the evaluation must be completed within 90 calendar days. These timelines are set by state and federal law, but actual wait times can vary by district depending on staffing and caseloads.

Step 2: Attend the IEP meeting and discuss ABA

Once the evaluation is done, the child study team will hold an IEP meeting. You are a required member of that team. Before the meeting, ask the case manager for a copy of the evaluation report. At the meeting, you can request that ABA therapy be included as a related service. Be specific: ask for the number of hours per week, the setting (school or home), and the provider. The team must consider your request. If they deny it, they must give you a written reason. You have the right to disagree and pursue mediation or a due process hearing.

Keep in mind that school districts are not required to provide ABA therapy if they can show that the child is making progress without it. However, if your child's autism significantly impacts their ability to learn, ABA is a well-supported intervention. You may want to bring a letter from your child's doctor or a private ABA provider that recommends specific hours.

Step 3: If you use insurance, work directly with a provider

Many families combine school-based services with therapy paid by insurance. For children covered by NJ FamilyCare (New Jersey's Medicaid and CHIP program), behavioral health services for children ages 3 to 21 are accessed through PerformCare, the single access point for the Children's System of Care. Call PerformCare to get a referral for ABA. If your child is on a managed care plan such as Horizon NJ Health, Wellpoint, Aetna Better Health of NJ, or UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, you can also contact the plan directly to find in-network ABA providers. For children under 3, contact the New Jersey Early Intervention System.

For private insurance, check your plan's behavioral health benefits. ABA coverage is required by New Jersey law for plans regulated by the state, but self-funded employer plans may not be covered. Call the number on your insurance card and ask specifically about applied behavior analysis coverage for autism. Then call one of the 52 providers registered in Union County. Providers are concentrated in Union (9), Cranford (7), Clark (6), Westfield (6), Elizabeth (4), and Linden (4). Availability and wait times vary. Some providers may have openings soon, others may have a wait list. Ask directly.

After age 21: The Division of Developmental Disabilities

Once your child turns 21, school-based special education ends. For adults with autism, the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) in New Jersey provides case management and funding for services, including ABA if it is deemed medically necessary. The transition planning should start by age 14 in the IEP, but you can also contact DDD directly before the 21st birthday to begin the eligibility process.

Honest uncertainty and practical tips

Because each town's school district has its own policies, forms, and even its own child study team procedures, you may encounter different requirements. For example, one district may ask you to use a specific request form while another accepts a plain letter. Call the district office and ask for the name and email of the director of special services. That person is your best first contact. Also consider joining a local parent support group for families of autistic children. Other parents can tell you which providers have openings and which district staff are responsive.

No single county office coordinates special education. The Union County Office of Education handles some shared services like transportation and vocational programs, but not IEPs or ABA decisions. Your child's educational rights are the same across New Jersey, but the day-to-day reality is that you will work with your local district. Be persistent, keep written records, and know that you can request an independent evaluation at public expense if you disagree with the district's evaluation.