The summer gap for Union County families, and how to plan around it

How Union County families can avoid losing ABA therapy progress over summer break, with NJ-specific steps for school, insurance, and early intervention.

Published September 6, 2026 · Union County, New Jersey

Why summer creates a gap

When school ends, many children with autism lose access to the ABA therapy they receive through their school district. This is not a planned break. It is a gap. In Union County, your child may have been getting therapy through a public school district such as Elizabeth Public Schools, Cranford Public School District, or Plainfield Public School District. Once June arrives, that district-based therapy typically stops until September. If you do not plan ahead, your child could lose weeks of skill building.

Start with your school district in March or April

The first step is to ask your child's case manager or the district's director of special services about Extended School Year (ESY) services. ESY is not automatic. You must request it in writing. Ask: "Will my child's IEP include ABA therapy over the summer?" The district may say no. If they do, you have the right to request a meeting to discuss it. Bring data. Show that your child regresses without consistent therapy. Be specific about the skills they lose. Every school district in Union County, from Berkeley Heights School District to Hillside Public School District, follows the same state rules for ESY. But the outcome depends on your child's individual needs and the district's evaluation.

If the school district says no

If your district denies ESY ABA, you have options. You can file for mediation or a due process hearing with the New Jersey Department of Education. This is slow. It will not solve your immediate summer problem. A faster path is to check whether your child's health insurance covers ABA therapy outside of school. In New Jersey, many commercial plans and all Medicaid plans are required to cover medically necessary ABA. If your child has NJ FamilyCare (the state Medicaid and CHIP program), ABA is a covered benefit. The managed care plans in Union County include Horizon NJ Health, Wellpoint, Aetna Better Health of NJ, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan. Call your plan's member services number (on the back of your insurance card) and ask: "Does my plan cover ABA therapy from a provider who is not part of my school district?" Write down the date, the name of the person you spoke to, and their answer. If they say yes, ask for a list of in-network ABA providers in Union County.

Finding a provider for summer only

Union County has 52 ABA providers registered on the federal NPPES registry. Some will take summer-only clients. Some will not. You will need to call and ask. Start with providers in towns that have the most registered providers: Union (9), Cranford (7), Clark (6), Westfield (6), Elizabeth (4), and Linden (4). Every town in Union County has at least one provider within 7 miles, so you do not have to drive far. When you call, say: "I am looking for ABA therapy for the summer months only. Do you have availability for a new client starting in June?" Be honest about the short timeline. Some providers may say no. Keep calling. There is no central list of who has openings. You have to do the legwork.

What about children under 3

If your child is under 3, the school district is not involved. The New Jersey Early Intervention System handles therapy. Contact your child's service coordinator and ask about a summer plan. Early Intervention can continue through the summer, but you must confirm that your current provider will keep seeing your child. If they stop, ask the coordinator for a new provider. Do not wait until June to ask.

For children age 3 to 21 who are not in school yet

If your child is 3 or older but not yet in a public school program, the single access point for services is PerformCare. They are the entry to the Children's System of Care for New Jersey. Call PerformCare and ask about ABA therapy through your child's Medicaid or private insurance. They can help you find a provider. But they do not guarantee a fast start. Start this process early, at least 60 days before summer begins.

After age 21

If your child turns 21 during the summer, school-based services end permanently. At that point, the Division of Developmental Disabilities becomes the main resource. Contact them before the transition. They can help with adult ABA services, but the process is different and slower. Plan at least six months ahead.

One more thing to ask your insurance

Even if your plan covers ABA, ask about prior authorization. Many plans require it. If you get a summer provider set up in May but the prior authorization takes 45 days, your child might start in July instead of June. Ask: "How long does prior authorization take for ABA therapy?" The answer varies by plan and by time of year. Summer is busy. Expect delays.

Keep a paper trail

Write everything down. Keep emails from your school district, notes from insurance calls, and the name of every person you speak to. If something goes wrong, you will need that record. No one will remember your conversation. Paper is your proof.

The honest truth

There is no guaranteed way to avoid the summer gap. Some families will find a provider quickly. Others will spend weeks on the phone. The key is to start early, ask the right people, and accept that you may need to mix school district services, insurance coverage, and private pay. Union County has many providers, but availability is not the same as access. Plan now. Do not wait until June.