Last verified: October 2026
Can a Pinellas family pay for aba therapy for autism with scholarship funds?
Applied Behavior Analysis delivered by or under a Board Certified Behavior Analyst is a covered FES-UA service.
Unique Abilities (FES-UA)Eligible
ABA by a BCBA, or by technicians working under one, is a named service.
PEP (home-directed account)Not eligible
Not covered.
Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO)Not eligible
Not covered.
Which rules apply?
- Check the analyst's certification in the national BACB registry.
- Insurance-paid hours cannot also be billed to the account.
What is allowed and what isn't
| Allowed | Not allowed | |
|---|---|---|
| Unique Abilities (FES-UA) | Yes | — |
| PEP (home-directed account) | — | Yes |
| Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO) | — | Yes |
What is excluded?
- Unsupervised technicians
- Hours insurance already paid
What should Pinellas families know?
Ask any Pinellas school you tour whether ABA can happen during the school day and who coordinates it with the classroom teacher.
How is it paid?
Look in Step Up's marketplace first, then pay an approved provider directly from the account; otherwise pay by card, keep the itemized receipt and request reimbursement. Anything not clearly eligible needs pre-authorization before you buy.
Related questions
Summary only, not legal advice; your scholarship organization's handbook controls.