Service area

ABA Therapy in Lake Placid, FL

MCDS provides culturally responsive, BCBA-supervised ABA therapy for children and families in Lake Placid, Highlands County.

Get started Call 954-302-8758

ABA therapy in Lake Placid

Welcome to Lake Placid, a unique community in the heart of Highlands County known as both the 'Caladium Capital of the World' and the 'Town of Murals.' With its vibrant building-side art and the distinction of producing 98 percent of the world's caladium bulbs, it’s no wonder Reader's Digest once named Lake Placid 'America's Most Interesting Town.' This is a community with a rich history, evolving from its early settlement days as Wicco to its reincorporation in 1927, growing into the close-knit town of just over 2,300 residents that it is today.

For families in a distinctive and peaceful setting like Lake Placid, navigating the path to specialized support for a child with autism can present unique challenges. The distance to larger city centers or specialized clinics can be a significant barrier to accessing consistent, high-quality Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy. Multicultural Development Services Center (MCDS) understands these challenges and is dedicated to serving families right where they are.

Our approach brings ABA therapy directly into your Lake Placid home and community. Rather than requiring families to travel for services, our Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) come to you. This in-home model allows for therapy to be delivered in the child’s most natural and comfortable environment, fostering skills that are directly applicable to their daily life. We also offer telehealth services, providing a flexible and convenient option for consultations, parent training, and direct therapy when appropriate.

Under the leadership of Executive Director Damaris Baez and with clinical guidance from professionals like Hiram Aguilera, BCBA, MCDS focuses on creating individualized therapy plans that address the specific needs of your child and family. Community-based support means we can help your child practice social and functional skills in the real-world settings that make up their life in Highlands County. We are committed to providing accessible, compassionate, and effective support to the Lake Placid community, helping families build the skills and confidence needed to thrive.

About Lake Placid

Population: 2360 (2020)
Local landmarks: Caladium Capital of the World · Town of Murals · Old Lake Placid Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Depot · Lake Placid Conference Center · Lake Placid Tower

Services available in Lake Placid

Depending on assessment and authorization, MCDS may deliver the following services to Lake Placid families:

ABA Therapy — Individualized applied behavior analysis therapy for children, informed by more than two decades of behavioral-services experience in South Florida.
In-Home ABA Therapy — ABA therapy delivered where children learn best — inside their home and daily routines.
School-Based ABA Support — Collaborative behavioral support that partners with schools and educational teams when clinically appropriate.
Community-Based ABA Therapy — ABA therapy in real community settings so children can practice skills where they use them.
Early Intervention — Individualized early intervention for young children showing signs of developmental or behavioral needs.
Parent and Caregiver Training — Structured coaching that equips caregivers to support their child throughout everyday routines.

Insurance for Lake Placid families

MCDS works with eligible plans from Aetna, Cigna, Florida Blue, UnitedHealthcare, and TRICARE, plus qualifying Florida Medicaid fee-for-service coverage. Verify your specific plan on the benefits verification page.

Questions from Lake Placid families

What does 'community-based' ABA therapy mean in a place like Lake Placid?

In Lake Placid, community-based ABA therapy means our therapists can work with your child in familiar local settings where they learn and grow. This approach focuses on applying new skills in real-world environments unique to your family's life in the 'Town of Murals' and Highlands County.

Get in touch

To find out whether MCDS currently has provider availability in Lake Placid, call 954-302-8758 or request a call.

Reviewed by Damaris Baez, Executive Director

Executive Director, Multicultural Development Services Center

Last reviewed August 16, 2026

Sources

Wikipedia: Lake Placid, Florida

This page describes MCDS's stated service area for Lake Placid. It does not represent a physical clinic location. Availability of a specific clinician, schedule, service, or service setting may vary based on location, staffing, clinical needs, insurance authorization, and current capacity.