UNLV School of Medicine and the Grant A Gift Autism Foundation have joined forces to open the UNLV Medicine Ackerman Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment Solutions. The new center combines cutting-edge diagnostics, treatment, behavioral / vocational training, support programs, and education for infants to young adults, all in one outpatient setting.
The UNLV Medicine Ackerman Autism Center provides clients with a multidisciplinary team of physicians, psychologists, and speech and behavioral therapists, for a comprehensive diagnosis, treatment plan, follow-up care and support services.

Our Mission
Ensure every infant, child, adolescent and young adult with Autism and neurodevelopmental challenges has access to a medical home that provides high quality, multi-specialty diagnostic, treatment, and intervention services.
UNLV Medicine Ackerman Autism Center Services
- Diagnostic teams in developmental pediatrics, genetics, neuropsychology, speech
- Pediatric primary care for families with children with autism and neurodevelopmental challenges
- Medication management
- Care management, psychological follow-up services, and social service navigation for every family
- Individualized behavioral programs and services
- The Early Start Denver Model, Applied Behavioral Analysis, and Social Skills and vocational training for children, teens and young adults
- Parental education and support groups
- Sibling support groups and activities
- Volunteer opportunities and training
Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) for Young Children with Autism
The ESDM is an evidenced-based treatment for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. It is an intensive program that combines therapist intervention and parent education. It was developed for children aged 1-year to 4-years of age. The underlying principles of the ESDM focus on the primary deficits of Autism, specifically the failure to develop social communication. The curriculum follows the natural developmental progression in all areas of development but there is a primary focus on three critical areas of development: imitation, affect sharing, and referential communication. The ESDM is a structured, play based behavioral program that uses the principles of child development, Pivotal Response Training, and Applied Behavioral Analysis.
Payment
The Center currently accepts Medicaid, private pay and the following private insurance plans:
- Culinary
- One Health
- Sierra Health and Life
- Sierra Health Options
- HPN
Patient Forms
Please print out these forms and fill them out prior to your appointment. Thank you.
Location
In the Las Vegas Medical District
630 S. Rancho Drive, Suite ALas Vegas, NV 89106
Phone
Appointments/Referrals:
702-998-9505
Fax
Our Medical Directors
News
-
Feb. 13, 2019
Brian Lauzon brings his business acumen to the Ackerman Autism Center and the School of Medicine
-
Jan. 2, 2018
A collection of news stories from 2017 highlighting UNLV's impact in Southern Nevada and beyond.
-
Feb. 16, 2017
The Las Vegas physician and higher education regent discusses his own educational experience and why UNLV’s School of Medicine is so important to health of our community.
-
Jan. 5, 2017
After receiving two kidney transplants over the last two decades, the associate dean of clinical affairs dedicated her life to improving health care for others.
-
Nov. 29, 2016
The first-of-its-kind program in Nevada is aimed at helping patients overcome the hurdles to receiving care.
-
Oct. 13, 2016
The UNLV Medicine Ackerman Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment Solutions provides families with the gamut of specialists — all in one place.
-
Oct. 5, 2016
With the Ackerman Center, families in Las Vegas Valley finally now have one place to turn to for comprehensive autism care.
In the News
-
Apr. 16, 2018 | Las Vegas Review Journal
-
Jul. 24, 2017 | Las Vegas Review Journal
-
May. 2, 2017 | KTNV-TV: ABC 13
-
Apr. 25, 2017 | Las Vegas Review Journal
-
Jan. 23, 2017 | Las Vegas Review Journal
Resources
- Grant a Gift Autism Foundation
- ABA services covered by Nevada Division of Health Care Financing and Policy (DHCFP)
- Autism Treatment Assistance Program (ATAP)
ATAP provides a monthly allotment to pay for on-going treatment development, supervision and a limited amount of weekly intervention hours based upon a child’s individual treatment plan, age, and income. - Nevada Commission for Autism Spectrum Disorder