Whether your child has just been diagnosed with autism and/or ADHD, or you find yourself needing new care and services for your autistic child or teen, it’s not always easy to find providers that are a good fit. So how can you find autism programs and services nearby when you need them for your child?
I have been in this situation many times with my son J. I have had to find new providers and services for him several times during our autism/ADHD journey. It hasn’t been easy, and I’ve reached out in different ways to different people and organizations over the years. I thought it would be helpful to share how I’ve found services in case it will help other parents.
Searching online is always an option for finding services, however, you may or may not find the best information that way. Here are some other ways I have successfully found autism and ADHD programs and services for my son.
1. Reach out to other parents of autistic/ADHD children for recommendations
I have found that recommendations from other parents is one of the best ways to start finding providers when I needed new care or services for J. Of course, when he was first diagnosed, I didn’t do this because I didn’t know any other parents of autistic children. However, as I’ve made friends in the autism community, this has been a great step to take whenever a new need has arisen.
2. Talk to the special services/education director or speech therapist at your child’s school
If your child is receiving services at school through an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), then talking to the school’s special services director or even your child’s speech therapist can provide you with valuable information. They know so many resources and providers in your community, and they can give you contact information to get you started. I found them so helpful when my son was in elementary school.
3. Ask your autistic child’s case manager if your child has the Medicaid waiver
If your child has an autism Medicaid waiver, I found our case manager to be a wealth of information. Even if the services or care I was looking for wasn’t something covered by the waiver, she knew so many resources in the community and could point me in the right direction. It was usually a good starting point for me to inquire and do additional research.
4. Call your health plan’s member line
Believe it or not, I’ve found good services and providers by calling my health plan’s member services line and talking to a customer representative. The good thing about doing this is that I knew what the insurance coverage would be for the care I was seeking, and the providers were in-network. Some representatives are more helpful than others, but this could be a good option especially if the care is going to be more expensive and you want to be sure you know what your benefits cover.
5. Call your local autism and/or ADHD organizations to find services
Another way to find autism and ADHD services or programs in your area is to contact your local autism and ADHD organizations. Most states have a local chapter of the Autism Society, and many areas may have local or regional organizations. I used to serve on the board of directors for the Autism Community Connection, which is an autism organization serving the county I live in. We received calls and emails often from parents asking for recommendations and information about care and other resources in our area.
Once you have recommendations, you can then talk to your child’s doctor about their thoughts and possible referrals (depending on your health plan’s benefit requirements if it is a covered service). You may want to reach out to the providers and see if you can interview them
first. I have an article about the process and questions I used to find my son a good therapist. I found doing some homework first and then talking to my son’s doctor usually gave me better results. She said it even helped her in some cases because I found more information that she wasn’t aware of at the time!
It’s so important that you find the care and services your autistic child needs, and then find the provider that will be the best fit for them. Are there other ways you’ve successfully found autism care and services for your child? If so, leave a comment so that we can share and encourage each other on this journey.
Additional resources
If you’d like to learn more about some care and services for your autistic child, check out these resources.
The Parent’s Guide to Occupational Therapy for Autism and Other Special Needs (affiliate link)
Caring for Autism: Practical Advice from a Parent and Physician (affiliate link)
The Complete Guide to Autism & Healthcare: Advice for Medical Professionals and People on the Spectrum (affiliate link)
Taking Care of Myself 2: for Teenagers and Young Adults with ASD (affiliate link)
The Autism Mom’s Survival Guide (for Dads, too!): Creating a Balanced and Happy Life While Raising a Child with Autism (affiliate link)
