This page gathers autism and disability resources for families in Fairfield County, Connecticut. You'll find 18 local resources listed here, alongside Connecticut statewide programs and nationwide services, all verified and in one place. For children under three, Connecticut's starting point is the Connecticut Birth to Three System; for school-age children, special education and IEPs run through your local school district. Confirm details directly with each provider.
Diagnosis & Early Intervention
Getting an evaluation and accessing early services.
Free CDC milestone checklists and a Milestone Tracker app help you follow your child's development from 2 months to 5 years, so you know what to watch for and when to act. A gentle first step when you're unsure whether to seek an evaluation.
Connecticut's statewide early intervention program for babies and toddlers under age 3 who have developmental delays or a diagnosed condition. Services are provided at no cost to families and can start with one phone call to arrange a free evaluation.
The autism and developmental team at Connecticut Children's provides full diagnostic evaluations for children who may have autism, ADHD, developmental delay, or related concerns. They walk families through what the results mean and next steps for support.
The Connecticut Department of Public Health's autism hub, with the state's clinical diagnosis guidelines and a directory of autism services and family supports across Connecticut. A trustworthy starting point when you're not sure where to turn first.
A university-based clinic offering comprehensive, multidisciplinary autism evaluations for infants, children, and adolescents. Their team combines psychological, speech-language, adaptive, and psychiatric assessments to reach a clear diagnosis and practical recommendations.
A Stamford-based nonprofit that has delivered Birth to Three early intervention across lower Fairfield County for more than 30 years, and is one of a handful of Connecticut providers authorized to diagnose and treat autism in young children. Most services happen right in your home and community.
A Westport practice offering comprehensive, family-centered evaluations for autism, ADHD, and developmental delays, right in the heart of Fairfield County. Their team gives parents clear answers and a roadmap for next steps.
A Shelton-based team with two decades of autism experience that conducts diagnostic evaluations over a few visits and confirms whether your child meets the criteria for a diagnosis. Their report comes with practical recommendations for your family and school team.
School & IEP Rights
IEPs, 504 plans, special education, and school advocacy.
Every state has a federally funded Parent Training & Information Center offering free help with IEPs, special-education rights, and early intervention. This hub's directory locates the center that serves your state.
A national nonprofit protecting the rights of students with disabilities. Use their member directory to find a special-education attorney or trained advocate near you when you need help with an IEP or a dispute with a school.
Every state has a federally mandated Protection & Advocacy agency that offers free legal help when a school isn't following your child's IEP or evaluating them as required. This directory connects you to the office serving your area.
CPAC is Connecticut's federally-designated Parent Training and Information Center, staffed by parents who have navigated the system themselves. Their trained consultants offer free, one-on-one help understanding your child's IEP, evaluations, and rights under IDEA.
The state Department of Education's Bureau of Special Education is the official source for how special education works in Connecticut, from IEPs and eligibility to due process and dyslexia guidance. It's a helpful starting point when you want to understand the rules behind your child's services.
Run by the state Department of Education with CPAC, this free call center helps families understand special education laws, procedural safeguards, and their rights. Staff answer questions in English and Spanish and can help resolve issues with your child's school.
DRCT is Connecticut's official Protection and Advocacy organization, defending the civil rights of people with disabilities statewide. Their Education Rights Clinic gives families short-term advice and self-advocacy support on special education and school accommodation issues.
A Connecticut nonprofit law firm, with an office right in Bridgeport, whose education attorneys fight to make sure kids with disabilities get the school supports and services the law entitles them to. Help is free for eligible families.
A Fairfield County nonprofit run by parents and clinicians that helps you become your child's strongest advocate through the special education and IEP process. They offer free support groups, workshops, and guidance for families of neurodivergent kids.
A Connecticut state-affiliated center that supports families with IEP planning, 504 accommodations, transition planning, and understanding special education. They offer a lending library, workshops, and one-on-one guidance for parents.
Therapy & Treatment
ABA, speech, OT, and finding the right providers.
You matter too. Psychology Today's therapist finder filters for 'caregiver stress' and 'autism family,' and Open Path Collective offers reduced-cost therapy sessions nationwide. You cannot support your child well without also supporting yourself.
A statewide autism nonprofit for over 20 years, ASRC pairs a family resource line and searchable resource directory with clinical care for individuals with autism across the lifespan. Call their resource line for help finding recreation, support, and services.
For Connecticut residents age 3 and older who have an autism diagnosis without an intellectual disability, the state's ASD Waiver funds home- and community-based supports like clinical behavioral services, social skills groups, job coaching, and respite. Call to ask about eligibility and how to apply.
Yale's Child Study Center runs multidisciplinary autism and developmental-disability clinics, including a special clinic for toddlers, with comprehensive evaluations by psychologists, speech-language pathologists, and psychiatrists. A referral is welcome but not required.
This state Medicaid program helps Connecticut individuals with autism who do not have an intellectual disability get funded services like clinical behavioral supports, social skills groups, life-skills coaching, and respite. The page walks families through what the waiver covers and how eligibility works.
Abilis is a long-established Fairfield County nonprofit whose Therapy Center in Stamford and Greenwich offers ABA behavioral support, speech and feeding therapy, occupational and physical therapy, and Birth-to-Three early intervention. Services can happen in the center, your home, or your child's school, and most major insurance is accepted.
This university hospital program provides expert autism evaluation, counseling, and treatment for children and teens, using a multidisciplinary team of developmental pediatricians, psychologists, speech therapists, and OT/PT. It's a strong option for families seeking a thorough diagnostic workup.
Financial Assistance & Benefits
Medicaid waivers, SSI, ABLE accounts, and legal aid.
ABLE accounts let people with disabilities (onset before age 26) save money tax-free without losing Medicaid or SSI eligibility. This center compares every state's ABLE program so you can pick the best one for your family.
ABLE CT lets people with disabilities save and invest money in a tax-advantaged account without losing SSI, Medicaid, or other benefits. Connecticut's Treasurer administers the program, and as of 2026 anyone whose disability began before age 46 can open an account.
This Connecticut Medicaid waiver helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities pay for in-home supports, respite, day and employment services, and more so your child can live and grow at home. You can reach your region's DDS helpline to ask about eligibility and applying.
Connecticut's Department of Developmental Services helps families get a break through respite care, including an Individual and Family Grant that gives a subsidy to buy your own respite even if you're not on a waiver. Contact your regional DDS office to learn what's available near you.
Connecticut's largest civil legal aid firm, with offices in Bridgeport and Stamford, offers free help to low-income families with public benefits, Medicaid, SSI, and disability-related cases. Start by calling the statewide intake line to see if you qualify.
This state Medicaid HCBS waiver helps cover in-home, day, and support services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities so they can live at home instead of an institution. The West Region line handles applications for Fairfield County families.
Support Groups & Community
Find your people, in person and online.
The nation's oldest grassroots autism organization. Their National Helpline connects families to information and referrals, and their affiliate finder points you to a local chapter in your area for in-person support and events.
The largest national community-based organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Local chapters offer advocacy, family support, and lifelong services. Use the chapter finder to locate the office nearest you.
Dial 2-1-1 (or visit 211.org) to reach a free, confidential referral line for local health and human services in almost every US community, including disability services, respite, food, housing, and financial assistance.
Founded by Connecticut parents and family members, this nonprofit hosts recreational and social activities so kids, teens, and young adults on the spectrum (ages 3 to 35) can connect and have fun. It is a welcoming way to meet other families who understand your journey.
The state agency offers respite care, in-home support, and family grants so caregivers can take a needed break knowing their loved one is safe. Their respite centers around Connecticut provide short overnight and weekend stays for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
For over 40 years, PATH has matched parents of children with disabilities or special healthcare needs with trained veteran parents who have walked a similar path. It is free, one-to-one emotional support plus help finding resources, from the early years through the transition to adulthood.
Special Olympics Connecticut offers free, year-round sports training and friendly competition in dozens of sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. With local programs across the state, it is a joyful way for your child to build skills, confidence, and friendships.
A consumer-run Center for Independent Living serving 14 coastal Fairfield County towns, offering peer support, advocacy, and independent-living help for people with disabilities and their families. A good place to find a listening ear and connect to local resources.
Operated by the Connecticut Department of Developmental Services in Norwalk, this six-bed home offers weekend respite care in a warm, home-like setting with nursing support and sensory-friendly spaces. It's a place for your loved one to stay while you take a needed break.
A Norwalk-based nonprofit founded by parents in 1952, STAR serves people of all ages with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Fairfield County. Beyond therapies and day programs, they run family support and recreational programs so your child can connect and have fun.
Adult Transition & Long-Term Planning
Aging out of school, adult services, and long-term planning.
A neurodivergent employment agency offering job support nationwide over Zoom: resume building, mock interviews, and career guidance, plus direct outreach to employers to help secure placements. Supports neurodivergent individuals roughly ages 16 to 50, and has been in business over 15 years.
Connecticut's Department of Developmental Services helps adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities find real jobs with real wages, get job coaching, and take part in day programs that build skills and community connection. This is the state's main hub for supported employment and adult day supports as your child moves into adulthood.
This state guide walks families through applying for guardianship through Probate Court when a young adult with an intellectual disability turns 18, including the plenary, limited, and standby options and the exact forms you'll need. You can begin the process up to 180 days before your child's 18th birthday.
The Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center offers plain-language guidance for families on what changes at 18, from guardianship and conservatorship to SSI, Title 19 medical insurance, and voter registration. It's a parent-friendly starting point for understanding the legal and benefits side of aging out.
PLAN of Connecticut is a nonprofit that sets up and manages special needs trusts so your loved one can have financial security without losing Medicaid or other public benefits. Authorized by the state legislature, it runs Connecticut's only pooled trust and offers person-centered long-term planning and advocacy for families.
When your child turns 18, the local Probate Court is where families petition for guardianship or conservatorship if their adult child needs help making decisions. This official page explains the process, the types of guardianship, and what to expect.
This state bureau helps people with disabilities prepare for, find, and keep a job, including career counseling, training, and on-the-job supports. It is a key resource as your young adult moves toward employment.
A Connecticut nonprofit that sets up and manages special needs trusts, so you can provide for your child's future without jeopardizing their public benefits. They also offer person-centered planning and can point you to trusted local attorneys.
Based in Trumbull, this long-established Fairfield County nonprofit runs adult day programs and employment services for people with autism and other disabilities across southern Connecticut. They can help your adult child find meaningful days, job training, and supported work.
A note on these listings. This directory is informational and not an
endorsement. Programs, phone numbers, and eligibility change, so always confirm details
directly with the provider before relying on them. Nothing here is medical or legal advice.
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