Autism resources in
Douglas County.

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.

Kansas's statewide early intervention program offering free developmental evaluations and in-home services for children birth to age 3 with delays or disabilities. Enter your county or zip on their site to connect with your local program, or reach out to get started.

The state agency that oversees Kansas's Part C early intervention system for infants and toddlers with disabilities. Call if you want to understand your child's rights or how the birth-to-3 evaluation and services process works.

The University of Kansas center that runs the state's primary autism diagnostic facility and connects families to evaluations, resources, and parent training. A good first call if you're wondering whether your child should be evaluated for autism.

The University of Kansas Health System offers comprehensive, gold-standard autism evaluations for children through a multidisciplinary team. Early diagnosis here opens the door to therapies and a personalized treatment plan.

KU Medical Center's pediatrics program provides clinical autism diagnoses, including a telemedicine clinic that cuts wait times for families in rural and underserved parts of Kansas. It works alongside school autism teams so children can be evaluated closer to home.

If you're worried about how your baby or toddler is growing, learning, or moving, this local program offers free developmental screenings and in-home early intervention for children birth to age 3 across Lawrence, Eudora, and Baldwin City. Their team includes speech, occupational, and physical therapists who come to you.

A local Lawrence practice offering gold-standard (ADOS-2) autism assessments for youth age 7 and up and for adults, with a focus on shorter waitlists. They also provide parent coaching and post-diagnosis support to help families feel less alone.

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.

As the official protection and advocacy agency for Kansas, this center provides free legal advocacy to protect the civil rights of children and adults with disabilities, including special education and IEP disputes. Their resource center has plain-language guides on your special education rights.

This is Kansas's federally designated Parent Training and Information Center, offering free one-on-one help, training, and support to families navigating IEPs, special education, and disability services. Their Education Advocate program can walk you through your child's rights step by step.

This Kansas statewide family organization offers free information, training, support, and advocacy for parents of children with emotional, behavioral, or educational disabilities, including help with school and IEP concerns. They connect you with peer support from other Kansas parents who have been there.

A Lawrence-based disability center offering free advocacy and youth transition support, including help understanding your rights and planning the move from school toward adult life. Local people you can actually sit down with.

A statewide nonprofit legal-aid organization serving all 105 Kansas counties, including Johnson County, with free and low-cost help for lower-income families facing special education and IEP disputes. Call the intake line to see if you qualify for assistance.

This is your child's local special education department. They write and review your child's IEP with you each year, and their team can walk you through evaluations, services, and your rights as a parent.

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.

After an autism diagnosis, the Bridge Clinic provides short-term ABA and behavioral intervention from Board Certified Behavior Analysts while you line up a longer-term provider. It includes weekly parent training so the skills carry over at home.

Cottonwood is the official single point of entry for developmental disability services in Douglas and Jefferson counties. If your child has autism or another developmental disability, this is where you start to get connected with case management, therapy providers, and support services in the area.

Located on the University of Kansas campus in Lawrence, this clinic offers comprehensive autism spectrum disorder evaluations using evidence-based tools. It's a local option for families seeking a thorough diagnostic assessment for their child.

This University of Kansas clinic in Lawrence provides speech, language, and communication therapy for children, including kids on the autism spectrum. Services are supervised by certified faculty and include early intervention and a language-focused preschool.

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.

Run by the Kansas State Treasurer, an ABLE account lets your child or family save money for disability-related expenses without risking their SSI or Medicaid eligibility. Earnings grow tax-free when used for qualified costs like education, housing, therapy, and assistive technology.

Kansas offers Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waivers through KanCare Medicaid, including an Autism waiver for young children and an Intellectual/Developmental Disability waiver, that pay for respite, in-home support, and other services so your child can stay at home with family. This plain-language guide from the Disability Rights Center of Kansas walks you through which waiver fits and how to start.

Cottonwood is the official single point of entry for Douglas County families to apply for the Kansas HCBS Intellectual/Developmental Disability Medicaid waiver, which funds respite, case management, day supports, and residential help. Call them first to start eligibility for waiver-funded services or to get on the waiting list.

A tax-advantaged savings account that lets your child put money aside for disability-related expenses without risking their SSI or Medicaid eligibility. It is run by the Kansas State Treasurer's office and can be opened 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.

The Autism Society of America's affiliate serving Kansas families, offering caregiver support meetings, sensory-friendly events, and social groups for teens and adults on the spectrum. It's a welcoming place to connect with other local families who get it.

A free program that pairs you one-on-one with a trained Kansas parent who has raised a child with a similar diagnosis or situation, so you have someone to lean on. They also host twice-monthly online Topic Talks for parents to connect and share.

The state's single call point for caregivers seeking respite, in-home help, and disability services anywhere in Kansas. Staff can connect you to your local Community Developmental Disability Organization and respite options for a much-needed break.

The City of Lawrence's Unified Recreation program offers adapted and inclusive classes, events, and trips for people of all ages with disabilities. Scholarships are available to help with costs, so families can find an activity that fits.

A local network for people in the Lawrence area who have a loved one affected by autism or other special needs. It's a welcoming way to connect with other families who understand what you're going through.

This state council supports adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live, work, and belong in their communities, with resources on employment, transition, ABLE accounts, and self-advocacy. It's a good starting point for understanding the bigger picture of adult services in Kansas.

This statewide program recruits and supports trained volunteer guardians and conservators for adults with disabilities who need someone to help protect their rights and make decisions. It's a helpful resource for families thinking through guardianship or alternatives for the long term.

Kansas's state agency for adult disability services runs the I/DD Medicaid waiver that funds adult day programs, supported employment, and residential support once your child ages out of school. Their statewide resource center can walk you through eligibility and connect you to your local point of entry.

This state program helps teens and adults with disabilities prepare for, find, and keep a job, including pre-employment transition services for students still in high school. Counselors offer job training, placement, and ongoing supported-employment help at no cost.

This nonprofit manages pooled special needs trusts so families can set aside money for a loved one with a disability without risking their SSI or Medicaid eligibility. It is a practical way to plan for your child's financial future.

A long-established Lawrence nonprofit that supports adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through day programs, job training and placement, residential homes, and retirement services. They are a hands-on provider your loved one can grow with over the years.

This state program helps adults with disabilities prepare for, find, and keep meaningful work through job training, coaching, and supported employment. The Lawrence office serves Douglas County families directly.