This page gathers autism and disability resources for families in Cumberland County, Maine. You'll find 12 local resources listed here, alongside Maine statewide programs and nationwide services, all verified and in one place. For children under three, Maine's starting point is Child Development Services (CDS); 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.
The developmental-behavioral pediatrics team at Maine Medical Center's Barbara Bush Children's Hospital evaluates, diagnoses, and counsels children with autism, developmental delays, and behavioral conditions. They also offer early childhood (birth to 5) evaluations and neuropsychological services.
Maine's free, statewide early intervention program helps children from birth to age three reach developmental milestones, with no-cost developmental assessments and full evaluations. Any parent, caregiver, or doctor can make a referral to get the process started.
Maine's state CDS system provides free early intervention for children birth through 2 and special education services for ages 3 to 5, including the screenings and evaluations that can identify autism and other disabilities. It's the official 'Child Find' entry point for families who have concerns about their child's development.
This trusted Maine nonprofit helps parents understand and navigate early intervention, evaluations, and early childhood services for children with disabilities including autism. Their staff can walk you through your options and point you to the right programs.
This Portland-based center brings together developmental pediatricians, psychiatrists, psychologists, and therapists to diagnose and support children and adults with autism and developmental disorders. It's one of Maine's most comprehensive teams for autism evaluation and care.
MaineHealth Pediatrics Belfast offers on-site, play-based early autism screening and evaluation for children under age three, cutting down on travel and long wait times for midcoast families. The team also connects families to speech, occupational, and ABA therapy.
Maine's free, state-run early intervention program evaluates babies and toddlers (birth to age 3) for developmental delays and connects your family with therapy and support right away. This is the regional office serving Cumberland County families.
Board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatricians and neuropsychologists here evaluate and diagnose autism and other developmental or behavioral concerns in children. They partner closely with families and schools on next steps.
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.
Maine's protection and advocacy agency for people with disabilities, with advocates who can help you understand your child's education rights, attend IEP meetings, and resolve disputes with a school.
A project of Pine Tree Legal Assistance providing free civil legal help to Maine children and families, including special education, school discipline, and enrollment issues.
The state office overseeing special education in Maine, with IEP forms, family resources, and dispute-resolution options like mediation, complaints, and due process hearings when you need them.
Maine's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center, offering free guidance and training so you can understand the special education process and be a confident partner in your child's IEP meetings.
The state's parent-facing hub for understanding the IEP process, with a plain-language Procedural Safeguards guide available in ten languages so you know exactly what rights you have at every meeting. It also covers transition planning and student-led IEPs as your child grows.
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.
Maine's state agency page explains the behavioral health services children with autism can receive, including in-home ABA (Specialized RCS) and home and community treatment. It walks families through how to find providers and get connected.
For teens and adults with autism or intellectual disabilities, this state office coordinates case management, waiver services, employment support, and community living. It's the starting point for applying for adult developmental disability services in Maine.
This statewide nonprofit helps families of children with disabilities, including autism, find their way through the maze of services with information, referrals, a resource map, and parent training. A warm first call when you don't know where to turn.
A center-based ABA therapy clinic in Westbrook, right in Cumberland County, providing individualized applied behavior analysis for children on the autism spectrum. Their team focuses on building skills and independence in a playful, supportive setting.
A long-established Maine nonprofit based in Scarborough that offers behavioral health, therapy, and education services for children and adults with autism and developmental disabilities. Families can call to learn which of Spurwink's many programs fits their child's needs.
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 ME lets a person whose disability began before age 46 save money for disability-related expenses without losing SSI or MaineCare eligibility. It's the only bank-administered ABLE program in the country, run through Bangor Savings Bank with no monthly service fee.
These are Maine's Medicaid (MaineCare) home- and community-based waivers that fund supports like respite, community support, and therapies so your child or adult family member with autism or an intellectual disability can live at home. If you don't yet have a case manager, the OADS team can send you application materials and help you get started.
Katie Beckett is a MaineCare pathway that gives medical coverage to a child with long-term disabilities or complex needs living at home, even when the family's income is normally too high to qualify. It's a good first step to explore if your child has been denied MaineCare on income alone.
Pine Tree offers free civil legal help to Maine families with low incomes, including appeals when SSI, MaineCare, or other public benefits are denied. Their Portland office serves Cumberland County, and their Kids Legal line helps with issues affecting children.
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.
Serving all 16 Maine counties, Alpha One offers peer support, information and referral, caregiver and personal care services, home accessibility help, and youth programs for people with disabilities and their families. Their monthly peer support meetings are a welcoming place to connect.
Maine's statewide autism nonprofit since 1976, offering free parent/caregiver support groups (in person in Winthrop and online) plus teen and adult social groups across the state. Call them and they'll help you find a group near you or connect you to local resources.
In partnership with Maine's Office of Behavioral Health, Community Care provides trained, compassionate respite caregivers so families raising children with developmental, behavioral, or special needs can rest and recharge. Services are available across Maine.
The state agency that coordinates services for Mainers with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism, including case management, person-centered planning, community involvement, crisis services, and waiver programs. A good starting point for understanding what state supports your family may qualify for.
A DHHS-funded, statewide program that gives families a much-needed break by providing trained respite caregivers for children with significant developmental delays or behavioral and emotional needs. You can use your own provider or choose from their regional list.
MaineHealth's Portland-area autism and developmental disorder program offers assessment and treatment for children, teens, and adults, plus early intervention for little ones. Their team can help you understand a diagnosis and connect to the right supports.
Based in Scarborough, the Morrison Center supports children with developmental disabilities through case management, therapies, and a special-purpose school. Their case managers can help your family find and coordinate the services you need.
A long-established Maine nonprofit headquartered in Scarborough, Spurwink provides autism and intellectual-disability support across Cumberland County, including community and family services. A good place to turn as your child grows toward the teen and adult years.
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.
DVR is Maine's state program that helps people with disabilities prepare for, find, and keep a job, with free counseling, evaluation, and job placement, plus transition services that can start while your teen is still in high school. Monthly virtual orientations walk families through how to apply.
The Maine Parent Federation gathers the adult transition pieces into one place, connecting families to OADS services, benefits, supported decision-making, and their REAL Transition Partners program for the move into adulthood. It's a warm first call when you're not sure where to begin.
This nonprofit runs Maine's first pooled special needs trust, letting your loved one set aside money for extras like travel, hobbies, and services without losing MaineCare or SSI eligibility. Because many families' funds are pooled, the administrative costs are lower than setting up a trust on your own.
Based in Westbrook, this long-established nonprofit provides day programs, community activities, employment support, and residential services for adults with intellectual disabilities and autism across southern Maine. They are one of the largest such providers in the state and serve the Cumberland County area directly.
This official state page walks families through when adult guardianship may be needed and, just as importantly, gentler alternatives like supported decision-making. It is a helpful starting point as a child with a disability approaches age 18.
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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