This page gathers autism and disability resources for families in Essex County, Massachusetts. You'll find 15 local resources listed here, alongside Massachusetts statewide programs and nationwide services, all verified and in one place. For children under three, Massachusetts's starting point is Massachusetts's early intervention program; 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.
One of the country's leading pediatric autism centers, offering diagnostic evaluations and ongoing care from developmental pediatricians, neurologists, and psychologists all under one roof. A trusted place for families seeking clear answers and a full team behind their child.
Boston Medical Center's Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics team provides autism evaluations and clinical care for children, alongside a family support program. A welcoming option for families across Greater Boston seeking a diagnosis.
A specialized team in Worcester evaluates infants, toddlers, and preschoolers (birth to age 5) for autism, developmental delays, and behavioral concerns. One of Central Massachusetts' most experienced programs for early diagnosis.
The Lurie Center at Massachusetts General Hospital provides comprehensive autism evaluations and developmental assessments for children and adults, including those with complex needs. A well-established academic center in Lexington offering diagnosis and long-term care.
Massachusetts' free, statewide Early Intervention program serves babies and toddlers from birth to age 3 who have developmental delays or a diagnosis like autism, with evaluations and in-home services. Call the Central Directory to find the local program near you and get started, no referral or diagnosis required.
A long-running North Shore program offering free developmental evaluations and home-based support for babies and toddlers (birth to age 3) who may have delays. They have offices in Lynn and Beverly and serve most Essex County towns at no cost to families.
A respected autism organization providing Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (ABA) for young children under 5, with new intakes for those under 3. Their early intervention services reach families across Essex County in the home and daycare settings.
An established Essex County nonprofit providing free evaluations, home and center visits, and therapy for children birth to age 3 with delays or an autism diagnosis. Their North Shore and Cape Ann teams cover towns from Lynn and Salem to Gloucester and Ipswich.
A hospital-based developmental-behavioral pediatrics team that evaluates children for autism, ADHD, and developmental delays over a few visits. A referral comes through your child's primary care doctor, and there can be a wait, so it helps to start early.
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.
The Disability Law Center is the federally designated protection and advocacy agency for Massachusetts, offering free information, advice, and sometimes legal representation on disability rights, including special-education issues. If your child's rights at school are being violated, they are a trusted place to turn.
FCSN is Massachusetts' federally funded Parent Training and Information Center, run by parents for parents, and their free helpline can walk you through the IEP process, your child's special-education rights, and what to do at team meetings. They also offer free workshops and a plain-language Parent's Guide to Special Education.
This long-established nonprofit fights for the education rights of Massachusetts children, with dedicated resources on autism and special education, including a Special Education Rights video series, sample letter templates, and a helpline. They were behind the state's Autism IEP Act that requires teams to address your child's full range of needs.
The state's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education hosts the official IEP forms, plain-language parent guides, and translated materials to help you prepare for your child's yearly IEP meeting. It's also the home of the Problem Resolution System if you have a dispute with your district.
Based right in Lynn, this nonprofit gives free legal help to families whose kids need advocacy in special education, IEP disputes, and school discipline matters. Call their statewide KidLaw helpline if your child's education rights aren't being honored.
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 Western Massachusetts nonprofit offering a searchable directory of autism providers, plus family support, resource navigation, and support groups. Their information and resources line can help you find therapy and services near you.
A comprehensive hospital program offering autism evaluations and diagnosis for children from infancy through adolescence, with specialists in psychology, neurology, speech, and occupational therapy. Their family support team helps connect you to community resources and next steps.
This free UMass Chan Shriver Center program helps you understand and fight for your insurance coverage for ABA and other autism treatments, including MassHealth questions. Their team offers one-on-one help by phone or email at no cost.
A long-established Massachusetts nonprofit and national leader in applied behavior analysis, offering center-based, home-based, and school ABA programs for autistic children and those with other developmental disabilities. Families can reach their ABA centers directly to ask about services.
Run by UMass Chan Medical School's Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center, this free service helps Massachusetts families understand insurance coverage for autism therapies and find provider lists. A steady, expert guide when the billing and coverage feel overwhelming.
This Danvers center provides ABA therapy alongside speech and occupational therapy, plus autism testing and diagnosis. They serve children throughout Essex County and the surrounding North Shore towns.
Cortica's Danvers clinic brings ABA, speech, and occupational therapy together with medical care and autism diagnostic evaluations under one roof. It's a comprehensive option for families across the North Shore and greater Essex County.
This well-established North Shore nonprofit, based right in Danvers, offers ABA therapy, autism coaching, and an Autism Support Center that helps families find services and referrals. It's a trusted first call when you're not sure where to start.
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.
Attainable is Massachusetts's official ABLE savings plan, letting people with disabilities and their families set aside money for disability expenses without losing SSI or MassHealth benefits. It is sponsored by MEFA and managed by Fidelity, with tax-free growth on qualified expenses.
Every DDS area in Massachusetts has Family Support Centers that offer respite care, service navigation, support groups, and other help to relieve the day-to-day stress of caregiving. Any family caring for a child or adult with a developmental disability can reach out for information and referrals.
These Massachusetts Medicaid waivers, run through the Department of Developmental Services, help pay for in-home and community services like ABA, respite, and skill-building so your child can get support at home instead of an institution. There is also a Children's Autism Waiver for kids birth through age 9 with an autism diagnosis.
SSI is a federal program that provides monthly cash payments to children with qualifying disabilities in families with limited income and resources, starting as early as birth. You can begin an application online or by phone with the Social Security Administration.
Free legal help for low-income Essex County families who are applying for or appealing disability benefits like SSI and SSDI, or fighting a MassHealth denial. Their benefits advocates can give you advice or fully represent you, with offices in Lynn, Lawrence, and Lowell.
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.
A long-established Watertown-based nonprofit offering warm, welcoming support groups for autistic teens and adults, parents, spouses, and grandparents, both online and in person. They also offer a free 30-minute call to help you find resources and figure out next steps.
A Massachusetts nonprofit that runs monthly support groups and activities for the whole family, including groups just for dads, moms, and siblings, plus social skills groups for young adults. Their team includes parents of autistic children who help you find your footing after a diagnosis and at every stage after.
A national nonprofit that builds one-to-one friendships between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, plus leadership and family support programs. It's a caring way for your child to form genuine, lasting friendships in the community.
A trusted Boston-based center that connects Massachusetts parents of children with disabilities to a Parent-to-Parent Network, workshops, and one-on-one guidance. It's also home to Massachusetts Family TIES, which matches you with another parent who has been through something similar.
Free year-round sports, recreation, and community for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, with 23 sports and a Young Athletes program for the little ones. It's a joyful way for your child to build friendships, confidence, and skills alongside teammates.
A long-established North Shore nonprofit based in Peabody that supports people with developmental disabilities and autism, including planned and emergency respite stays and staff-supported housing. A caring option when your family needs a break or a safe place for a loved one.
Since 1991 this Danvers-based center has helped North Shore families raising a child with autism, offering parent support groups, family activities, workshops, recreation, and free help finding services. It serves Essex County towns from Salem and Peabody to Gloucester, Newburyport, and beyond.
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.
When your child ages out of special education at 22, the Department of Developmental Services' Turning 22 program helps plan the move into adult day, employment, residential, and family supports. A DDS Service Coordinator walks the family through a person-centered plan, and it's best to start the process around age 18.
Exceptional Lives offers free, step-by-step guides that walk Massachusetts families through guardianship and its less-restrictive alternatives, SSI, and the transition to adulthood. Everything is written in plain language for parents figuring out these decisions for the first time.
MassAbility is the state agency that helps adults with disabilities find and keep jobs through vocational counseling, job coaching, training, and placement support. If your young adult is thinking about work, this is the state's front door to employment help.
This DDS-funded center supports autistic adults 18 and older with navigation, workshops, community events, and support groups for both individuals and their families. A good landing spot when a young adult is finding their footing in community life.
The Arc of Massachusetts' After I'm Gone program helps families build a long-term life plan so a loved one is cared for even when parents no longer can. It connects you to guidance on special needs trusts, estate planning, guardianship, benefits, and building lasting relationships.
A free, plain-language guide that walks Massachusetts families step by step through applying for guardianship when a child with disabilities turns 18 and may need help making legal and medical decisions. Their helpline can answer questions by phone or text along the way.
When your child ages out of school services at 22, the Department of Developmental Services becomes the main door to adult day programs, employment support, residential help, and case management. Families are encouraged to start the eligibility process early, around age 17-and-a-half, so supports are ready when the time comes.
This nonprofit specializes in pooled special needs trusts and trustee services that protect your loved one's eligibility for SSI and MassHealth while setting money aside for their future. Licensed social workers help administer the trust and coordinate care as part of long-term planning.
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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