Autism resources in
Middlesex 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.

A free helpline staffed by specialists who help you find autism evaluations, services, and support anywhere in New Jersey. If you're not sure where to start, they'll listen to your situation and point you to the right next step.

A statewide hospital program offering autism screening, diagnostic evaluations, and early intervention across its New Jersey sites. Trained providers assess how your child plays, communicates, and interacts, and connect you with speech, occupational, and psychology services as needed.

State-funded Child Evaluation Centers providing comprehensive developmental and autism evaluations for children from birth through adolescence. Their teams use structured observations and standardized testing to give families clear answers and a path forward.

An autism diagnostic center in southern New Jersey offering formal evaluations and in-person testing for children ages 4 and up, plus adolescents and adults. After testing, they provide individualized recommendations and help connecting you to community resources.

New Jersey's free statewide program for babies and toddlers from birth to age 3 who have developmental delays or disabilities. Call the statewide referral line and a service coordinator will talk through your concerns and set up evaluations at no cost to your family.

This is the local early intervention point of entry for Middlesex County families, based in North Brunswick. Their staff help you navigate the birth-to-3 evaluation and service process close to home.

If you have any worry about how your baby or toddler (birth to age 3) is growing or developing, this free state program is the place to start. One phone call connects you to evaluations and services, no doctor's referral needed.

Part of Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, this outpatient clinic evaluates children from birth to age 21 for developmental delays and related conditions. A good option when you want a thorough medical workup.

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.

ACNJ's staff attorneys offer a plain-language Basic Guide to Special Education and limited personal help for NJ parents with questions about their child's IEP and school services. Their special education specialist provides bilingual (English/Spanish) assistance.

Based in Newark, the Education Law Center works to make sure students with disabilities receive the full range of services they're owed under IDEA, offering know-your-rights guides and pro bono legal help. Their guide 'The Right to Special Education in New Jersey' is available free in English and Spanish.

The state's Office of Special Education explains your parental rights under IDEA and offers a Special Education Ombudsman and Family Support Specialist who can answer questions and help resolve disputes with your school district. It's the official place to file a complaint or request mediation.

SPAN is New Jersey's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center, where staff help you understand your child's special education rights, prepare for IEP meetings, and connect with other parents. Their support and resources are free for NJ families.

DRNJ is New Jersey's federally designated protection and advocacy organization, offering free advice, sample IEP letters, self-advocacy guides, and in some cases representation at mediation or due process hearings. Their intake staff can help you understand and defend your child's special education rights.

The state Office of Special Education oversees how school districts follow federal special education law (IDEA) for students ages 3 to 21, and offers parents resources on parental rights, IEP development, and dispute resolution. It's the official source when you need to understand or challenge what a district is doing.

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.

The state's official starting point for connecting your child with autism to therapy, care management, and developmental services at every age. It links you to PerformCare for behavioral care, Project Child Find for evaluations, and other state programs.

A nationally known children's hospital right in New Brunswick that offers autism-focused ABA, speech, occupational, physical, and feeding therapy all under one roof. Their team works with kids from infancy through the teen years, and can help you figure out where to start.

A specialized Children's Specialized Hospital and Rutgers program in New Brunswick for children whose autism comes with intense behaviors like aggression or self-injury. They offer evaluations, intensive outpatient day programs, and hands-on coaching so families feel more equipped at home.

A Rutgers University autism program in New Brunswick that has served families since 1972, using applied behavior analysis (ABA). They provide evaluations, behavior assessments, school-age and adult programs, and consultation for your child's school.

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.

LSNJ provides free civil legal help to lower-income New Jerseyans, including appeals for SSI and disability benefits, Medicaid coverage, and other public-benefit problems. One free statewide hotline connects you to help near you.

NJ ABLE lets people with disabilities save and invest money for disability-related expenses without losing SSI, Medicaid, or other benefits, with tax-free growth. It's run by the state's Division of Disability Services, and you can open an account by phone or online.

New Jersey's DDD runs two Medicaid home- and community-based waiver programs that fund supports like day services, respite, and in-home help based on your loved one's assessed needs. Call the Division to ask about eligibility and how to get started.

This state program gives family caregivers a short-term or periodic break from the daily demands of caring for a loved one, with fees on a sliding scale based on income. Call the Aging & Disability Resource Connection to reach the program in your county.

A nonprofit law firm offering free civil legal help to lower-income families right here in Middlesex County, including assistance applying for SSI and SSD disability benefits. If a benefits denial or public-entitlements problem is weighing on you, they can help you fight it at no cost.

NJ ABLE is the state-sponsored savings account that lets your family set money aside for disability-related expenses without risking SSI or Medicaid eligibility. Earnings grow tax-free when used for things like education, housing, and personal support.

This is the state agency that funds home- and community-based services for New Jersey residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including the Supports Program and Community Care Program Medicaid waivers. Once your child turns 21 and is DDD-eligible, this is where the funding for daily supports, respite, and day programs comes from.

DDS is New Jersey's single point of entry for disability information and referral, with certified representatives who help families find benefits, respite, and self-directed care options like the Personal Preference Program. If you are not sure where to start, a real person here can point you to the right program.

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 statewide nonprofit and the go-to hub for New Jersey autism families, offering a free helpline that connects you to services, referrals, support groups, and answers to your questions. Their team can point you toward local resources and community programs no matter where in NJ you live.

A New Jersey 501(c)(3) that supports families touched by autism and developmental disabilities through over 30 statewide programs, including weekend respite getaways and community inclusion outings. They also help families navigate services and connect with others facing similar journeys.

The state agency that funds and coordinates services for New Jersey residents with developmental disabilities, including respite, family support, and home- and community-based supports. Their staff can help you understand eligibility and apply for the services your family needs.

A New Jersey nonprofit that runs a monthly parent support group plus hundreds of free recreation events, dances, and family gatherings across the state each year. It's a warm place to meet other autism parents and give your child fun, welcoming activities.

A Middlesex County-based nonprofit in Dayton offering parent education, workshops, and a sensory gym and garden programs that give families and children a supportive place to connect and grow. Their focus is educating, treating, and supporting families and caregivers.

A family-run, Middlesex County nonprofit offering free peer support, education, and advocacy to parents and caregivers of children with developmental, intellectual, emotional, or behavioral challenges. Staff are parents who have been there themselves and can connect you with support groups and local resources.

DVRS helps your teen or adult with a disability find and keep a job — offering career counseling, job coaching, supported employment, and pre-employment transition services for students starting at age 14. All services are provided at no cost to you.

PLAN|NJ helps families answer the hardest question — who will care for my child when I'm gone. They administer special needs trusts, offer life-planning consultations, and provide guardianship and care coordination so your loved one stays secure long after you.

New Jersey's university center on disability offers a clear, parent-friendly timeline that maps out what to plan and when as your child moves toward adult life — from guardianship decisions to state agency services. Available free in English and Spanish.

New Jersey's Children's System of Care serves youth up to age 21, and this transition page helps families connect to adult services and DDD as their child ages out. Their contact line is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

This statewide nonprofit helps families answer the question of who will care for their loved one when they no longer can, by administering special needs trusts and, when family cannot, serving as legal guardian. It is a trusted resource for long-term financial and life planning.

Based in New Brunswick in Middlesex County, this Rutgers University Center for Excellence creates clear transition-to-adulthood guides and timelines for parents, along with training and consultation. It is a trusted place to understand what planning steps come at each age.