Autism resources in
Deschutes 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.

FACT Oregon's peer-led support team is made up of parents who have been there, and they can walk you through early intervention, evaluations, special education, and developmental disability services. Spanish-language help is available and the line is free to call.

Run by the Oregon Center for Children and Youth with Special Health Needs at OHSU, ACCESS builds local teams that coordinate medical and educational experts to diagnose autism in young children closer to home. It helps families in many Oregon counties avoid long waits at distant clinics.

OHSU's autism team gives comprehensive evaluations for children and helps figure out whether an autism diagnosis fits, then connects your family to support services. It's the largest autism clinic in Oregon, with locations in Portland and Eugene (a doctor's referral is needed to get started).

Oregon's statewide EI/ECSE system provides free evaluations and support for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers (birth to age 5) with developmental delays or disabilities, including autism. You can start with a free developmental screening and find out who to call to refer your child.

Oregon's Office of Developmental Disabilities Services helps children and families access developmental disability supports through their local Community Developmental Disabilities Program (CDDP). Your county's CDDP determines eligibility and guides you through the paperwork and planning at no cost.

This county program helps connect children and adults with autism or developmental disabilities to eligibility services, support, and resources close to home. A service coordinator can walk you through what your family qualifies for.

If your child under 5 shows signs of a developmental delay or autism, this local program provides free screening, evaluation, and support right here in Deschutes County. You can refer your own child directly, and there is no cost to families.

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.

Disability Rights Oregon is the state's federally designated protection and advocacy organization, offering free, legally based help with special education, early intervention, and school discipline through its Children's Rights Project. Reach out if your child's disability rights at school are being denied.

FACT Oregon is Oregon's statewide Parent Training and Information Center, with a free support line staffed by parents who help you understand IEPs, special education rights, and disability services. They also offer free trainings and toolkits to help you advocate for your child.

When you disagree with your child's school over an evaluation, IEP, or placement, this state agency offers free options like mediation, IEP facilitation, formal complaints, and due process hearings. Staff can walk you through your rights and next steps.

Based at OHSU and staffed by parents of children with special health needs, this center offers free one-to-one support, trainings, and guides on IEPs, 504 plans, and educational advocacy. It's a warm place to start when you're figuring out school services for a child with a health condition or disability.

A Bend-based nonprofit where local parents help other parents navigate IEPs, school advocacy, and disability services, all at no cost and in English or Español. They also host free trainings and parent meet-ups across Deschutes County.

HDESD is the regional agency that supports special education and autism services across Deschutes County schools, with autism specialists and early-childhood evaluation and instruction for kids birth through school age. A good first call to understand your child's supports.

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.

This statewide nonprofit keeps a searchable, map-based directory of Oregon ABA, speech, occupational, physical, music and other therapy providers so you can find help near you. Their team can also answer questions and point you toward the right services.

Oregon's state I/DD office funds long-term supports for children and adults with autism and developmental disabilities, including in-home services, employment help, and crisis support through your local county program. Call the Aging and Disability Resource Connection to find your county office and start an application.

A Bend-based provider of ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapy for children with autism, offering individualized care in the home, in their clinic, and in the community. They focus on building communication, self-advocacy, and learning-readiness skills.

Run by the High Desert Education Service District, this program provides free screening, evaluation, and therapy (speech, occupational, and physical) for children birth to age 5 with autism or developmental delays. It serves Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties with centers in Bend, La Pine, and Redmond.

The developmental clinic at Bend's St. Charles hospital evaluates and diagnoses autism and developmental delays using a team of developmental-behavioral pediatricians, psychologists, and speech and occupational therapists. It's the main hospital-based autism evaluation program serving Central Oregon families.

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.

A state Treasury-run savings account that lets your family set aside money for disability-related expenses tax-free without risking SSI, Medicaid, or other benefits. As of 2026 anyone whose disability began before age 46 can open one, and you can start in about 10 minutes.

Through Oregon's Aging and Disability Resource Connection, family caregivers can get respite care to take a needed break, plus counseling, support groups, and help finding local resources. Call the ADRC to see what support you qualify for.

This is Oregon's main door to Medicaid-funded, long-term supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including in-home care, respite, and community services so your child can stay at home. Start by connecting with your local Community Developmental Disabilities Program (CDDP) through ODDS.

This is your local county office and the front door to disability benefits in Deschutes County. Their service coordinators determine eligibility and connect your child to Medicaid waiver services, case management, and family supports, all at no cost.

Free legal help for lower-income families right here in Bend, serving Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson counties. They can assist if your SSI, Oregon Health Plan, or other public benefits are denied or cut off.

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.

Oregon's statewide autism nonprofit runs free online and in-person support groups for parents, caregivers, autistic adults, and kids, including a Spanish-language parent group and monthly parent discussion meetings. They also offer the "Take a Break on ASO" respite program, which gives caregivers restaurant and movie gift cards plus paid respite care so you can rest.

The local park district's therapeutic and inclusion program offers adaptive camps, sports, arts, and social outings for kids, teens, and adults with disabilities, plus inclusion support so your child can join regular programs. Reach out at least a week before a program starts to set up accommodations.

A local, parent-founded autism nonprofit serving Bend and Central Oregon with support groups, sensory-friendly community events, a lending library, and safety equipment for families. It was started by a mom of a child with autism, so the welcome is warm and the help is practical.

The ADRC is a free, statewide help line where trained staff talk through your situation and connect you to adult day programs, in-home support, and other long-term services. It's an easy first call when you're not sure where to start with adult or aging-out planning.

Oregon's Office of Developmental Disabilities Services helps adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities explore careers, get job coaching, and find real work in the community through the state's Employment First approach. It's a good starting point when your young adult is aging out of school and thinking about work.

OSNT is Oregon's long-running pooled special needs trust, giving families an affordable way to set aside money for a loved one with a disability without risking their Medicaid, SSI, or other benefits. It's a trusted option for long-term financial planning when you're worried about what happens after you're gone.

ALSO is an established nonprofit providing supported employment, in-home, and residential services for adults with developmental disabilities right here in Bend. Job coaches help your adult child find and keep meaningful, community-integrated work.

A local nonprofit brokerage that helps adults with developmental disabilities build a self-directed, person-centered plan for their future. Their staff help your adult child find work, locate housing, and connect resources across Deschutes and the surrounding counties.

As your child approaches adulthood, this Oregon nonprofit offers education and support around guardianship, conservatorship, and less-restrictive alternatives like supported decision-making. They now serve Deschutes County families navigating these choices.