Autism resources in
Wood 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.

Marshall Health's child and adolescent psychiatry team offers comprehensive autism assessment along with ongoing treatment like therapy and medication management. Their Multidisciplinary Autism Assessment Clinic partners with the WV Autism Training Center for evaluations.

Established by the West Virginia Legislature in 1984, this center provides statewide support to individuals with autism and their families across the lifespan. They offer person-centered services, family consultation, and a multidisciplinary autism assessment clinic.

West Virginia's free early intervention program for children from birth to age three who have developmental delays or disabilities. They arrange evaluations and in-home services, and any parent or provider can make a referral to get started.

A statewide hub at WVU that connects West Virginia families to disability services, including a searchable directory of autism evaluations and therapy providers by county. Staff can help you find the right resources and answer questions about services in your area.

A team of specialists at WVU Children's Hospital that provides multidisciplinary evaluations for children with concerns about autism, ADHD, and other developmental differences. Evaluations serve children from birth to age 12, and a referral from your child's doctor is needed to begin.

A long-established nonprofit whose Parkersburg office runs free Parents as Teachers home visits with child developmental screenings, plus Birth to Three and other early-childhood support. A warm, no-cost way to check on your child's development and get connected.

West Virginia's free early-intervention program for children under age 3 with a developmental delay or the risk of one. If you have concerns about your baby or toddler, one call starts a free evaluation and in-home support right here in Wood County.

The local Parkersburg hospital's pediatric team can do in-office developmental screenings at well-child visits and place the referrals you need for an autism evaluation. This is often the easiest first step, close to home.

This WVU Medicine team in Morgantown provides in-depth, multidisciplinary evaluations for children ages one to eight (up to eleven for ADHD concerns) when there are questions about autism or other developmental differences. A pediatric neurologist, psychologist, and other specialists work together so you leave with real answers and a plan.

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.

DRWV is the federally mandated protection and advocacy agency for West Virginians with disabilities, offering free and confidential help when your child's rights at school or in the community are being denied. They provide information, referrals, self-advocacy training, and legal representation.

The FAST program (Family Advocacy, Support, and Training) offers free advocacy across all 55 West Virginia counties for families whose children face school struggles tied to mental health or a disability. Advocates and an attorney help you build IEPs, resolve access problems, and keep your child in school.

For more than 34 years, WVPTI has helped West Virginia parents of children with disabilities (birth to age 26) understand their special education rights, prepare for IEP meetings, and work as equal partners with their child's school. Staffed by parents who have been there, they offer free one-on-one help, meeting support, and workshops.

The state Office of Special Education oversees IEPs and special education services for West Virginia students and provides parents with plain-language guides, procedural-safeguards information, and IDEA forms. It's the official source for how special education is supposed to work in your child's school.

This state council builds parents' advocacy skills and publishes the free "Parent's Advocacy Guide to Special Education" (in English and Spanish) to help families navigate IEPs and their rights. It also runs the Partners in Policymaking leadership training for parents and self-advocates.

Free legal help for families navigating special education, from evaluations and IEP meetings to discipline, 504 plans, and due process hearings. Their FAST program is there when you feel you need someone in your corner.

This is your local district office for anything IEP or 504 related in Wood County. If your child needs an evaluation or you have questions about their plan, this is where to start with the school system.

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.

Part of West Virginia's Birth to Three program, this page explains Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and evidence-based autism services for infants and toddlers, with guidance for families navigating early autism support. It's a trustworthy state-agency starting point if your very young child was recently identified.

A Parkersburg-based ABA therapy provider that builds each program around your child and coaches you as the parent to keep the skills going at home. They offer BCBA-led, in-home and clinic-based Applied Behavior Analysis right here in Wood County.

A local Parkersburg nonprofit whose Autism Connection program brings speech, occupational, physical, and behavioral therapy together with a sensory room, social groups, and a summer sensory camp. It is a warm, family-focused home base for autism support in the Mid-Ohio Valley.

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.

Legal Aid of West Virginia offers free civil legal help to lower-income families, including appealing denied Social Security disability benefits, protecting access to Medicaid and other benefits, and resolving housing, education, and healthcare disputes. They have offices across the state.

West Virginia's Medicaid I/DD Waiver funds home- and community-based services like respite, therapies, job support, and behavior support for children and adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, so your child can be cared for at home instead of in a facility. There is often a waitlist, so it helps to apply early.

WVABLE lets West Virginians with a disability that began before age 46 save and invest money in a tax-advantaged account without losing SSI, Medicaid, or other needs-based benefits. It's an easy way to set aside funds for your child's future disability-related expenses.

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.

This long-established Huntington nonprofit provides respite care to give caregivers a break, plus community and recreation programs, ABA, and case management for families in Cabell, Wayne, Lincoln, Mason, and Putnam counties. Founded in 1979, they've supported local families for decades.

The statewide Autism Society network runs local parent support groups and Circle of Parents meetings across West Virginia, plus regional chapters where you can connect with other families who get it. It's a warm place to find people, events, and answers close to home.

CARES is a West Virginia nonprofit that hosts community events and offers education, advocacy, and outreach to empower kids on the autism spectrum and their families. It's a friendly way to plug into local gatherings and support.

A Wood County-based nonprofit run by and for parents raising children with autism and other developmental disabilities, offering support groups, play groups, family events, and advocacy training. It's a warm community built to help caregivers feel less alone and more equipped.

When your child turns 18 you may need to make decisions about guardianship, conservatorship, or power of attorney, and this free plain-language guide from Legal Aid WV walks you through what each one means and how the court process works. Their statewide helpline can point you toward further legal help.

West Virginia's state vocational rehabilitation agency helps teens and adults with disabilities prepare for, find, and keep a job through career counseling, job coaching, training, and workplace accommodations. They serve youth starting at age 14, so you can begin planning the move toward employment well before your child ages out of school.

West Virginia's university disability center offers guidance for families navigating the big transitions into adulthood, covering employment, independent living, and moving from pediatric to adult health care. Their statewide staff can help you plan the road ahead as your child ages out of school.

A Parkersburg nonprofit serving adults with disabilities since 1964, offering day habilitation, supported employment, job coaching, and a five-day life-skills program covering budgeting, cooking, and independent living. A warm local option as your young adult ages out of school services.

A nonprofit pooled special needs trust that lets families set aside money for a loved one with a disability without risking their SSI or Medicaid eligibility. They also guide families and attorneys through how special needs trusts work.