Providers who can offer supervised activities or respite care services for adults
Organizations, advocates and attorneys who can explain your rights, and support or represent you
Organizations that support your rights
Attorneys that specialize in disability law
Attorneys that specialize in family related issues, such as divorce, child custody, paternity, adoption, dependency and child neglect, and protection from abuse
Attorneys who specialize in the legal transfer of responsibility in the care of a person and their assets when they are not able to make legal decisions for themselves
Attorneys that have a professional license to provide legal advice and counsel regarding a child’s educational rights.
Educational Advocates can assist families with decisions involving the choice of school programs and a child’s educational needs, which can include developing and reviewing the Individual Education Plan (“IEP”), observing a child’s performance in school and monitoring the implementation of the IEP.
Includes communication devices and tools, equipment lending libraries, computer and technology training centers, adaptive equipment, agencies that provide assistive technology products, and assistive technology funding sources.
Companies or individuals who offer training about autism spectrum disorders or who develop programs for people with autism. The subcategories are the target audiences.
Providers that are contracted to provide services through Maryland’s Autism Waiver program
The development of a transition plan from Autism Waiver services, incorporating the principles of self-determination, person-centered planning, decision making, and planning for adulthood and adult life services
Physical adaptations to the participant's home, which are reasonable and medically necessary
Training and counseling services regarding treatment regimens and use of equipment
Intensive, one-on-one interventions with the child up to 30 hours per week
Residential placement of 8 beds or less that is integrated into a rural, urban, or suburban residential community setting where there are no more than two children per bedroom and the child has appropriate choices in meals and community activities.
One-on-one interventions in a child’s home or youth camp to include assistance with daily living activities or as relief of the participant's family that normally provides the care
Assists a Waiver participant in gaining access to Waiver services and coordinating access with other services to assure that the child’s full range of needs is adequately met
A structured after-school program focusing heavily on expressive therapies and therapeutic recreational activities
Organizations, people, and products that help manage behavior challenges and promote positive behaviors.
Organizations and specialists who evaluate behavior challenges and devise plans to change those behaviors.
Software, toys, and other aides designed to help promote positive behaviors or discourage undesired behaviors.
Specialists who help people work through problems, psychological distress (such as anxiety), and behavior challenges. Psychologists cannot prescribe medications.
Interventions that may include vitamins, probiotic diets, a gluten-free casein-free diet, medications, the Feingold diet and others
DAN! doctors are trained in the "DAN! Protocol," an approach to autism treatment based on the idea that autism is a biomedical disorder.
Organizations that provide specialized food or diet resources, and nutritionists.
Organizations and providers that may offer vitamins, supplements, and other biomedical supports and therapies
Day and overnight camps for children and adults in Maryland and nearby states.
Camps that are open to children and adults with our without disabilities
Camps that specialize in working with people with disabilities. They are not typically open to people without disabilities.
Programs, after school care, and agencies that maintain lists of childcare providers.
Centers that offer daytime services that may include functional life skills and community based socialization
Specialists in navigating the local and State system to obtain needed supports for your child and family.
Infants and Toddlers, Preschool Partners, Family Support Network, Preschools, and other organizations that focus on children age Birth-3 (may include up to age 6).
Colleges and services that support students on the autism spectrum, including colleges and supports outside of Maryland.
Toys, products and software programs with an academic or learning component.
Homeschooling curriculums, homeschool scholarship programs, services providing homeschooling support, homeschooling advocacy organizations, and contacts for state and local homeschooling groups and up-to-date laws.
Schools that accept private pay and those that are funded through the student’s local school system.
People and organizations that provide educational help outside of the classroom.
Estate and Financial planning as it relates to protecting government benefit eligibility and properly funding special needs trusts.
Services to support a family to keep a member with a disability at home
Where to go to get evaluated for Autism Spectrum Disorders * We recommend that you extend your search to 50 or 100 miles since you may only need to go once or twice and, some providers have long waiting lists, and not all may take insurance.
Organizations offering funds for autism-related services, such as ABA and other therapies, health care, sensory products, home modifications, etc.
The practice that the art and science of healing that addresses care of the whole person - body, mind, and spirit.
An ancient healing art using the fingers to gradually press key body points, with intent to stimulate the body's natural curing abilities.
An alternative medicine that treats patients by insertion and manipulation of needles in the body with intent to relieve pain or promote health.
A health care practice that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health.
Work with individuals with autism in their homes, or teach the caregiver the therapeutic techniques used.
A methodology based on the principles of operant and respondent conditioning. A key focus in ABA is to change behavior and increase communication by using two components: teaching (utilizing Discrete Trial Training or DTT) and behavior modification.
Floortime does not seek to teach specific skills; the goal is to develop the child’s sense of pleasure in relating to others.
PRT seeks to teach central skills, such as self-management, turn taking, and joint attention, which can then be used to facilitate communication, improve behavior, and improve social skills.
This step-by-step program focuses on building and learning to generalize skills.
The SCERTS curriculum provides a systematic method that ensures that specific skills and appropriate supports, stated as educational objectives, are selected and applied in a consistent manner across a child’s day.
TEACCH curriculum strives to develop communication skills and to pursue social and leisure interests. TEACCH is used primarily in school or work settings.
VB teaches a child to request a desired item or activity, so that he or she learns that words have the function of getting their wants and needs met.
Includes home-buying and rental assistance agencies, local housing authorities, and Department of Housing, contacts.
Contact information for Special Education office, Child Find, Partners for Success, Independent Facilitators, Special Education Citizens’ Advisory Committees (SECAC), Preschool Partners, Infants and Toddlers, Transition Coordinators, and Maryland State Dept. of Education (MSDE) Family Services.
Physicians in all fields and dentists
A physician specially trained to diagnose, treat and manage allergies, asthma and immunologic disorders including primary immunodefeciency disorders.
The primary health-care professionals who evaluate, diagnose, treat, and manage hearing loss and balance disorders in adults and children.
Includes pediatric dentists, dentists serving adults, and dentists who accept Medicaid.
The medical experts for skin problems.
Pediatricians, particularly those with a subspecialty in the field, that are highly trained and experienced in identifying and diagnosing a whole range of developmental and behavioral differences.
ENT stands for “Ear, Nose and Throat”. Also known as an Otolaryngologist.
Primary care physicians who treat patients of all ages (hence the term “family medicine”) from pediatrics through geriatrics.
Internal Medicine Physicians who specialize in the digestive system.
Doctors who specialize in the female reproductive system.
The care of patients whose condition requires admission to a hospital.
Doctors that focus on comprehensive adult health care.
Doctors who specialize in the brain and nervous system.
Specialists who study the structure and function of the brain related to specific psychological processes and behaviors.
Doctors who specialize in eye and vision care.
Doctors who correct problems or damage to the mouth, teeth and jaw.
A dental professional who prevents or corrects misaligned teeth and jaws.
Providers that specialize in difficulties with eating or drinking that may affect weight or nutrition.
Pediatric doctors who specialize in the brain and nervous system.
Doctors who care for children from birth to early adulthood.
People who are professionally qualified to prepare medicine, fill prescriptions, and advise on the proper use of medications.
Doctors who specialize in the treatment of the foot, ankle, and lower leg.
A health care practitioner who sees people that have common medical problems and focuses on preventive care.
A physician (a medical doctor--either an MD or a DO) who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, addictive, and emotional disorders. Psychiatrists can prescribe medications.
Resources and services specifically available to military families.
Includes churches that offer special supports during their church services, classes, etc.
Includes stores that offer clothing for people with heightened sensitivities to touch and clothing.
Includes inclusive and disability-only sports teams, Boy Scouts, adult social groups, dance and music groups/ classes, theater groups, art classes, parks & rec centers, horseback riding, martial arts, sailing classes, ice skating, swimming lessons, gymnastics, cheerleading, and many other activities and opportunities.
Includes Community Supported Living Arrangement (CSLA), Alternate Living Units, Group Homes.
Organizations and people who provide short-term, temporary relief to caregivers.
Includes personal GPS devices, emergency preparation resources, products and trainings for emergency responders, medical ID items, personal identification tattoos and gear, home safety products, fences, resources related to wandering and running away.
Specialty toys, products and software programs that include weighted vests and blankets, adaptive equipment, therapy balls, vibrating pillows and stuffed animals, Body Sox, swings, etc.
Includes government, nonprofit and private programs
Specialists and groups that teach people to communicate, relate, and socialize with others.
Includes groups that assist friends and families of children and adults with autism, and support groups for individuals with autism.
Someone trained to practice psychotherapy using art as the form of communication. Art therapy is not a recreational activity or an art lesson.
Help patients identify the relationships between unhealthy thinking patterns, disruptive behavior, and negative emotional responses in upsetting or impairing situations.
Someone trained in the psychotherapeutic use of movement to further the emotional, cognitive, physical and social integration of the individual.
Music therapists use music along with other techniques such as counseling, behavior modification, and physical activity to achieve therapeutic goals.
Teaching the student away from the structured teaching setting, and in the student’s typical environment.
Someone certified to help individuals develop skills used to perform purposeful activities including work, play, and self-help skills.
Specialists that perform assessments and develop goals and techniques to maximize a person’s movement.
Specialists that focus on a person’s ability to understand language, the ability to expressive language, and the mechanics of speech. Some speech therapists may also teach social skills.
Organizations that train and place dogs who serve as companions or assist people with socialization and calming, funding sources for therapy dogs, activities that teach children to be safe and responsible around dogs.
Providers and products that assist with toilet training or toileting needs.
Includes agencies that provide specialized transportation services, transportation safety classes, vehicle loan (monetary) assistance programs for people with disabilities, and driver’s education.
Transportation safety classes, driver’s evaluation and training programs.
Maryland Mobility Services, and vehicle loan (monetary) assistance programs for people with disabilities.
Includes agencies that offer autism-friendly vacation packages, autism-friendly vacation destinations, and airline contacts for special requests.
Includes job coaches, job training, supported employment services, vocational assessments and evaluations.
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