Raising an autistic child can be a significant challenge, but parents do not need to do this on their own. Most states provide benefits for autistic children. The only question is what type of benefits might be provided.
There are a lot of states that provide access to a care coordinator. Because there are a lot of specialists involved in supporting and caring for an autistic child, it is helpful to have a care coordinator who can make sure all of the moving parts work together.
Other benefits include behavioral support and in-home therapy. Behavioral support can help an autistic child better manage his or her emotions, and in-home therapy can take a look at how care is provided in the home, providing parents with advice. There might also be peer support, psychoeducational services, and therapeutic monitoring.
Some autistic children also qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. This is for autistic children with higher support needs. Children who are nonverbal and have “significantly restricted” activities or behaviors will qualify for this financial support.
California has a very large support network for autistic children. For example, parents can take their child to have an applied behavioral analysis. This is important for helping parents understand what type of support needs their child has. Parents can also have access to cognitive behavioral therapy. This short-term therapy helps autistic children focus on how their thoughts shape the outcomes of their actions. Some of the other available benefits include speech therapy, life skills training, and parent or guardian training.
Several supportive services are available to parents and autistic children in New York. For example, they may be eligible for therapeutic services, including occupational therapy and physical therapy. Speech therapy is also available to autistic children in New York. There are also specific subsets of specialty care that might be available to autistic children.
North Carolina has several benefit programs available as well. Autistic children in North Carolina may be eligible for speech, occupational, and physical therapy. There are also programs in place that seek to identify autistic children at a younger age. That way, intervention can be started sooner, making a difference in the prognosis.
If your child has been diagnosed with autism, you need to talk to your primary care doctor about the resources available in your local area. Primary care doctors are generally plugged in with a lot of specialists, so they can give you a list of programs you may want to reach out to. If your primary care doctor referrals your child to a child psychiatrist, he or she might also have a list of resources that can help you and your child get the help you need.
State | Autism Benefits List |
|---|---|
| Alabama | In-Home Therapy, Intensive Care Coordination, Peer Support, Psychoeducational Services, Therapeutic Mentoring |
| Alaska | Adaptive Behavior Treatment of Autism, Behavior Identification Assessment, Behavior Identification Reassessment |
| Arizona | Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Arizona Early Intervention Program, Arizona Long Term Care System, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), DES Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), Equestrian Therapy, Medication, Music Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Social Skills Training, Speech Therapy, Vision Therapy |
| Arkansas | Adult Developmental Day Treatment (ADDT); Child Health Services Early Periodic Screening Diagnostic Treatment Program (EPSDT); Home Health, and Hospice and Physician; Hospital/Critical Access Hospital (CAH); Occupational Therapy; Speech Therapy; Rehabilitative Hospital |
| California | Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Life Skills, Modeling, Natural Teaching Strategies, Pivotal Response Training, Social Skills Training/Peer Training, Speech Therapy, Story-Based Interventions |
| Colorado | Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Medication, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, Psychiatric and Psychological Care, Therapeutic Care |
| Connecticut | Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Medication, Psychiatric and Psychological Care |
| Delaware | Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Individual Care, Medication, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Psychiatric and Psychological Care, Speech Therapy |
| Florida | Coverage of well-child and well-baby screenings for autism, Interventions and treatments prescribed in the doctor created treatment plan |
| Georgia | Adaptive Behavioral Health Treatment, Initial and Follow-Up Assessments, Social Skills Training/ Peer Training |
| Hawaii | Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Medication, Occupational Therapy, Other Evidence-Based Practices, Physical Therapy, Psychiatric and Psychological Care, Speech Therapy |
| Idaho | The Children’s Developmental Disabilities Program, Medicaid Program |
| Illinois | Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Diagnosis and Intervention, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Psychiatric and Psychological Care, Speech Therapy, |
| Indiana | Behavior Training and Management, Medication, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy |
| Iowa | Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Diagnosis and Intervention, Habilitative or Rehabilitative Care, Psychiatric and Psychological Care |
| Kansas | Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) |
| Kentucky | Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Habilitative or Rehabilitative Care, Medication, Psychiatric and Psychological Care, Therapeutic Care, |
| Louisiana | Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) |
| Maine | Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Professional Services and Counseling Services, Speech Therapy |
| Maryland | Adaptations to the Environment for Accessibility; Family Consultation; Home Health and Respite; Individual Support Services; Laboratory Services; Medication; Mental Health Services; Personal Disposable Medical Supplies and Durable Medical Equipment; Payments of Medicare Premiums, Co-Pays, and Deductibles; Therapeutic Integration |
| Massachusetts | Habilitative or Rehabilitative Care, Medication, Psychiatric and Psychological Care, Therapeutic Care |
| Michigan | Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Life Skills, Medication, Occupational Therapy, Parent/Guardian Training, Physical Therapy, Social Skills Training/ Peer Training, Speech Therapy |
| Minnesota | Life Skills, Parent/Guardian Training, Regulation Strategies, Social Skills Training/ Peer Training, Speech Therapy |
| Mississippi | Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Medication, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy |
| Missouri | Advocacy Training, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Crisis Intervention, Diagnosis and Intervention, Life Skills, Music Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Other Emerging and Evidence-Based Practices, Physical Therapy, Psychiatric and Psychological Care, Respite, Social Skills Training/ Peer Training, Speech Therapy, |
| Montana | Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Habilitative or Rehabilitative Care, Medication, Other Specified Care, Psychiatric and Psychological Care, Therapeutic Care, |
| Nebraska | Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Behavior Modification Services, Community Treatment Aides, Day Treatment |
| Nevada | Diagnosis and Intervention, Habilitative or Rehabilitative Care, Medication, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Psychiatric and Psychological Care, Speech Therapy |
| New Hampshire | Habilitative or Rehabilitative Care, Medication, Psychiatric and Psychological Care, Therapeutic Care |
| New Jersey | Alternative Communication Assessment, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Devices, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Sensory Integration, Speech Therapy |
| New Mexico | Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Behavioral Health Treatment, Camp for People with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Counseling, Social Skills Training, Speech Therapy |
| New York | Habilitative or Rehabilitative Care, Therapeutic Care, Speech Therapy |
| North Carolina | Diagnosis and Intervention, Speech Therapy, Therapeutic Care |
| North Dakota | Autism Spectrum Disorder Voucher program |
| Ohio | Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Mental/Behavioral Health Outpatient Services (by a licensed psychologist), Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy |
| Oklahoma | Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Diagnosis and Intervention, Medication, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Psychiatric and Psychological Care, Speech Therapy |
| Oregon | Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Rehabilitative Care, Speech Therapy |
| Pennsylvania | Medication, Occupational Therapy, Psychiatric and Psychological Care, Physical Therapy, Rehabilitative Care, Speech Therapy |
| Rhode Island | Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy |
| South Carolina | Behavior Therapy, Case Management, Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention |
| South Dakota | Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) |
| Tennessee | Group Therapy, Observational Assessments, Social Skills Training, Speech-Language evaluations and therapy, and Individual services. Because of the special and specific needs of each individual, individualized, autism-specific services are identified on a student’s Individual Needs Assessment (INA). |
| Texas | Behavior Training and Behavior Management, Diagnosis and Intervention, Medication, Nutritional Supplements, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy |
| Utah | Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Behavioral Health Treatment, Medication, Psychiatric and Psychological Care, Therapeutic Care |
| Vermont | Home and Community Based Services (HCBS), Intermediate Care Facility for People with Developmental Disabilities (ICF/DD), Post-Secondary Education Initiative (PSEI), Pre-Admission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR), Public Guardian Services, Targeted Case Management (TCM), Vocational Grant |
| Virginia | Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Behavioral Health Treatment, Medication, Psychiatric and Psychological Care, Therapeutic Care |
| Washington | Medically Necessary Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Medically Necessary Mental Health Benefits |
| West Virginia | Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Medically Necessary Treatment of Autism |
| Wisconsin | Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) |
| Wyoming | The Arc Autism Now, The Arc of Natrona County, Autism Speaks, Easterseals, ECHO for Families, Seven Stars, Trumpet Behavioral Health, UW ECHO for Families |