Help for families raising a child with a disability

National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CDC milestone checklists and Milestone Tracker app

Free checklists show what most children do at each age, from 2 months to 5 years. They come in English and Spanish, and there is a free phone app.

Next step: Fill out the checklist for your child's age. Take it to your child's next doctor visit. You do not need a diagnosis to ask for help.

800-232-4636 (CDC-INFO)

Visit website for CDC milestone checklists and Milestone Tracker app (opens new tab)

National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Find your state's early intervention program

Every state has free early intervention for children under 3 who are behind or have a disability. You can call yourself. You do not need a doctor's note.

Next step: Look up your state's number and ask for a free evaluation. If your child is 3 or older, call your public school district instead.

Visit website for Find your state's early intervention program (opens new tab)

National Center for Parent Information and Resources

Your state's Parent Training and Information Center

Every state has a free parent center for families of children with any disability, from birth to age 26. Staff help with school plans, meetings and your rights.

Next step: Find your state on the map. Call before your next school meeting.

Visit website for Your state's Parent Training and Information Center (opens new tab)

National Family Voices

Family-to-Family Health Information Center

Parents who have been there help other families with doctors, insurance, Medicaid and disability services. There is one in every state.

Next step: Find your state's center on the map and call or email them.

Visit website for Family-to-Family Health Information Center (opens new tab)

National Parent to Parent USA

Parent to Parent: get matched with another parent

A trained volunteer parent whose child has a similar disability calls you, listens and shares what helped them. It is free.

Next step: Find your state's Parent to Parent program on the map and ask to be matched.

Visit website for Parent to Parent: get matched with another parent (opens new tab)

National Autism Society of America

Autism Society National Helpline

Made for: Autism

Trained staff help families find autism services, support groups and local chapters. This is not a crisis line.

Next step: Call on a weekday or fill out the online form. Ask about the chapter in your state.

800-328-8476 (800-3-AUTISM, weekdays)

Visit website for Autism Society National Helpline (opens new tab)

National National Down Syndrome Society

National Down Syndrome Society

Made for: Developmental or intellectual disability

Information and support for families of people with Down syndrome at every age, including a free guide for new and expecting parents.

Next step: Call or email, or download the new-parent guide.

800-221-4602

Visit website for National Down Syndrome Society (opens new tab)

National Learning Disabilities Association of America

Learning Disabilities Association of America

Made for: Learning, speech or language

Information for parents on dyslexia and other learning disabilities, evaluations and school help. More than 30 states have a local chapter with support groups and advocacy help.

Next step: Read the parent section and check whether your state has a chapter.

412-341-1515

Visit website for Learning Disabilities Association of America (opens new tab)

National Hands & Voices

Hands & Voices

Made for: Hearing or vision

A parent-led group for families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. It supports every communication choice and has state chapters, including Ohio.

Next step: Start with the new-families page and find the chapter near you.

Visit website for Hands & Voices (opens new tab)

National American Printing House for the Blind

FamilyConnect

Made for: Hearing or vision

Free information, parent stories and an online parent support group for families of children who are blind or have low vision.

Next step: Visit the website and join the online parent community.

Visit website for FamilyConnect (opens new tab)

National CHADD, funded by CDC

National Resource Center on ADHD helpline

Made for: ADHD

A helpline answers questions about ADHD: diagnosis, treatment, school help and local support groups. Spanish speakers are available.

Next step: Call the ADHD helpline, or use the parent toolkits on the website.

866-200-8098 (ADHD helpline)

Visit website for National Resource Center on ADHD helpline (opens new tab)

National National Alliance on Mental Illness

NAMI Basics and the NAMI HelpLine

Made for: Mental health or behavior

NAMI Basics is a free 6-week class for parents and caregivers of children and teens with mental health symptoms, taught by parents who have been there. It is offered in person or online. The HelpLine gives information and support. It is not a crisis line.

Next step: Find a class through your local NAMI or take the online version. Call the HelpLine on weekdays.

800-950-6264 (800-950-NAMI, weekdays)

Visit website for NAMI Basics and the NAMI HelpLine (opens new tab)

National Social Security Administration

SSI for children with disabilities

Monthly payments for children with serious disabilities in families with low income and savings. In most states, SSI also means Medicaid. At 18, Social Security checks again using adult rules.

Next step: Start online or call for an appointment. Have medical and school records ready.

800-772-1213 (TTY 800-325-0778)

Visit website for SSI for children with disabilities (opens new tab)

National ARCH National Respite Network

National Respite Locator

Respite gives family caregivers a short break while someone trained cares for your child. This search finds respite programs and ways to pay for them.

Next step: Search by state. The list is not complete, so also ask your county or state disability office.

Visit website for National Respite Locator (opens new tab)

National Sibling Support Project

Sibshops for brothers and sisters

Fun peer-support events for school-age brothers and sisters of kids with disabilities and health needs, offered in most states, plus online groups for teen and adult siblings.

Next step: Use the website to find a Sibshop near you.

Visit website for Sibshops for brothers and sisters (opens new tab)

National National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making

Choices besides guardianship at 18

At 18, your child legally makes their own decisions. Guardianship is not the only option. Supported decision-making lets your child choose trusted people to help with decisions while keeping their rights.

Next step: Read about the options before you go to court. Ask your parent center or disability rights agency for help.

Visit website for Choices besides guardianship at 18 (opens new tab)

Ohio Ohio Department of Children and Youth

Help Me Grow Early Intervention

Ohio's free early intervention for children under 3 who are behind or have a disability. It is in all 88 counties, and visits usually happen at home. Parents can sign up their own child.

Next step: Call or fill out the online form, and a local coordinator will call you. If your child is almost 3, call now. This program ends at age 3, and the school district takes over.

800-755-4769 (800-755-GROW)

Visit website for Help Me Grow Early Intervention (opens new tab)

Ohio OCALI, Help Me Grow and the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities

Faster autism evaluations close to home (ADEP)

Made for: Autism

In many Ohio counties, local doctors and early intervention staff work as a team to evaluate young children for autism sooner, without a long wait for a big hospital.

Next step: Ask Help Me Grow or your child's doctor if an ADEP team serves your county.

Visit website for Faster autism evaluations close to home (ADEP) (opens new tab)

Ohio The Ohio State University

Nisonger Center at Ohio State

Made for: Autism, Developmental or intellectual disability, Mental health or behavior

A university center in Columbus with clinics that evaluate children, teens and young adults for autism and other developmental disabilities, including mental health concerns.

Next step: Call to ask which clinic fits your child's age and how to get on the schedule.

614-685-3192 (main office)

Visit website for Nisonger Center at Ohio State (opens new tab)

Ohio Ohio children's hospitals

Children's hospital evaluations for autism and development

Made for: Autism, Developmental or intellectual disability, ADHD

Ohio's large children's hospitals have teams that check children for autism, developmental delay and complex ADHD. These visits often have a wait of several months, so it helps to get on the list early.

Next step: Ask your child's doctor for a referral. Most hospitals then call you to set the visit. Keep using Help Me Grow or the school while you wait. Your child does not need a medical diagnosis to get those services.

• Cincinnati Children's Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (opens new tab) Cincinnati, Liberty Township, Mason 513-636-4611
• Nationwide Children's Child Development Center (opens new tab) Columbus area 614-355-8080
• Cleveland Clinic Children's Center for Autism (opens new tab) Cleveland 216-448-6440
• Akron Children's Autism Diagnostic Clinic (opens new tab) Akron 330-543-2778
• Dayton Children's Developmental Pediatrics (opens new tab) Dayton 937-641-4000

Ohio Ohio's Parent Training and Information Center

Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities (OCECD)

Ohio's free parent center for families of children with any disability, from birth to 26. Staff explain evaluations, school plans and your rights. Based in Marion.

Next step: Call before an evaluation or school meeting, or when you disagree with the school.

844-382-5452 (toll-free)

Visit website for Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities (OCECD) (opens new tab)

Ohio Ohio Family-to-Family Health Information Center

Ohio Family to Family and Parent to Parent

Ohio parents who have been there give free help with doctors, insurance and Medicaid. Ohio Parent to Parent can also match you with a trained parent mentor for one-to-one support.

Next step: Call or email ohiof2f@cchmc.org, or ask to be matched with a parent mentor.

513-803-5557 (Ohio Parent to Parent)

Visit website for Ohio Family to Family and Parent to Parent (opens new tab)

Ohio Ohio Parent Mentor Project

Ohio Parent Mentors

Parent mentors are parents of children with disabilities. They work with schools to help other families through special education.

Next step: Ask your school district or educational service center if a parent mentor serves your area.

Visit website for Ohio Parent Mentors (opens new tab)

Ohio Ohio Department of Education and Workforce

Ohio special education: information for families

Ohio's guide to special education for families: evaluations, school plans, parent rights and where to get help.

Next step: To ask for a free evaluation, write to your school district's special education director. Keep a copy and write down the date you sent it.

Visit website for Ohio special education: information for families (opens new tab)

Ohio Ohio Department of Education and Workforce

Autism Scholarship Program

Made for: Autism

Pays for special education from approved providers for children whose school district has found autism and written an IEP.

Next step: Read the parent information. Then check with your district that your child's IEP lists autism before you apply.

Visit website for Autism Scholarship Program (opens new tab)

Ohio Ohio Department of Education and Workforce

Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship

Pays for special education from approved providers for children with an IEP. The amount depends on the child's disability.

Next step: Read the program page, or email peterson.scholarship@education.ohio.gov with questions.

Visit website for Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship (opens new tab)

Ohio Funded by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce

OCALI (Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence)

Made for: Autism, Developmental or intellectual disability, Physical or complex medical needs

Free guides, training and a lending library for families of children with autism and other less common disabilities, from early childhood into adulthood.

Next step: Start with the family section of the website.

Visit website for OCALI (Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence) (opens new tab)

Ohio Ohio School for the Deaf statewide services

Help for Ohio children who are deaf or hard of hearing

Made for: Hearing or vision

The Ohio School for the Deaf helps families and local schools across the state, not just its own students. Ohio Hands & Voices and parent mentors who know hearing loss are also available.

Next step: Read the state's list of programs, then ask your school district or Help Me Grow to connect you with statewide services.

Visit website for Help for Ohio children who are deaf or hard of hearing (opens new tab)

Ohio Ohio State School for the Blind

Ohio State School for the Blind outreach

Made for: Hearing or vision

Serves children from birth to 21 who are blind or have low vision. Besides its school in Columbus, it helps families and local schools across Ohio with materials, training and advice.

Next step: Call to ask about outreach for your child and your school district.

614-752-1152

Visit website for Ohio State School for the Blind outreach (opens new tab)

Ohio Ohio's 88 county boards of DD

Your county board of developmental disabilities

Made for: Autism, Developmental or intellectual disability, Physical or complex medical needs

Your county board is where local services for developmental disabilities start. It decides who qualifies, assigns a helper to plan services, and runs Medicaid waivers and family support money.

Next step: Find your county on the map, or call the state line and ask to be connected to your county.

800-617-6733 (Ohio DODD referral line)

Visit website for Your county board of developmental disabilities (opens new tab)

Ohio Ohio Department of Medicaid

Ohio Medicaid for children

Health coverage for children in families who qualify, including checkups, therapies and mental health care. Children with disabilities may also qualify through SSI or a county board waiver.

Next step: Apply online at benefits.ohio.gov, by phone, or at your county Job and Family Services office.

800-324-8680 (Medicaid consumer hotline)

Visit website for Ohio Medicaid for children (opens new tab)

Ohio CHADD of Ohio

CHADD of Ohio parent support group

Made for: ADHD

A free online group for parents of children with ADHD, run by Ohio's CHADD chapter. Topics include feelings and self-control, school and homework, daily routines, and taking care of yourself. Cincinnati and Toledo also have local branches.

Next step: Find CHADD of Ohio on CHADD's chapter list and sign up for the next meeting. The group has met online on the third Thursday of each month at noon.

Visit website for CHADD of Ohio parent support group (opens new tab)

Ohio Ohio Department of Medicaid with Aetna Better Health of Ohio

OhioRISE

Made for: Mental health or behavior, Autism, ADHD

A Medicaid program for children and young people up to age 20 with serious mental health or behavior needs. It adds a care coordinator plus in-home and crisis help.

Next step: Ask your child's Medicaid plan, doctor or counselor whether your child should be checked for OhioRISE.

Visit website for OhioRISE (opens new tab)

Ohio Ohio Department of Behavioral Health and Ohio Medicaid

Youth mobile crisis team (MRSS)

Free crisis help for anyone 20 or younger in any Ohio county. On weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., a trained team usually comes within an hour to your home, school or another safe place. At other times, a counselor helps by phone or video and a team visits the next day. You decide if it's a crisis.

Next step: Call or text 988 and ask for MRSS. If anyone is in physical danger, call 911.

988 (ask for MRSS)

Visit website for Youth mobile crisis team (MRSS) (opens new tab)

Ohio Ohio Family and Children First

County Family and Children First Council

When a child's needs involve several agencies at once, such as school, mental health, the county board of DD or children services, your county council can bring everyone to one table to make one plan. Some councils can also help pay for things like respite or mentoring.

Next step: Call your county's Family and Children First Council and ask for service coordination. Families can ask for it themselves.

Visit website for County Family and Children First Council (opens new tab)

Ohio Ohio Department of Health

Complex Medical Help (formerly Children with Medical Handicaps)

Made for: Physical or complex medical needs

Helps pay to diagnose and treat certain long-term medical conditions, and connects families with approved doctors. It was called Children with Medical Handicaps.

Next step: Call the public health nurse at your county or city health department to start.

Visit website for Complex Medical Help (formerly Children with Medical Handicaps) (opens new tab)

Ohio Ohio Treasurer of State

STABLE Account (Ohio's ABLE account)

A savings account for people with disabilities. Money saved here does not count against SSI or Medicaid limits the way a regular bank account does.

Next step: Read about the program or call the STABLE team before you open an account.

800-439-1653 (STABLE team)

Visit website for STABLE Account (Ohio's ABLE account) (opens new tab)

Ohio Disability Rights Ohio

Planning for 18: decision-making toolkit

A free 2026 toolkit for young people with disabilities and their families. It explains supported decision-making, powers of attorney and other choices that are less restrictive than guardianship.

Next step: Go through the toolkit with your teen before 18. Call Disability Rights Ohio with questions.

800-282-9181 (Disability Rights Ohio, toll-free)

Visit website for Planning for 18: decision-making toolkit (opens new tab)

Ohio Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD)

Pre-Employment Transition Services

Free help for students with disabilities, starting at age 14: exploring jobs, work experience, job skills, speaking up for yourself and college planning.

Next step: Ask your child's IEP team or transition coordinator to request these services from OOD.

Visit website for Pre-Employment Transition Services (opens new tab)

Ohio Ohio Department of Education and Workforce

Resolving special education disagreements

Ohio's advice for settling disagreements with the school early: talk to the special education director, get help from a parent mentor or parent center, and ask for a guided meeting or mediation.

Next step: Read this before you file a complaint. Keep copies of every letter and email.

Visit website for Resolving special education disagreements (opens new tab)