FAMILY GUIDE · AUTISM, ADHD & OTHER DISABILITIES

Help for families raising a child with a disability

Free programs and clear next steps, sorted by your child's age. Choose a state for its first contacts. Ohio resources are maintained on OhioMom.

Find help for my child

Ohio families: open the Ohio autism, ADHD and family disability guide on OhioMom. This page continues to serve other states.

Family Guide: help for families raising a child with a disability · Ohio
Free from Veteran Home Guardians: guide.vethomeguard.org/family-guide.html

Need help right now?

If your child or anyone in your family is in crisis, call or text 988, any time. If someone is in danger, call 911.

In Ohio, for anyone 20 or younger, ask 988 for MRSS: free crisis help for your child. On weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., a team usually comes within an hour. At other times, a counselor helps by phone or video and a team visits the next day.

Start here

No diagnosis is needed. Nothing you choose is saved or sent. New to this? See words you'll hear.

How old is your child?

Either one takes you straight to your first calls. For teens, money and rights, pick a stage below.

Where are you right now?

Show extra help for a specific need (optional)
Specific needs

Programs made for a need you check are moved to the top. Programs that help with any disability stay on the list.

Choose your state for first calls

  • Choose your state above for early intervention, school support and disability rights contacts.

Choose your state to see 16 national listings and state contacts.

See the list

Programs and next steps

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)

Sources and corrections

Report a problem with this listing

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)

Sources and corrections

Report a problem with this listing

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)

Sources and corrections

Report a problem with this listing

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)

Sources and corrections

Report a problem with this listing

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)

Sources and corrections

Report a problem with this listing

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)

Sources and corrections

Report a problem with this listing

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)

Sources and corrections

Report a problem with this listing

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)

Sources and corrections

Report a problem with this listing

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)

Sources and corrections

Report a problem with this listing

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)

Sources and corrections

Report a problem with this listing

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)

Sources and corrections

Report a problem with this listing

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)

Sources and corrections

Report a problem with this listing

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)

Sources and corrections

Report a problem with this listing

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)

Sources and corrections

Report a problem with this listing

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)

Sources and corrections

Report a problem with this listing

Military and veteran families

Active duty families have programs through the Defense Department and TRICARE. Veterans' children may qualify for VA health coverage. A county veterans service officer can help with VA paperwork, including for an adult child who has been disabled since childhood. Find your county veterans service office.

Show 6 programs for military and veteran families

Military & veteran families U.S. Department of Defense

Military OneSource special needs consultations

Free consultants help military families with special education, TRICARE, EFMP and local services. Retirees and honorably discharged members can use it for one year after leaving service.

Next step: Call any time or start a chat to set up a phone or video meeting.

800-342-9647 (24/7)

Visit website for Military OneSource special needs consultations (opens new tab)

Sources and corrections

Report a problem with this listing

Military & veteran families Each military service branch

Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)

Active duty families sign up a family member with special medical or school needs. This helps the military plan moves and support around those needs. Some TRICARE programs require it.

Next step: Contact the EFMP office at your base, or call Military OneSource.

800-342-9647 (Military OneSource)

Visit website for Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) (opens new tab)

Sources and corrections

Report a problem with this listing

Military & veteran families TRICARE

TRICARE Extended Care Health Option (ECHO)

Extra TRICARE benefits for active duty families whose child has a qualifying disability: training, special education, equipment, home health care and respite for the main caregiver.

Next step: Call your TRICARE regional contractor to sign up. Services must be approved before they start.

Visit website for TRICARE Extended Care Health Option (ECHO) (opens new tab)

Sources and corrections

Report a problem with this listing

Military & veteran families TRICARE

TRICARE Autism Care Demonstration

Made for: Autism

TRICARE's way to pay for ABA therapy for children with autism, with no yearly or lifetime limit. Active duty families must also join EFMP (unless excused) and sign up for ECHO.

Next step: Follow the steps on the TRICARE page. You will be given an autism services navigator to help.

Visit website for TRICARE Autism Care Demonstration (opens new tab)

Sources and corrections

Report a problem with this listing

Military & veteran families Washington PAVE

STOMP: Specialized Training of Military Parents

The parent center for military families of children with disabilities, in the U.S. or overseas. Its workshops and webinars are open to all military-connected families.

Next step: Call, or look up the next online workshop.

253-565-2266

Visit website for STOMP: Specialized Training of Military Parents (opens new tab)

Sources and corrections

Report a problem with this listing

Military & veteran families U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

CHAMPVA health coverage for veterans' children

Health coverage for children of veterans rated permanently and totally disabled by a service-connected condition (or who died from one), if the family cannot get TRICARE. It usually ends at 18, or 23 for full-time students. A child who could not support themselves before 18 may stay covered.

Next step: Check if you qualify and apply on VA.gov, or ask your county veterans service officer to help.

800-733-8387 (CHAMPVA)

Visit website for CHAMPVA health coverage for veterans' children (opens new tab)

Sources and corrections

Report a problem with this listing

Words you'll hear

Show plain-language meanings
Evaluation
Testing to see if your child has a delay or disability and what help they need. Early intervention and public schools do this for free.
Early intervention
Free help for children under 3, usually at home, such as speech or physical therapy and coaching for parents.
IEP (Individualized Education Program)
A written school plan for a child who needs special education. It lists goals, services such as speech therapy, and supports. Parents are part of the team that writes it.
504 plan
A written school plan for a child with a disability who does not need special education but needs changes to learn, such as extra test time or breaks. A child who does not qualify for an IEP may still get a 504 plan.
ABA (applied behavior analysis)
A therapy often used for autism that teaches skills step by step. Insurance, Medicaid and TRICARE rules for it vary.
County board of DD
In Ohio, the county office for developmental disabilities. It decides who qualifies and helps plan and pay for services.
Medicaid waiver
A Medicaid program that pays for help at home and in the community, such as aides or respite, for people who qualify.
SSI
Supplemental Security Income: monthly payments from Social Security for people with disabilities who have low income and savings.
ABLE / STABLE account
A savings account for a person with a disability that does not count against SSI or Medicaid limits.
Guardianship
A court gives another adult the right to make decisions for a person 18 or older. It removes some of that person's rights, so less restrictive options are worth looking at first.
Supported decision-making
The young adult keeps their rights and chooses trusted people to help them understand choices and make decisions.
Transition plan
The part of an IEP, starting by age 14 in Ohio, that plans for life after high school: work, school and living.
Respite
Short-term care that gives family caregivers a break.
EFMP
The military's Exceptional Family Member Program for active duty families with special medical or school needs.
MRSS
Mobile Response and Stabilization Services: Ohio's free youth crisis teams. Call or text 988 and ask for MRSS.

What's changing (checked 2026-11-08)

Federal special education oversight is moving

In June 2026 the U.S. Department of Education announced it is moving day-to-day oversight of special education to the Department of Health and Human Services, and civil rights enforcement to the Department of Justice. The law has not changed: your child still has the right to a free public education and an IEP, and your school district and state are still responsible.

Sources: The federal role in special education: 5 questions (June 24, 2026) · Education Department shifting some responsibility for special education programs (June 17, 2026)

Ohio may recognize supported decision-making in law

Senate Bill 35 would recognize supported decision-making as an alternative to guardianship for adults with developmental disabilities. The Ohio Senate passed it unanimously; it is now in a House committee. Supported decision-making can already be used today. The bill would add a standard state form and legal protections.

Sources: Ohio Senate Bill 35 (136th General Assembly) · Senate passes supported decision-making bill

Disability rights agencies in every state

Every state has a free disability rights agency that can give advice and sometimes legal help, including about school. This list comes from the National Disability Rights Network.

Show all 51 agencies

    Good to know