County resource guide
Autism Resources in Matanuska-Susitna County, Alaska
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Matanuska-Susitna County. Alaska statewide resources also apply.
Matanuska-Susitna Borough (Mat-Su) encompasses Wasilla, Palmer, and the fast-growing communities north of Anchorage. The Matanuska-Susitna School District provides special education across the borough. Families are within 30–60 minutes of Anchorage's provider network for evaluations and ABA therapy. PARENTS Inc. provides free statewide IEP advocacy, and Alaska's Infant Learning Program serves young children under 3.
Provider directory
Local Providers23 providers in Matanuska-Susitna County
About our listings
Provider listings on Autism Parent Club are submitted by practices or researched from public sources. All listings are reviewed by a person before publication, and no provider has paid to appear here. Read how we verify listings, or use the “Suggest a correction” link below to flag anything inaccurate.
0 providers in Matanuska-Susitna County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
Diagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Palmer
Mat-Su Regional Medical Center — Pediatrics
Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer is the primary hospital serving the fast-growing Matanuska-Susitna Valley. Pediatric services here can provide referrals for developmental evaluation. Many Mat-Su families use Anchorage specialists given the borough's proximity to the city (~45 minutes from Palmer to Anchorage).
Mat-Su is Alaska's fastest-growing area. Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage is the nearest comprehensive developmental evaluation center.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Wasilla
Infant Learning Program — Mat-Su
The Mat-Su Infant Learning Program provides Part C Early Intervention services to children birth to 3 in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. Services are delivered in-home and in community settings across the valley including Palmer, Wasilla, and surrounding communities.
FREE Part C EI services. Referrals accepted from anyone — self-referral welcome.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Wasilla
Behavior Analysis Association of Alaska — Mat-Su
ABA therapy services covering the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. Proximity to Anchorage means Mat-Su families have slightly more ABA options than most rural Alaska communities, including some Anchorage providers willing to serve the valley. Alaska Medicaid and commercial insurance cover ABA.
Mat-Su's growth has attracted more therapy providers. Anchorage-based ABA clinics may also serve the valley — ask about travel.
Speech therapy
Speech-language pathology, AAC, pragmatic language, and feeding.
Palmer
Mat-Su Speech and Language Services
Speech-language pathology services for children in the Mat-Su Valley including autism-related communication needs, AAC evaluation, and pragmatic language intervention. The valley's growth has increased therapy availability compared to most Alaska regions outside Anchorage.
Contact Mat-Su Borough School District (MSBSD) for school-based speech services if your child has an IEP or may qualify.
Respite care
Respite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
Statewide · multi-county
Respite through Alaska's HCBS waivers — sometimes family-directed
Respite is funded through Alaska's Home and Community-Based Services waivers, administered by the Division of Senior and Disabilities Services, and for some waiver categories it can be family-directed — meaning you arrange and direct the care rather than accepting an agency roster. Easterseals Alaska also runs respite services directly. Given the IDD Registry implies a wait beyond fourteen years, ask what is available outside the waiver as well.
The Aging & Disability Resource Center line is the practical first call. Ask specifically whether family-directed respite applies to your waiver category.
~3,000 providers nationwide
ARCH National Respite Locator
A free national database of respite providers searchable by state and locality — home care agencies, community-based organizations and state programs. The single best starting point for finding respite anywhere in the country, and it is the tool state agencies themselves point families toward.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Before you pay out of pocket, check what your state's Medicaid waiver funds — respite is covered by nearly every state waiver, and many families never think to ask.
Most states run one
Your state's Lifespan Respite Care Program
Lifespan Respite Care Programs are federally seeded, state-run programs that help families of any age and any disability find and pay for respite — often including vouchers or subsidies that do not depend on having a Medicaid waiver. Most states have one, they are chronically under-used, and they are rarely mentioned by anyone else in the system.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Search for "[your state] Lifespan Respite" or use the ARCH directory. Ask specifically about voucher or subsidy programs — that is the part families most often miss.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Wasilla
Mat-Su Autism Family Support Network
A community support network for families of autistic children in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. Connects families in Palmer, Wasilla, and surrounding areas. The borough's rapid growth has supported a growing parent community.
Check the Autism Society of Alaska website for current Mat-Su Valley events and support group info.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Anchorage · multi-county
PARENTS — Partners for Progress
Alaska's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center. Free IEP advocacy, training, and one-on-one support for Alaska families statewide. An exceptionally important resource given Alaska's vast geography and very limited specialized provider ecosystem.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Alaska's most critical advocacy resource — the PTI is often the first and best call for any AK family.
Anchorage · multi-county
PARENTS, Inc. — Statewide PTI (Interior Region)
Alaska's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center serves families statewide including Fairbanks North Star Borough. Provides free IEP support, special education advocacy, and training. PARENTS, Inc. is often the most important first call for Fairbanks families navigating the school system.
FREE statewide PTI. Serves Interior Alaska families remotely. Highly recommended first contact.
Activities, clubs & recreation
Clubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
Anchorage · multi-county
Alaska Autism Resource Center
The statewide autism resource center, and the most reliable route to finding what actually runs locally in a state where distance makes everything harder.
Anchorage · multi-county
Challenge Alaska - Summit Camp
An annual summer camp for YOUNG ADULTS aged 18 to 25 on the autism spectrum, built on a strengths-based approach to friendship, self-esteem and finding recreational opportunities. Provision aimed squarely at the years after school services end is scarce everywhere and almost unheard of this far north.
Anchorage · multi-county
Hope Community Resources
Inclusive recreational and educational programming through community centers across Alaska, with summer camps for children and teenagers, alongside behavioral and mental health services for autistic people.
200+ locations nationwide
ACEing Autism
Weekly Saturday tennis clinics built specifically for autistic children aged 5 to 18, run by volunteers at more than 200 locations across the country, serving over 7,000 players. Sessions run in six-week blocks of an hour. This is the clearest example of the interest-based model working: the sport supplies the structure, the turn-taking and the reason to be there, so the social side happens sideways rather than being the task.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Cost varies by location — around $120 for a six-week session at some sites, with scholarships available. Use the map on their site to find your nearest program, schedule and local contact.
~4,000 camps nationwide
American Camp Association — camp finder
A free searchable directory of close to 4,000 summer camps that can be filtered for camps serving autistic campers, by distance, session length, activities and cost. The best single starting point for finding a day or overnight camp anywhere in the country.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Registration for specialized camps typically opens December–February and popular overnight camps fill within days. Start the funding conversation in autumn.
Nationwide — find your local chapter
Best Buddies
One-to-one friendship matching between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, plus employment, leadership and inclusive living programs. Over 4,000 chapters across all 50 states, serving school-age through adult. If what your family wants is a friend rather than an activity, this is the most direct answer in the country.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
A national organization, not a local listing — use the finder on their site, or call 1-800-89BUDDY, to locate your nearest chapter.
Local affiliates across most of the country
Easterseals — camps and recreation
Day and overnight camps run through local Easterseals affiliates, several of them autism-specific, with weekend respite and family camp sessions as well. Many affiliates operate sliding-scale fees, and several camps serve adults alongside children.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Programs vary a great deal between affiliates — check what your nearest one actually runs rather than assuming the national description applies.
Week-long camps hosted nationwide
iCan Shine (iCan Bike)
Teaches people with disabilities to ride a conventional two-wheeled bicycle, using adapted roller bikes over a week-long camp that gradually transfers balance to the rider. Learning to ride a bike is a milestone a lot of autistic children are quietly written off for, and this is the program that most reliably delivers it. Camps are hosted by local organizations across the country, so availability is by host town rather than by chapter.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Check their site for host locations and dates — camps run in different towns each year, so somewhere near you may host this year and not next.
Local chapters in a number of US cities
KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now)
Volunteer-led one-to-one recreation for children and young adults with developmental and physical disabilities, at no cost to families or carers. The one-to-one model is the point: a volunteer is paired with your child for the session, which makes it workable for people who cannot manage a group setting unsupported.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Free to families. Runs through local chapters in a number of US cities rather than everywhere — check whether yours has one.
900+ divisions nationwide
Little League Challenger Division
Baseball for children and adults with a physical or intellectual disability, across more than 900 divisions. The main division serves ages 4–18, or up to 22 if still enrolled in school; the Senior League Challenger Division serves 15 and above with no upper age limit.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Use the league finder on their site to locate the nearest Challenger division, or ask about starting one.
200+ communities
Miracle League
Baseball on purpose-built accessible fields in more than 200 communities. Every player bats and every player scores, so ability differences do not decide the game.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Check their location list for the nearest field — coverage is good but not universal.
Every state — county-level programs
Special Olympics
Year-round sports training and competition at no cost to the athlete or their family, for children and adults alike. Programs run at county level in every state.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Eligibility centers on intellectual disability or a closely related developmental disability. If your child is autistic without an intellectual disability, have a direct conversation about fit before signing up rather than after.
Through local clubs and state associations
TOPSoccer (US Youth Soccer)
The Outreach Program for Soccer — recreational soccer for children and adults with intellectual, emotional or physical disabilities, usually with buddy support on the pitch. Run through ordinary local soccer clubs rather than as a separate organization.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Ask your state youth soccer association which local clubs run TOPSoccer — it is often not advertised on the club's own website.
For providers
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School districts & government services
Public programs and school district contacts for Matanuska-Susitna County.
School & special education
- Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District — Special Education
Mat-Su Borough is the fastest-growing region in Alaska, north of Anchorage.
Services & benefits
- Alaska DHSS — Matanuska-Susitna DD Services
Contact Alaska Division of Senior and Disabilities Services for Matanuska-Susitna Borough waiver enrollment.
Adult services
- Alaska DHSS — Matanuska-Susitna DD Services
Contact Alaska Division of Senior and Disabilities Services for Matanuska-Susitna Borough waiver enrollment.
Respite & support
- Alaska DHSS — Matanuska-Susitna DD Services
Contact Alaska Division of Senior and Disabilities Services for Matanuska-Susitna Borough waiver enrollment.
Helpful guides
Guides for Matanuska-Susitna County families
Step-by-step help on the topics that matter most.
School & IEP
Navigating the IEP process
Your rights under IDEA, how evaluations work, and what every IEP section means.
Finding help
ABA, OT, speech and waitlists
How to find qualified providers, navigate insurance, and get off waitlists faster.
Getting started
Where to start after diagnosis
A week-by-week checklist for the first 90 days — from evaluation to early intervention.
Benefits & money
SSI, Medicaid waivers, ABLE accounts
Federal benefits your child may qualify for and how to apply without losing your spot.
Mental health
Co-occurring conditions and support
Managing anxiety, ADHD, and depression alongside an autism diagnosis.
Daily life
Sensory processing and OT
Understanding sensory needs, sensory diets, and how occupational therapy helps.
Adulthood
Employment, housing, legal planning
Supported employment, housing options, guardianship alternatives, and ABLE accounts.
Communities served
Cities in Matanuska-Susitna County
Serving families across Matanuska-Susitna County including Wasilla, Palmer, Big Lake, Houston, Sutton, Butte, Point MacKenzie, Willow, Talkeetna and Trapper Creek and more.
See all Alaska resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Alaska.
Alaska state guide →Common questions
Answered from the providers currently listed for this county — these update as the directory does.
How many autism providers serve Matanuska-Susitna County, Alaska?
We list 11 providers serving Matanuska-Susitna County, covering activities, clubs & recreation, ABA therapy, early intervention (0–3), parent & family support and diagnostic clinics, plus 3 more. Some are based in the county and others serve it from nearby areas. Every listing is reviewed by a person before it is published.
Where can I find ABA therapy in Matanuska-Susitna County?
ABA providers serving Matanuska-Susitna County are listed in the ABA therapy section of this page, with phone numbers and websites. Many deliver services in the family's home or at school as well as in a clinic. Ask about waitlists when you call — they vary widely and change month to month.
Can autism therapy happen at home in Matanuska-Susitna County?
1 provider serving Matanuska-Susitna County delivers services in the family's home. Many children do better in a familiar setting than in an unfamiliar clinic room, and in-home visits remove the travel burden.
Does Medicaid pay for autism services in Alaska?
Alaska families can apply to the IDD Waiver, entered through the DD Registry, a Medicaid waiver that can fund respite, therapies and in-home support. The typical wait is 721 on the registry with about 50 taken off a year — an implied 14+ years, and your place is usually set by the date you apply — so applying early matters even if you are unsure what services you need. Many waivers also disregard parental income, so families who don't qualify for regular Medicaid often still qualify here.
What if I can't find an autism provider in Matanuska-Susitna County?
If none of the Matanuska-Susitna County providers is the right fit, these Alaska counties currently have the most listed providers: Anchorage County (17), Fairbanks North Star County (16), Juneau County (14), Kenai Peninsula County (14). Many providers travel or offer telehealth, so it is worth calling even if they are not based nearby. You can also tell us about a provider we are missing.
Nearby counties in Alaska
You know things we don’t
Still missing from Matanuska-Susitna County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Matanuska-Susitna Countygets an afternoon back. It takes about a minute and you don’t need to know the business details — a name and a rough location is enough for us to check.
- Which dentist here has managed a cleaning without it becoming a fight?
- Who cuts your child's hair without a meltdown?
- Is there a group here where your child has made a friend?
- Which pediatrician here actually listens, and doesn't rush the appointment?
We check everything before it goes up, and nobody pays to be listed. How we verify.
Get told when this page changes
New provider in Matanuska-Susitna County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Matanuska-Susitna County — no newsletter, no digest, nothing else. Some counties hear from us a few times a year and some stay quiet for months; we would rather send you nothing than send you filler.
We store your address and county, and nothing else. How we handle it.
See something that needs fixing?
Providers move, phone numbers change, and links break — it happens. If anything on this page is out of date, wrong, or no longer working, please tell us and we’ll fix it. Keeping this accurate for autism families is the whole reason we’re here.
Report a correction →Help the community
Know a great provider in Matanuska-Susitna County?
If a therapist, clinic, or specialist helped your family, tell us about them and we’ll add them to the directory so other families can find them too.
Tell us about a provider →For providers
Are you a provider serving Matanuska-Susitna County?
Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
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