Autism Resources in Tolland County, Connecticut
13 providers in Storrs, Farmington, Niantic, Vernon and nearby, plus 12 national programs. Waitlists change often, so it’s worth calling a few.
0 providers in Tolland County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
Based in Tolland County
Diagnostic clinics
1 providerFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
UConn Health — Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
Farmington, CT · serves several counties
Developmental and autism evaluations through UConn Health's pediatric program in Farmington, the closest academic medical center to Tolland County families. The UConn Health system is the primary resource for northeast Connecticut families seeking specialty evaluation without traveling to Hartford or New Haven.
Farmington is about 25 minutes from Storrs. Expect a waitlist; Connecticut Children's in Hartford is another option.
Early Intervention (0–3)
1 providerFree services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Connecticut Birth to Three — Tolland County
Storrs, CT
Connecticut's early intervention program for children under 3 with developmental delays or disabilities. Services are provided in the child's natural environment — typically the home or childcare setting. Tolland County families are served through the regional Birth to Three program.
FREE under IDEA Part C. Call to request an evaluation — no doctor referral required.
ABA therapy
1 providerApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Milestones Behavioral Services
Vernon, CT · serves several counties
Center-based and in-home ABA therapy serving Tolland County and surrounding northeast Connecticut. BCBA-supervised programs for children and young adults. Accepts commercial insurance under Connecticut's ABA mandate.
Connecticut's ABA insurance mandate applies to all commercial plans.
Parent & family support
1 providerParent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Autism Society of Connecticut — Northeast Region
Storrs, CT · serves several counties
The Autism Society of Connecticut supports families across all regions including Tolland County. Family support groups, resource navigation, and community events. The northeast CT chapter connects Tolland and Windham county families with each other and with statewide programming.
Advocacy & legal
1 providerLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
CPAC — Tolland County Families
Niantic, CT · serves several counties
Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center (CPAC) is Connecticut's federally funded PTI and serves all CT counties including Tolland. Free IEP and PPT advocacy, training, and one-on-one support. Particularly helpful for rural families navigating smaller school districts that may have fewer special education resources.
FREE. The same federally funded PTI that covers all of Connecticut.
Also serving Tolland County
These 20 are based elsewhere, or operate nationally, and list Tolland County in the area they cover. Worth calling to confirm how far they actually travel, and whether telehealth or in-home visits are an option.
Diagnostic clinics
2 providersFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Connecticut Children's Medical Center — Autism Program
Hartford, CT · serves several counties
Comprehensive autism evaluations at Connecticut Children's, the state's only dedicated children's hospital. Multi-disciplinary team serving Hartford County and Central Connecticut. An Autism Treatment Network site.
Autism Treatment Network site. Connecticut's only dedicated children's hospital.
Hartford HealthCare — Developmental Pediatrics (Windham Region)
Willimantic, CT · serves several counties
Hartford HealthCare's network includes Windham Hospital and provides referrals to its developmental pediatrics program for autism evaluations. Windham County families often need to travel to Hartford for full multi-disciplinary evaluation — this is the primary pathway. Be prepared for significant waits; start the referral process early.
Windham is one of CT's most rural and underserved counties. Plan for travel to Hartford or New Haven for specialist evaluation.
Respite care
3 providersRespite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
DDS Respite Centers — state-run overnight respite
Statewide, CT · serves several counties
Connecticut is one of very few states that operates its own respite centers: DDS staffs and runs several across the state offering 24-hour care over extended weekends in home-like settings, for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. DDS also funds temporary care for any child receiving Birth to Three services and for anyone aged three and over eligible for DDS. Both overnight and hourly respite are available to people on the HCBS waivers.
State-operated respite centers are unusual — ask which is nearest and what the booking lead time is, since extended weekends fill.
ARCH National Respite Locator
Searchable by state, CT
A free national directory of respite providers and programs, run by ARCH, the National Respite Network and Resource Center. ARCH says it is not a complete list, so it works best alongside…
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
ARCH's advice is to contact your State Respite Coalition or Lifespan Respite program first. Before you pay out of pocket, also check what your state's Medicaid waiver funds.
Your state's Lifespan Respite program
39 states and DC have been funded, CT
Lifespan Respite programs are federally funded, state-run programs that help family caregivers of children or adults, regardless of special need, find and pay for respite.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
ARCH lists every state's Lifespan Respite contact and respite coalition on this page. Ask specifically about voucher or stipend programs — that is the part families most often miss.
Advocacy & legal
3 providersLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center (CPAC)
Niantic, CT · serves several counties
Connecticut's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center. Free IEP advocacy, training, and one-on-one support for CT families statewide. Knows Connecticut's special education regulations and PPT (Planning and Placement Team) process inside out.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Essential before any PPT meeting or dispute in Connecticut.
CPAC — Litchfield County Families
Niantic, CT · serves several counties
Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center (CPAC) serves Litchfield County families navigating the PPT (Planning and Placement Team) process and IEP advocacy. Rural northwest CT districts can vary widely in special education resources — CPAC helps families understand their rights and advocate effectively.
FREE. Covers all CT counties. Essential for navigating smaller rural Litchfield school districts.
CPAC — Windham County Families
Niantic, CT · serves several counties
Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center (CPAC) is especially critical for Windham County families, where smaller, rural school districts may have fewer autism-specific resources and special education expertise. Free IEP and PPT advocacy in a county with significant service gaps.
FREE. Windham County has notable service gaps — CPAC advocacy is particularly valuable here.
Activities, clubs & recreation
12 providersClubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
Connecticut Family Support Network
Connecticut, CT · serves several counties
A statewide family advocacy organization running parent support groups, networking and socializing for families raising disabled children, plus training and referrals. The social side is often what families actually need and rarely what they go looking for.
Ivan Lendl Adaptive Sports Camp - Hospital for Special Care
New Britain, CT · serves several counties
An adaptive sports camp that runs a dedicated Neurodiverse Track for autistic children, with programming built for them rather than adapted from the physical-disability track. A camp that has bothered to separate those two things has thought properly about who it is serving.
ACEing Autism
227 programs in 32 states, CT
Tennis clinics for kids, teens and, in some locations, adults on the autism spectrum.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Cost varies by location and scholarships are available. Use the Find a Program search on their site with your zip code.
American Camp Association — camp finder
About 3,900 camps, CT
A free searchable directory of about 3,900 camps, with a filter for disabilities and other special needs alongside distance, activities, session length and cost. A good single starting…
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Choose day or overnight, then use the "Disabilities and Other Special Needs" filter. Specialized camps can fill early, so start looking in the winter before.
Best Buddies
All 50 states — find your local program, CT
One-to-one friendship matching between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, with programs from elementary school through college and adulthood, plus…
A national program 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 1-800-89-BUDDY, to locate your nearest program.
Easterseals — camps and recreation
Local Easterseals across the country, CT
Day and residential camps for children and adults with disabilities, plus sports, social activities and community outings run by local Easterseals.
A national program 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 locations — use the Find your Easterseals search on the page and check what yours actually runs.
See all 12 activities, clubs & recreation providersShow fewer
iCan Shine (iCan Bike)
Camps hosted in different towns each year, CT
Teaches people with disabilities to ride a conventional two-wheeled bicycle over a five-day camp, 75 minutes a day. iCan Shine says about 80% of participants ride independently by the end…
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Check their Camp Locations page for dates — camps run in different towns each year, so somewhere near you may host this year and not next.
KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now)
Six cities only: Chicago, DC–Baltimore, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, St. Louis, CT
Free, non-competitive, one-to-one recreation for youth ages 5 to 21 with physical or developmental disabilities, led by trained volunteer coaches.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Free to families. KEEN runs in six cities plus two university campus chapters (Vanderbilt and the University of Virginia) — outside those, it is not available yet.
Little League Challenger Division
Through local Little Leagues — use the League Finder, CT
Little League's adaptive baseball program for anyone with a physical or intellectual challenge.
A national program 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. Little League's rule is that a player who can take part in regular Little League with reasonable accommodations should do so.
Miracle League
300 leagues — check for one near you, CT
Baseball for children and adults with physical or mental disabilities, played on custom-designed rubberized turf fields that accommodate wheelchairs and other assistive devices.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Use the Find a Miracle League page on their site — there are 300 leagues, so coverage is good but not universal.
Special Olympics
Nationwide — find your local program, CT
Year-round sports training and competition for children and adults.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Eligibility requires an intellectual disability, a cognitive delay measured by formal assessment, or significant learning or vocational problems due to cognitive delay, identified by an agency or professional. If your child is autistic without a cognitive delay, have a direct conversation about fit before signing up rather than after. Ask your local program about any costs.
TOPSoccer (US Youth Soccer)
Through local soccer clubs, CT
The Outreach Program for Soccer — recreational soccer for children and adults with intellectual, emotional or physical disabilities, offered through local US Youth Soccer clubs.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Find your state association's TOPSoccer clubs through the link on their page, or ask your state association office directly — it is often not advertised on the club's own website.
Not sure which kind of therapy you need?
Start with our plain-language guide to ABA, speech and OT — what each one is, and questions to ask on the first call.
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About autism services in Tolland County
Tolland County (Rockville, Storrs, Vernon) is home to the University of Connecticut, which has an active autism research community and training clinic through the Neag School of Education. Manchester Memorial Hospital and UConn Health (in neighboring Hartford County) serve county healthcare. Tolland Public Schools provides special education. CPAC provides free IEP advocacy statewide.
Helpful guides
Guides for Tolland 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 Tolland County
Serving families across Tolland County including Vernon, Tolland, Ellington, Coventry, Stafford, Somers, Union, Willington, Mansfield and Bolton and more.
See all Connecticut resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Connecticut.
Connecticut state guide →Common questions
Answered from the providers currently listed for this county — these update as the directory does.
How many autism providers serve Tolland County, Connecticut?
We list 13 providers serving Tolland County, covering parent & family support, early intervention (0–3), diagnostic clinics, activities, clubs & recreation and advocacy & legal, plus 2 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 Tolland County?
ABA providers serving Tolland 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 Tolland County?
1 provider serving Tolland 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 Connecticut?
Connecticut families can apply to the DSS Waiver for Persons with Autism, plus the DDS Individual and Family Supports Waiver, a Medicaid waiver that can fund respite, therapies and in-home support. The typical wait is Around 2,000 autistic people waiting; no general I/DD waiting list, 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 Tolland County?
If none of the Tolland County providers is the right fit, these Connecticut counties currently have the most listed providers: Hartford County (18), Fairfield County (15), New Haven County (14), Litchfield County (13). 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 Connecticut
You know things we don’t
Still missing from Tolland County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Tolland 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 Tolland County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Tolland 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 Tolland 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.
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