County resource guide
Autism Resources in Orleans County, Louisiana
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Orleans County. Louisiana statewide resources also apply.
Orleans Parish (New Orleans) is served by Tulane University Medical Center and Children's Hospital New Orleans for autism evaluations — Tulane being the state's premier academic resource. Families Helping Families (the region's federally funded PTI) provides free IEP advocacy for the greater New Orleans area. Louisiana requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Provider directory
Local Providers35 providers in Orleans 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 Orleans 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.
New Orleans · multi-county
Children's Hospital New Orleans — Developmental Pediatrics
Autism and developmental evaluations at Children's Hospital New Orleans, the region's largest dedicated pediatric hospital. Multi-disciplinary team serving Orleans and surrounding parishes.
Belle Chasse · multi-county
Children's Hospital New Orleans — Developmental Pediatrics
Plaquemines Parish families access comprehensive autism evaluations through Children's Hospital New Orleans. The parish's proximity to New Orleans makes CHNO the primary diagnostic hub.
Chalmette · multi-county
Children's Hospital New Orleans — Developmental Pediatrics
St. Bernard Parish families access comprehensive autism evaluations at Children's Hospital New Orleans, just across the parish line. CHNO is the primary diagnostic hub for greater New Orleans parishes.
New Orleans
Tulane University — Developmental Pediatrics
Comprehensive autism and developmental evaluations at Tulane University Medical Center, New Orleans' premier academic medical institution. Tulane's program is the strongest clinical research resource in Louisiana and serves the Gulf Coast region.
Louisiana's premier academic medical program for autism evaluation.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Belle Chasse · multi-county
Louisiana Early Steps — Greater New Orleans Region
Free in-home early intervention for Plaquemines Parish children under 3. Service coordinators connect Belle Chasse families to developmental, speech, and OT services along the river corridor.
FREE for eligible children under 3.
Chalmette · multi-county
Louisiana Early Steps — Greater New Orleans Region
Free in-home early intervention for St. Bernard Parish children under 3. Service coordinators connect Chalmette families to developmental, speech, and OT services.
FREE for eligible children under 3.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
New Orleans · multi-county
Gulfsouth Autism Center — New Orleans
ABA therapy in New Orleans and Metairie using evidence-based methods. Also has locations in Baton Rouge, Prairieville, and Covington.
Source: https://gulfsouthautismcenter.com
Occupational therapy & sensory
Occupational therapy, sensory integration, and sensory diets.
Baton Rouge · multi-county
The PAC Center — Louisiana
Comprehensive pediatric therapy services in Louisiana including OT, speech, and PT for children with autism.
Source: https://www.thepacenter.com
Respite care
Respite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
Statewide · multi-county
OCDD individual and family support — including respite
Louisiana's Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities funds individual and family support that covers respite alongside personal assistance, specialized clothing, dental and medical services, equipment, communication services, crisis intervention, nutrition and family education. Respite is also authorised under several HCBS waivers and can be delivered at home, at a licensed facility or in the community, planned or in an emergency.
Ask your local governing entity or Human Services Authority about family support funds separately from waiver respite — they are different pots.
~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.
Chalmette · multi-county
Autism Society Louisiana — East Bank Chapter
Peer support for St. Bernard Parish autism families. Connects Chalmette-area families to New Orleans metro events and the statewide Autism Society Louisiana network.
Contact Autism Society Louisiana for current schedule.
New Orleans · multi-county
Autism Society Louisiana — New Orleans
Louisiana's statewide autism organization with New Orleans programming. Support groups, resource navigation, family events, and connection to Louisiana's waiver services.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Metairie · multi-county
Families Helping Families — Greater New Orleans Area
PTI center serving Plaquemines Parish. Free IEP advocacy, special education rights training, and disability resource navigation for families along the river parishes.
FREE. Federally funded PTI.
Metairie · multi-county
Families Helping Families — Greater New Orleans Area
PTI center serving St. Bernard Parish. Free IEP advocacy, special education rights training, and disability resource navigation for east bank and river parish families.
FREE. Federally funded PTI.
Metairie · multi-county
Families Helping Families — Greater New Orleans Area
PTI center serving St. Charles Parish. Free special education advocacy, IEP rights training, and disability resource navigation for river corridor families.
FREE. Federally funded PTI.
Metairie · multi-county
Families Helping Families — Greater New Orleans Area
PTI center serving St. John the Baptist Parish. Free IEP advocacy, special education rights training, and disability resource navigation for LaPlace-area families.
FREE. Federally funded PTI.
Metairie · multi-county
Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans
Louisiana's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center, southeastern Louisiana region. Free IEP advocacy, training, and one-on-one support for New Orleans area families. One of nine FHF centers operating statewide.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Louisiana's FHF network is regionally distributed — call your closest center.
Metairie · multi-county
Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans (Assumption)
Louisiana's federally funded PTI for the GNO region covers Assumption Parish. Free IEP advocacy and family support for Napoleonville families navigating special education in this rural south Louisiana parish.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Assumption Parish covered by GNO FHF center.
Metairie · multi-county
Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans (Lafourche)
Louisiana's federally funded PTI for the GNO region covers Lafourche Parish. Free IEP advocacy, training, and family support for Thibodaux and Raceland families navigating special education in this south Louisiana coastal parish.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Lafourche Parish is covered by the GNO FHF center.
Houma · multi-county
Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans (Terrebonne)
Louisiana's federally funded PTI for the greater New Orleans region, which covers Terrebonne Parish. Free IEP advocacy, training, and support for Houma families. Terrebonne is part of the FHF GNO service area.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Terrebonne families are served by the GNO FHF center.
Autism-friendly dentists
Dentists experienced with autistic patients — desensitisation visits, sensory accommodations, and staff who take the time it takes.
New Orleans · multi-county
LSU School of Dentistry - Pediatric Dentistry Advanced Education Clinic
1100 Florida Avenue, 4th floor Clinic Building, New Orleans, LA 70119
LSU's pediatric dental clinic takes children with special health care needs - complex medical problems, behavioral problems and developmental problems - with the pediatric dentists consulting other medical specialists rather than treating the mouth in isolation. It accepts new patients from birth through 17 all year round, which is more open than most academic clinics manage.
For an adult, or for a case needing general anesthesia, ask about LSU's General Practice Residency clinic in Baton Rouge instead - it takes special needs and medically compromised patients from across Louisiana.
Activities, clubs & recreation
Clubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
New Orleans · multi-county
Camp Tiger
A week-long day camp for children aged 6 to 15 with physical or intellectual disabilities, drawing from New Orleans, the Northshore, Baton Rouge and the lower parishes. Long-established and run largely by medical students, which keeps it free or near-free for families.
Louisiana · multi-county
JoJo's Hope
Adapted swimming and aquatic programs for people with physical or cognitive disabilities including autism. Swimming is both a safety skill and one of the activities that works across the widest range of support needs.
Baton Rouge · multi-county
Louisiana DOH - adaptive sports and inclusive recreation guide
The state health department publishes a recreation resource guide covering summer camps, adaptive sports and inclusive recreation across Louisiana and the Gulf South. An official, maintained index rather than a provider.
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
Are you a provider serving this county?
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School districts & government services
Public programs and school district contacts for Orleans County.
School & special education
- Orleans Parish School Board — Special Education
Louisiana uses parishes instead of counties.
Services & benefits
- Louisiana OCDD — New Orleans Office
Contact OCDD's New Orleans/Orleans office for waiver enrollment and DD services.
Adult services
- Louisiana OCDD — New Orleans Office
Contact OCDD's New Orleans/Orleans office for waiver enrollment and DD services.
Respite & support
- Louisiana OCDD — New Orleans Office
Contact OCDD's New Orleans/Orleans office for waiver enrollment and DD services.
Helpful guides
Guides for Orleans 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 Orleans County
Serving families across Orleans County including New Orleans, Lakeview, Gentilly, Mid-City, Uptown, Garden District, Bywater, Algiers, Marigny and Tremé and more.
See all Louisiana resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Louisiana.
Louisiana state guide →Common questions
Answered from the providers currently listed for this county — these update as the directory does.
How many autism providers serve Orleans County, Louisiana?
We list 23 providers serving Orleans County, covering parent & family support, activities, clubs & recreation, diagnostic clinics, advocacy & legal and ABA therapy, plus 4 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 Orleans County?
ABA providers serving Orleans 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 Orleans County?
2 providers serving Orleans County deliver 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 Louisiana?
Louisiana families can apply to the New Opportunities Waiver (NOW), Children's Choice and Supports Waivers, a Medicaid waiver that can fund respite, therapies and in-home support. The typical wait is Years — but urgency of need outranks your date on the registry, 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 Orleans County?
If none of the Orleans County providers is the right fit, these Louisiana counties currently have the most listed providers: Jefferson County (26), East Baton Rouge County (24), St. Tammany County (24), Morehouse County (23). 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 Louisiana
You know things we don’t
Still missing from Orleans County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Orleans 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.
- 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?
- Who has managed an eye exam here?
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 Orleans County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Orleans 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 Orleans 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 Orleans County?
Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
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