Autism Resources in York County, Maine
10 providers in Biddeford, Sanford and nearby, plus 12 national programs. Waitlists change often, so it’s worth calling a few.
0 providers in York County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
Based in York County
Diagnostic clinics
1 providerFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Southern Maine Health Care — Developmental Pediatrics
Biddeford, ME
Early Intervention (0–3)
1 providerFree services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Child Development Services — York County
Sanford, ME
Parent & family support
1 providerParent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Autism Society of Maine — York County Families
Biddeford, ME
Also serving York County
These 19 are based elsewhere, or operate nationally, and list York 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
1 providerFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Maine Medical Center — Barbara Bush Children's Hospital Developmental Pediatrics
Portland, ME · serves several counties
Autism and developmental evaluations at Maine Medical Center's Barbara Bush Children's Hospital, the dominant pediatric center in the state. Serves Cumberland County and families statewide — many Maine families have no other in-state option for comprehensive evaluation.
Maine's primary pediatric evaluation center. Expect significant waitlists — Maine has limited provider capacity statewide.
ABA therapy
1 providerApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Northeast Autism Institute — Maine
Portland, ME · serves several counties
Center-based and in-home ABA therapy in the Portland area. BCBA-supervised. One of Maine's larger ABA providers. Accepts most commercial insurance under Maine's ABA insurance mandate.
Maine requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy. Provider availability outside Portland is very limited.
Speech therapy
1 providerSpeech-language pathology, AAC, pragmatic language, and feeding.
Hammond Associates
Portland, ME · serves several counties
Speech-language pathology, audiology, ABA, and occupational therapy for children and adults in Maine. Locations in Portland and Sanford.
Source: https://www.hammondme.com
Respite care
3 providersRespite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
NAMI Maine Family Respite — and the Respite for ME pilot
Statewide, ME · serves several counties
The route most relevant to autism families is the NAMI Maine Family Respite Program, which provides certified providers to care for children with significant developmental delays and behavioral or emotional disorders so that caregivers can get a break. Separately, Respite for ME is a state pilot run with the five Area Agencies on Aging offering caregiver grants. Maine's children's behavioral health services also fund respite directly.
Maine is mid-transition on its waivers — ask about respite under the new Lifespan waiver rather than by the old Section 21 and 29 numbers.
ARCH National Respite Locator
Searchable by state, ME
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, ME
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.
Parent & family support
1 providerParent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Autism Society of Maine
Portland, ME · serves several counties
Maine's statewide autism organization. Support groups, resource navigation, and family events across Cumberland County and the state.
Activities, clubs & recreation
12 providersClubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
Autism Society of Maine - summer camps listing
Winthrop, ME · serves several counties
The state Autism Society maintains a summer camps listing for Maine families, alongside the University of Maine Autism Institute's recreation and camps resource. Between them these are the most complete indexes for a very rural state.
Pine Tree Camp
Rome, ME · serves several counties
Barrier-free outdoor camping for Maine children AND adults with disabilities since 1945. Full and partial tuition assistance is available, and they state that they have never turned away a camper because a family could not pay - which is worth taking them at their word on.
ACEing Autism
227 programs in 32 states, ME
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, ME
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, ME
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, ME
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, ME
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, ME
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, ME
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, ME
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, ME
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, ME
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.
Read the guideFor providers
Are you a provider serving this county?
Help families find accurate information about your services. Submit your practice for review so parents in this area can better understand their options.
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About autism services in York County
York County (Biddeford, Sanford, Saco, Kittery) is Maine's southernmost county bordering New Hampshire, giving families relatively good access to Boston-area providers for specialized autism evaluations, including Children's Hospital Boston. York Hospital and Southern Maine Health Care provide local healthcare. York County's school districts — including Sanford, Biddeford, and Saco — provide special education. Maine Parent Federation provides free IEP advocacy statewide.
School districts & government services
Public programs and school district contacts for York County.
School & special education
- Sanford School Department — Special Education
York County is Maine's southernmost county.
Services & benefits
- Maine DHHS — York County DD Services
Contact Maine DHHS Office of Aging and Disability Services for York County waiver enrollment.
Adult services
- Maine DHHS — York County DD Services
Contact Maine DHHS Office of Aging and Disability Services for York County waiver enrollment.
Respite & support
- Maine DHHS — York County DD Services
Contact Maine DHHS Office of Aging and Disability Services for York County waiver enrollment.
Helpful guides
Guides for York 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 York County
Serving families across York County including Biddeford, Saco, Sanford, Kennebunk, Kittery, York, Wells, Berwick, South Berwick and Eliot and more.
See all Maine resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Maine.
Maine state guide →Common questions
Answered from the providers currently listed for this county — these update as the directory does.
How many autism providers serve York County, Maine?
We list 10 providers serving York County, covering parent & family support, activities, clubs & recreation, early intervention (0–3), speech therapy and diagnostic clinics, 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 York County?
ABA providers serving York 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 York County?
1 provider serving York 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 Maine?
Maine families can apply to the Sections 21 and 29 — transitioning to the new Lifespan waiver, a Medicaid waiver that can fund respite, therapies and in-home support. The typical wait is Section 29's waiting list has ended; both are closing to new enrollment, 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 York County?
If none of the York County providers is the right fit, these Maine counties currently have the most listed providers: Waldo County (14), Franklin County (13), Hancock County (12), Washington County (12). 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 Maine
You know things we don’t
Still missing from York County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in York 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 York County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in York 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 York 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 York County?
Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
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