Autism Resources in Howard County, Maryland

Columbia · multi-county

Howard County General Hospital — Developmental Pediatrics

Howard County General Hospital (Johns Hopkins Medicine) in Columbia offers developmental pediatrics services with autism evaluation pathways. Part of the Johns Hopkins system, with referral pathways to Johns Hopkins Children's Center and Kennedy Krieger for complex cases. Howard County's location between Baltimore and DC gives families access to multiple premier autism centers.

Johns Hopkins Medicine affiliation provides strong referral pathway to Hopkins Children's Center for complex evaluations.

Baltimore · multi-county

Kennedy Krieger Institute — Autism Programs

One of the world's foremost centers for autism research and clinical care, headquartered in Baltimore. The Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD) at Kennedy Krieger offers comprehensive diagnostic evaluations, behavioral treatment, and specialized programs for complex presentations. An Autism Treatment Network (ATN) site and federally designated Center of Excellence. Families travel from across Maryland and the mid-Atlantic region for care here.

World-class — one of the most important autism programs in the country. Significant waitlists; ask about community-based evaluation options and satellite locations.

Towson · multi-county

Kennedy Krieger Institute — Community Services (Towson Region)

Kennedy Krieger Institute, headquartered in Baltimore City, serves Baltimore County families through its community-based evaluation and outpatient programs. The Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD) is approximately 15 minutes from Towson. Internationally recognized for diagnostic precision and behavioral treatment research — an essential resource for Baltimore County families.

World-class autism center. Waitlists exist — ask about community evaluation options and telehealth.

Annapolis · multi-county

University of Maryland Medical Center — Developmental Pediatrics

University of Maryland Medical Center's developmental pediatrics program, accessible from Anne Arundel County via the Baltimore–Annapolis corridor, offers comprehensive autism evaluations. The UMMC Children's program is academically rigorous and coordinates with Kennedy Krieger for complex cases. Annapolis families have roughly equal access to Baltimore-based centers and DC-area providers.

Anne Arundel families have good access to both Baltimore and DC-area evaluation centers.

Baltimore · multi-county

Easterseals Greater Washington-Baltimore

Comprehensive early intervention, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and ABA services for children with autism and developmental disabilities across the Baltimore metro and DC suburbs. Serves families from infancy through school age with community-based and center-based options.

Columbia

Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program — Howard County

Free IDEA Part C early intervention for Howard County children birth to age 3. Service coordination, developmental therapy, speech, OT, and family support at no cost. Administered through Howard County Health Department. One of Maryland's most resourced ITP programs given the county's high per-capita investment in services.

FREE. Howard County ITP is among the best-funded in Maryland. Call immediately — do not wait for a diagnosis.

Maryland · multi-county

Autastic Therapy

ABA and Autism Waiver services across 13 Maryland counties including Montgomery, Howard, Baltimore, Prince George's, and more.

Source: https://autastictherapy.com

Annapolis · multi-county

Autism Learning Partners — Annapolis

Center-based ABA therapy in Annapolis serving Anne Arundel County families. BCBA-supervised with individualized programming. Accepts most commercial insurance under Maryland's ABA insurance mandate and Maryland Medicaid. Convenient location for families in the Annapolis metro.

Maryland's ABA insurance mandate requires commercial insurers to cover ABA therapy.

Laurel · multi-county

Autism Learning Partners — Laurel

Center-based ABA therapy in Laurel serving Prince George's County families. BCBA-supervised with individualized treatment planning. Accepts most commercial insurance under Maryland's ABA insurance mandate and Maryland Medicaid. Multilingual staff available — important in a diverse county.

Maryland's ABA insurance mandate covers most commercial plans. Ask about Spanish-speaking staff — significant Spanish-speaking population in PG County.

Rockville · multi-county

Behavior Frontiers — Maryland

In-home and center-based ABA therapy in Montgomery County and the DC suburbs. BCBA-supervised with naturalistic approach. Accepts most commercial insurance under Maryland's ABA insurance mandate.

Maryland requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.

Baltimore · multi-county

Hopebridge — Baltimore

Center-based ABA therapy in the Baltimore metro. BCBA-supervised with multidisciplinary approach integrating speech and OT. Accepts most commercial insurance and Maryland Medicaid.

Columbia · multi-county

May Institute — Columbia

May Institute is a nationally recognized autism treatment provider with programs in the Columbia area serving Howard County. BCBA-supervised ABA therapy with research-backed approaches. Accepts most commercial insurance under Maryland's ABA mandate and Maryland Medicaid.

May Institute is a nationally respected, research-affiliated ABA provider — strong option for complex cases.

Statewide · multi-county

Low Intensity Support Services (LISS) — and DDA respite

LISS is Maryland's flexible fund for families and it is broader than most people realise: it pays for respite alongside assistive technology, childcare, home and vehicle modifications and personal care. It serves children living at home with their families and adults living in their own homes, and does not require you to hold a waiver. DDA also funds respite directly, in or out of the home, planned or in an emergency.

LISS operates on an annual application cycle with limited funds — apply as early in the fiscal year as you can rather than when you reach crisis point.

~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.

Rockville · multi-county

Autism Society of Maryland

Maryland's statewide autism organization with active Montgomery County programming. Support groups, resource navigation, family events, and policy advocacy.

Annapolis · multi-county

Autism Society of Maryland — Anne Arundel County

The Autism Society of Maryland provides support group programming, family resource events, and advocacy connections for Anne Arundel County families. Annapolis's location between Baltimore and DC gives AUSM Anne Arundel access to a wide range of regional resources and events.

Columbia · multi-county

Autism Society of Maryland — Howard County

The Autism Society of Maryland serves Howard County families with active support group programming, family events, recreational opportunities, and advocacy connections. Columbia's planned community design and strong social infrastructure make the Howard County AUSM chapter particularly active.

Towson · multi-county

Parent's Place of Maryland

Maryland's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center. Free IEP advocacy, training, and one-on-one support for Maryland families. Knows Maryland's special education regulations, IEP timelines, and due process procedures.

FREE. Federally funded PTI. Essential before any IEP meeting or dispute in Maryland.

Annapolis · multi-county

Parents' Place of Maryland (PPM) — Anne Arundel County

Maryland's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center supporting Anne Arundel County families with free IEP advocacy, special education rights training, and dispute resolution guidance. Provides phone consultations, workshops, and one-on-one support for families navigating Anne Arundel County Public Schools.

FREE. Federally funded PTI. Call before any IEP meeting or dispute in Anne Arundel County.

Columbia · multi-county

Parents' Place of Maryland (PPM) — Howard County

Maryland's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center supporting Howard County families with free IEP advocacy, special education rights training, and dispute resolution guidance. Howard County Public Schools is large and well-resourced — PPM helps families navigate it effectively.

FREE. Federally funded PTI. Essential before any IEP meeting or dispute in Howard County Public Schools.

Baltimore · multi-county

Baltimore Adapted Recreation and Sports (BARS)

Year-round adapted sport for people of all ages with disabilities and their families - whole-family framing rather than dropping a child off, which suits families who want to do something together.

Chestertown · multi-county

Easterseals Camp Fairlee

A residential summer camp on the Eastern Shore for children AND adults with all kinds of disability. Residential provision that continues into adulthood is scarce, and for many Maryland families this is the main option after school services end.

Parkville · multi-county

TALMAR

Recreational, vocational and therapeutic programs built around horticulture and farming. Gardening and animal care work well for a lot of autistic people - predictable, sensory in a manageable way, and productive without being social.

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.