County resource guide
Autism Resources in Washington County, Maryland
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Washington County. Maryland statewide resources also apply.
Washington County (Hagerstown) is western Maryland's largest city and shares the Cumberland Valley healthcare corridor with Pennsylvania. Meritus Health provides local healthcare. Washington County Public Schools provides special education. Families requiring specialized autism evaluations travel to Kennedy Krieger in Baltimore or Johns Hopkins. Parent's Place of Maryland provides free IEP advocacy statewide.
Provider directory
Local Providers24 providers in Washington 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 Washington 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.
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.
Hagerstown
Meritus Medical Center — Developmental Pediatrics
Developmental pediatrics services at Meritus Medical Center in Hagerstown, the primary medical center for western Maryland. Provides autism screenings and developmental evaluations with referral pathways for families in the Appalachian region who face significant travel distances to major academic centers.
Primary regional medical center for western Maryland — reduces travel burden for families in the Appalachian corridor.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Cumberland · multi-county
Centria Healthcare — Cumberland
Center-based and in-home ABA therapy in Cumberland serving Allegany County and surrounding areas. BCBA-supervised services for children and adolescents with autism. Accepts most commercial insurance under Maryland's ABA insurance mandate and Maryland Medicaid.
Maryland requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy. One of few ABA providers in this rural region.
Frederick · multi-county
Pathways for Learning — Frederick
Maryland-based ABA provider offering center-based and in-home therapy in Frederick County. BCBA-supervised services for children and adolescents. Accepts most commercial insurance under Maryland's ABA insurance mandate.
Hagerstown · multi-county
Therapeutic Pathways — Hagerstown
ABA and behavioral therapy services in the Hagerstown area for children with autism and related conditions. Center-based and in-home options. Accepts most commercial insurance under Maryland's ABA insurance mandate.
Respite care
Respite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
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.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Cumberland · multi-county
Autism Society Chesapeake Bay — Western Maryland Outreach
The Autism Society Chesapeake Bay chapter extends peer support, family resource navigation, and community connections to western Maryland families including Allegany County. Provides connections to virtual support groups and statewide family events when local programming is limited.
Virtual participation options make this especially valuable for rural Allegany families.
Frederick · multi-county
Autism Society of Maryland — Frederick Chapter
Active Frederick County chapter offering parent support groups, social skill playdates for children with autism, family resource nights, and connections to local services. Volunteers and staff know the Frederick school system well.
Hagerstown · multi-county
Western Maryland Autism Support Group
Parent and caregiver support group for families of autistic individuals in Washington, Allegany, and Garrett counties. Meets regularly in Hagerstown. Provides peer connection and local resource navigation in a rural region where specialized services are sparse.
Particularly valuable in western MD where specialized autism services are more limited.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Cumberland · multi-county
Maryland Coalition of Families — Western Maryland Outreach
Maryland Coalition of Families (MCF) provides free family peer support, mental health system navigation, and advocacy for Maryland families of children with mental health and developmental needs. Outreach staff support Allegany County families through phone consultations, webinars, and regional events.
FREE. Family peer specialists have lived experience with a child with disabilities. Invaluable for navigating rural service deserts.
Frederick · multi-county
Parents' Place of Maryland (PPM) — Western Region
The Parents' Place of Maryland serves Frederick and western Maryland families through outreach staff, phone consultations, and webinars covering IEP rights, dispute resolution, and Maryland special education law. Free for all Maryland families.
FREE. Federally funded. Serves all of western Maryland.
Hagerstown
The Arc of Washington County
Local Arc chapter serving Washington County residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Provides advocacy, family support, employment assistance, and connections to Maryland DDA waiver programs. Important resource in a region with limited specialized autism services.
Activities, clubs & recreation
Clubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
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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Helpful guides
Guides for Washington 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 Washington County
Serving families across Washington County including Hagerstown, Martinsburg, Williamsport, Boonsboro, Smithsburg, Waynesboro, Sharpsburg, Hancock, Clear Spring and Funkstown and more.
See all Maryland resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Maryland.
Maryland state guide →Common questions
Answered from the providers currently listed for this county — these update as the directory does.
How many autism providers serve Washington County, Maryland?
We list 12 providers serving Washington County, covering parent & family support, ABA therapy, diagnostic clinics, respite care and advocacy & legal. Some are based in the county and others serve it from nearby areas. Every listing is reviewed by a person before it is published.
Which autism providers in Washington County accept Medicaid?
1 of the providers we list for Washington County state that they accept Medicaid, including Centria Healthcare — Cumberland. Coverage and plan participation change often, so confirm directly with the provider before your first appointment.
Where can I find ABA therapy in Washington County?
ABA providers serving Washington 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 Washington County?
3 providers serving Washington 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 Maryland?
Maryland families can apply to the DDA Community Pathways Waiver, a Medicaid waiver that can fund respite, therapies and in-home support. The typical wait is 3–10 years, but your priority category matters more than your date, 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 Washington County?
If none of the Washington County providers is the right fit, these Maryland counties currently have the most listed providers: Baltimore County (24), Dorchester County (22), Howard County (22), Montgomery County (22). 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 Maryland
You know things we don’t
Still missing from Washington County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Washington 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 Washington County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Washington 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 Washington 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
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