Autism Resources in Bristol County, Massachusetts
13 providers in New Bedford, Providence, Randolph, Taunton and nearby, plus 12 national programs. Waitlists change often, so it’s worth calling a few.
0 providers in Bristol County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
Based in Bristol County
Diagnostic clinics
2 providersFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Hasbro Children's Hospital — Developmental Neuroscience
Providence, MA
Hasbro Children's Hospital in Providence (just across the RI border) is the practical diagnostic center for northern Bristol County families, offering developmental and behavioral pediatric evaluations. For southern Bristol County, Boston Children's Hospital and Tufts Medical Center are also accessible.
Northern Bristol County (Attleboro, N. Attleborough) is closest to Providence, RI. Southern Bristol (Fall River, New Bedford) is closer to Boston via Route 24.
Southcoast Health — Developmental Pediatrics
New Bedford, MA
Regional health system serving Bristol County's SouthCoast region (New Bedford, Fall River). Provides developmental pediatric services and referrals for autism evaluations. A critical access point for the state's largest Portuguese-speaking community, with interpreter services available.
Interpreter services available. Important for New Bedford and Fall River families — significant Portuguese-speaking and Cape Verdean communities.
ABA therapy
1 providerApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
May Institute — Bristol County Services
Randolph, MA · serves several counties
May Institute is one of New England's largest autism service organizations, with programs serving Bristol County families. Provides ABA therapy, special education day schools, adult day programs, and supported employment — a full lifespan service model with BCBA supervision at all levels.
One of MA's most respected autism providers. Strong in adult transition services, employment, and residential support.
Parent & family support
1 providerParent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Autism Society of Massachusetts — SouthCoast Chapter
New Bedford, MA
Parent support groups and autism family resources for Bristol County through the Autism Society of Massachusetts. Serves the New Bedford, Fall River, and Taunton corridors with local programming, peer connections, and resource navigation for the MA DDS service system.
Autism-friendly dentists
1 providerDentists experienced with autistic patients — desensitisation visits, sensory accommodations, and staff who take the time it takes.
Tufts Special Care Dental Clinics - Taunton
Taunton, MA · serves several counties
2007 Bay St., Suite B110, Taunton, MA 02780
Part of Tufts Special Care Dental Clinics - the only network of clinics in the country dedicated to special needs dentistry, and one that exists because of a 1976 court order requiring Massachusetts to expand access for people with disabilities. It serves adults AND children with developmental disabilities living in Massachusetts, with teams that include dentists, hygienists and social workers, across seven sites so families are not driving the length of the state. Accepts MassHealth, Delta Dental, Blue Cross Blue Shield and self-pay.
Eligibility is confirmed by phone before a first visit; the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services can also tell you whether you qualify. Care is not free, but most patients are covered by MassHealth.
Also serving Bristol County
These 20 are based elsewhere, or operate nationally, and list Bristol 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.
ABA therapy
3 providersApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
May Institute — Autism Services
Randolph, MA · serves several counties
One of the nation's largest and most respected autism service providers, May Institute is headquartered in Norwood and serves Middlesex and Norfolk County families. Offers ABA therapy, special education schools, adult services, and residential programs. BCBA-supervised at all levels.
One of the largest autism service organizations in New England. Strong in adult services.
May Institute — Headquarters & Norwood Programs
Norwood, MA · serves several counties
May Institute is headquartered in Norwood, Norfolk County, and is one of New England's largest and most respected autism service organizations. Provides ABA therapy, special education day schools, adult day programs, supported employment, and residential services — a full lifespan model with BCBA supervision at all levels.
May Institute — South Shore Services
Randolph, MA · serves several counties
One of New England's largest autism service organizations, May Institute serves Plymouth County families through its South Shore locations. Provides ABA therapy, special education schools, and adult services including supported employment and residential support. Nationally respected BCBA-led programs.
Strong adult services — important resource as children age out of school-based supports.
Respite care
3 providersRespite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
DDS Family Support Centers — respite and Flexible Funding
Statewide, MA · serves several counties
Massachusetts funds respite through Department of Developmental Services Family Support Centers, delivered at home, in a community program or in a licensed residential setting. Ask specifically about Flexible Funding: it gives families money that can go toward respite, recreation, adaptive equipment, transport or training, decided by the family rather than the agency. Flexible funding is unusual and is the part families most often do not know to request.
Find your regional Family Support Center first — they are the practical door, not the DDS area office.
ARCH National Respite Locator
Searchable by state, MA
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, MA
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
1 providerLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Federation for Children with Special Needs
Boston, MA · serves several counties
Massachusetts's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center. Free IEP advocacy, training, and one-on-one support for MA families. Knows the Massachusetts IEP process and state special education regulations inside out.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Essential before any IEP meeting in Massachusetts.
Autism-friendly dentists
2 providersDentists experienced with autistic patients — desensitisation visits, sensory accommodations, and staff who take the time it takes.
Tufts Special Care Dental Clinics - Canton (Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital)
Canton, MA · serves several counties
3 Randolph St., Bradford Building, 2nd Floor, Canton, MA 02021
Part of Tufts Special Care Dental Clinics - the only network of clinics in the country dedicated to special needs dentistry, and one that exists because of a 1976 court order requiring Massachusetts to expand access for people with disabilities. It serves adults AND children with developmental disabilities living in Massachusetts, with teams that include dentists, hygienists and social workers, across seven sites so families are not driving the length of the state. Accepts MassHealth, Delta Dental, Blue Cross Blue Shield and self-pay.
Eligibility is confirmed by phone before a first visit; the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services can also tell you whether you qualify. Care is not free, but most patients are covered by MassHealth.
Tufts Special Care Dental Clinics - Wrentham
Wrentham, MA · serves several counties
131 Emerald St., Wrentham, MA 02093
Part of Tufts Special Care Dental Clinics - the only network of clinics in the country dedicated to special needs dentistry, and one that exists because of a 1976 court order requiring Massachusetts to expand access for people with disabilities. It serves adults AND children with developmental disabilities living in Massachusetts, with teams that include dentists, hygienists and social workers, across seven sites so families are not driving the length of the state. Accepts MassHealth, Delta Dental, Blue Cross Blue Shield and self-pay.
Eligibility is confirmed by phone before a first visit; the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services can also tell you whether you qualify. Care is not free, but most patients are covered by MassHealth.
Activities, clubs & recreation
11 providersClubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
Camp Shriver at UMass Boston
Boston, MA · serves several counties
A free inclusive summer sports camp for young people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities together. Free and inclusive is a rare combination - most inclusive programs charge and most free programs are disability-only.
ACEing Autism
227 programs in 32 states, MA
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, MA
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, MA
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, MA
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.
iCan Shine (iCan Bike)
Camps hosted in different towns each year, MA
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.
See all 11 activities, clubs & recreation providersShow fewer
KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now)
Six cities only: Chicago, DC–Baltimore, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, St. Louis, MA
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, MA
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, MA
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, MA
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, MA
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 Bristol County
Bristol County (Fall River, New Bedford, Taunton) is a Southeastern Massachusetts county with a diverse, working-class population. Hasbro Children's Hospital (just across the border in Providence, RI) is the primary pediatric center for much of Bristol County. The Federation for Children with Special Needs provides free IEP advocacy statewide. Massachusetts requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy, and the Adult Supports waiver serves eligible residents.
Helpful guides
Guides for Bristol 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 Bristol County
Serving families across Bristol County including Taunton, New Bedford, Brockton (Plymouth), Fall River, Attleboro, Dartmouth, Mansfield, Easton, Raynham and Norton and more.
See all Massachusetts resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts state guide →Common questions
Answered from the providers currently listed for this county — these update as the directory does.
How many autism providers serve Bristol County, Massachusetts?
We list 13 providers serving Bristol County, covering parent & family support, activities, clubs & recreation, respite care, advocacy & legal 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 Bristol County?
ABA providers serving Bristol 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.
Does Medicaid pay for autism services in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts families can apply to the DDS Children's Autism Waiver, and adult DDS supports, a Medicaid waiver that can fund respite, therapies and in-home support. The typical wait is Children's Autism Waiver opens only in limited request periods, 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 Bristol County?
If none of the Bristol County providers is the right fit, these Massachusetts counties currently have the most listed providers: Middlesex County (21), Norfolk County (20), Suffolk County (20), Hampden County (16). 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 Massachusetts
You know things we don’t
Still missing from Bristol County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Bristol 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 Bristol County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Bristol 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 Bristol 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 Bristol County?
Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
Add your practice →