County resource guide
Autism Resources in Bristol County, Massachusetts
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Bristol County. Massachusetts statewide resources also apply.
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.
Provider directory
Local Providers10 providers in Bristol County
About our listings
Provider listings on Autism Parent Club are submitted by practices or researched from public sources. All listings are reviewed for accuracy before publication. To suggest a correction, use the “Suggest a correction” link below.
Diagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Providence
Hasbro Children's Hospital — Developmental Neuroscience
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.
New Bedford
Southcoast Health — Developmental Pediatrics
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.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
New Bedford
SouthCoast Educational Collaborative — Early Intervention
Early Intervention services for Bristol County children 0–3 under IDEA Part C. Free speech, OT, developmental therapy, and family support services delivered at home or in community settings. Serves New Bedford, Fall River, Taunton, and surrounding communities.
FREE under IDEA Part C. Call immediately if your child is under 3 — early intervention is the highest-impact investment.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Randolph · multi-county
May Institute — Autism Services
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.
Randolph · multi-county
May Institute — Bristol County Services
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.
Norwood · multi-county
May Institute — Headquarters & Norwood Programs
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.
Randolph · multi-county
May Institute — South Shore Services
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.
Brockton · multi-county
South Shore Autism Center
ABA therapy and behavior support services for Plymouth County and the South Shore region. Offers center-based and in-home ABA for children and teens with autism spectrum disorder. BCBA-supervised. Massachusetts commercial insurance mandate and MassHealth authorization both accepted.
MA requires commercial insurers to cover ABA. MassHealth authorization also available.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
New Bedford
Autism Society of Massachusetts — SouthCoast Chapter
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.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Boston · multi-county
Federation for Children with Special Needs
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.
For providers
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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 →Nearby counties in Massachusetts
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.
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