County resource guide
Autism Resources in Hampden County, Massachusetts
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Hampden County. Massachusetts statewide resources also apply.
Hampden County (Springfield, Chicopee, Holyoke) is western Massachusetts's largest county and most urban area. Baystate Children's Hospital provides developmental pediatric evaluations for the Pioneer Valley region. The Federation for Children with Special Needs provides free IEP advocacy statewide. Massachusetts Early Intervention serves children under 3, and the Adult Supports waiver covers eligible Hampden County residents.
Provider directory
Local Providers14 providers in Hampden 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.
Springfield
Baystate Children's Hospital — Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics
The primary academic children's hospital for western Massachusetts, Baystate Children's Hospital offers developmental and behavioral pediatric evaluations including autism assessments. The closest major pediatric center for Hampden County families, sparing most families a two-hour drive to Boston.
Boston is a 90-minute drive from Springfield — Baystate is the local alternative for evaluations. Telehealth follow-up available.
Greenfield · multi-county
Baystate Franklin Medical Center — Pediatric Referral to Baystate Children's
Franklin County families typically access comprehensive autism evaluations through Baystate Children's Hospital in Springfield (about 40 minutes from Greenfield) via referral from Baystate Franklin Medical Center's pediatric team. Local diagnostic capacity is limited in this rural Pioneer Valley county.
Ask your pediatrician for a referral to Baystate Children's Hospital (Springfield) for a comprehensive autism evaluation. Telehealth follow-up is widely used in rural western MA.
Northampton · multi-county
Cooley Dickinson Hospital — Pediatric Referral (Baystate / Mass General Network)
Hampshire County families typically access autism evaluations through Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, which coordinates referrals to Baystate Children's Hospital (30 minutes south in Springfield) or Lurie Center at Mass General. Cooley Dickinson is part of the Mass General Brigham network.
Ask your pediatrician for a referral to Baystate Children's (Springfield) or use Cooley Dickinson's Mass General Brigham connection for Lurie Center access.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
West Springfield
Hampden County Early Intervention — Brightside for Families & Children
The federally mandated Early Intervention program for Hampden County, serving children 0–3 who have developmental delays or are at risk. Free evaluations and services under IDEA Part C, including speech, OT, and developmental therapy delivered in the home or community.
FREE under IDEA Part C. If your child is under 3 and you have any concern, call now — the sooner the better.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Northampton · multi-county
Positive Behavior Supports Corp — Hampshire County
In-home and center-based ABA therapy serving Hampshire County from the Pioneer Valley network. BCBA-supervised with individualized programming. Massachusetts commercial insurance mandate and MassHealth authorization accepted. Telehealth supplement widely used.
MA commercial insurance must cover ABA (state mandate). MassHealth authorization available. Northampton area has somewhat more provider density than rural Franklin County.
Greenfield · multi-county
Positive Behavior Supports Corp — Pioneer Valley / Franklin County
In-home ABA therapy serving Franklin County from the broader Pioneer Valley network. BCBA-supervised with individualized programming. In-home delivery is the primary model in this rural county. Massachusetts commercial insurance mandate and MassHealth authorization accepted.
Rural county — in-home ABA is the norm. Telehealth consultation is widely used to supplement in-person sessions in Franklin County.
Springfield · multi-county
Positive Behavior Supports Corp — Western MA
ABA therapy provider with offices in Springfield serving Hampden County and surrounding western Massachusetts communities. Provides home-based and center-based ABA, BCBA-supervised. Massachusetts requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy; MassHealth authorization also available.
MA commercial insurance must cover ABA (state mandate). MassHealth authorization available. Telehealth supplement offered.
Mental health
Therapists and psychiatrists experienced with autistic children and adults.
Holyoke · multi-county
River Valley Counseling Center — Autism Services
A broad community mental health provider in the Pioneer Valley serving Hampden and Hampshire Counties. Offers therapy and behavioral support for autistic children and adults, with MassHealth (Medicaid) accepted. Reduces the need for families to travel to Boston for mental health care.
MassHealth accepted. Important access point for low-income families in western MA.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Greenfield · multi-county
Autism Society of Massachusetts — Pioneer Valley / Franklin County
The Autism Society of Massachusetts connects Franklin County families to the Pioneer Valley parent community, peer support, and resource navigation. Most in-person support group activity in western MA is centered in the Springfield/Hampden County area, accessible to Franklin County families.
For in-person groups, Autism Society MA can connect you to the Springfield-area network. Telehealth support groups also available.
Northampton · multi-county
Autism Society of Massachusetts — Pioneer Valley / Hampshire County
The Autism Society of Massachusetts connects Hampshire County families to the Pioneer Valley parent community for peer support, resource sharing, and DDS service navigation. The Northampton and Amherst communities have active autism family networks.
The UMass Amherst community creates a somewhat more active support network here than in other rural western MA counties.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Pittsfield · multi-county
Federation for Children with Special Needs — Berkshire IEP Support
Free IEP advocacy and parent training for Berkshire County families through the Federation for Children with Special Needs, Massachusetts's federally funded PTI center. Helps western MA families understand their rights under Massachusetts special education law, which goes further than federal IDEA.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Essential resource given that Berkshire families often have fewer local advocacy options.
Greenfield · multi-county
Federation for Children with Special Needs — Franklin County IEP Support
Massachusetts's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center serves Franklin County families at no cost. Free IEP advocacy, Massachusetts special education rights training, and one-on-one consultations available by phone and virtually for rural families.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Essential before any IEP meeting in Massachusetts. Phone and virtual support available statewide.
Northampton · multi-county
Federation for Children with Special Needs — Hampshire County IEP Support
Massachusetts's federally funded PTI center serves Hampshire County families at no cost. Free IEP advocacy, Massachusetts special education rights training, and consultation for families dealing with school district issues. Phone and virtual appointments available.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Essential before any IEP meeting or school dispute in Massachusetts.
Springfield · multi-county
Federation for Children with Special Needs — Western MA Outreach
Massachusetts's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center (PTI). Free IEP advocacy training and one-on-one consultations for western MA families, including Hampden County. Regularly holds workshops in Springfield on IEP rights and the Massachusetts special education process.
FREE. Federally funded. Best first call before any IEP meeting in western Massachusetts.
For providers
Be the first featured provider in Hampden County
Featured listings include your logo, extended description, a direct contact button, and top placement above standard listings. Families searching for help in Hampden County see you first.
Missing a provider? Submit a listing — it’s free →
Helpful guides
Guides for Hampden 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 Hampden County
Serving families across Hampden County including Springfield, Chicopee, Holyoke, West Springfield, Agawam, Ludlow, Palmer, Longmeadow, East Longmeadow and Wilbraham 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.
Report a correction →Help the community
Know a great provider in Hampden 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 Hampden County?
Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
Add your practice →