County resource guide
Autism Resources in Worcester County, Massachusetts
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Worcester County. Massachusetts statewide resources also apply.
Worcester County (Worcester, Fitchburg, Leominster) is home to UMass Memorial Medical Center, which provides developmental pediatric evaluations as central Massachusetts's primary academic medical center. The May Institute has programs serving Worcester County families. The Federation for Children with Special Needs is Massachusetts's federally funded PTI providing free IEP advocacy statewide. Massachusetts's Adult Supports waiver and Early Intervention program serve eligible residents.
School evaluation
Request a School Evaluation
Under IDEA, your school district must evaluate your child for free if you request it in writing. Here’s who to contact in Worcester County:
Worcester Public Schools Special Ed
Serves Worcester city limits within Worcester County.
Contacts verified May 2026 — call to confirm current numbers
Learn how to write your evaluation request →Provider directory
Local Providers7 providers in Worcester 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.
Worcester
UMass Memorial Children's Medical Center — Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics
The academic children's hospital for central Massachusetts, UMass Memorial Children's Medical Center provides comprehensive autism evaluations through its Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics program. Located in Worcester, it is the primary diagnostic center for Worcester County families, significantly reducing the need to travel to Boston.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Worcester
Worcester County Early Intervention — Seven Hills Foundation
Early Intervention services for Worcester County children 0–3 under IDEA Part C, provided through Seven Hills Foundation. Free evaluations and in-home services including speech, occupational therapy, and developmental therapy. Seven Hills is a major Massachusetts human services provider with deep roots in the Worcester community.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Worcester
Behavioral Concepts — Central MA
A leading Massachusetts ABA provider with offices in Worcester serving families throughout Worcester County. Offers center-based and home-based ABA therapy for children and teens, with BCBA-supervised individualized programming. Massachusetts commercial insurance mandate and MassHealth authorization both accepted.
Southborough · multi-county
New England Center for Children (NECC)
One of the most respected autism education and ABA therapy organizations in the country, NECC is headquartered in Southborough and serves Worcester County and beyond. Offers intensive ABA-based day school programs, residential services, and outpatient behavioral support. Nationally recognized for evidence-based practice and complex needs.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Framingham · multi-county
Autism Alliance of MetroWest
Active Middlesex County autism support organization serving the MetroWest suburban corridor. Family support groups, autism-friendly programming, respite connections, and an annual family resource fair.
Worcester
Autism Society of Massachusetts — Central MA / Worcester Chapter
The Central Massachusetts chapter of the Autism Society of Massachusetts offers support groups, family events, and resource navigation for Worcester County families. Monthly meetings in Worcester, connection to the MA DDS system, and peer community for parents across the county's urban and rural communities.
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
Be the first featured provider in Worcester County
Featured listings include your logo, extended description, a direct contact button, and top placement above standard listings. Families searching for help in Worcester County see you first.
Missing a provider? Submit a listing — it’s free →
School districts & government services
Public programs and school district contacts for Worcester County.
School & special education
Services & benefits
- MA DDS — Worcester Area Office
Contact MA DDS's Worcester Area Office for waiver enrollment and DD services.
Adult services
- MA DDS — Worcester Area Office
Contact MA DDS's Worcester Area Office for waiver enrollment and DD services.
Respite & support
- MA DDS — Worcester Area Office
Contact MA DDS's Worcester Area Office for waiver enrollment and DD services.
Helpful guides
Guides for Worcester 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 Worcester County
Serving families across Worcester County including Worcester, Leominster, Fitchburg, Gardner, Milford, Northborough, Shrewsbury, Westborough, Auburn and Grafton 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 Worcester 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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