County resource guide
Autism Resources in Cascade County, Montana
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Cascade County. Montana statewide resources also apply.
Cascade County (Great Falls) is Montana's third-largest city and a regional hub for north-central Montana. Benefis Health System provides evaluation services. Great Falls Public Schools provides special education. PLUK is Montana's federally funded PTI providing free statewide IEP advocacy. Families seeking specialized evaluations travel to Billings or Missoula. Montana's Comprehensive DD waiver and Early Intervention program support eligible residents.
Provider directory
Local Providers26 providers in Cascade 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 Cascade 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.
Great Falls · multi-county
Benefis Health System — Child Development Center
Great Falls' primary hospital system providing developmental and behavioral pediatric evaluations. Families in north-central Montana often travel here for autism assessments rather than making the longer drive to Billings or Missoula.
Call to confirm developmental pediatrics availability — rural Montana practices change frequently.
Great Falls · multi-county
Benefis Health System — Developmental Pediatrics
Benefis Health in Great Falls provides developmental evaluations for Chouteau County families. Fort Benton is approximately 40 miles from Great Falls, making Benefis the primary specialist hub.
Great Falls · multi-county
Benefis Health System — Developmental Pediatrics
Benefis Health in Great Falls provides developmental evaluations for Meagher County families. White Sulphur Springs is approximately 75 miles from Great Falls; telehealth available for many appointments.
Great Falls · multi-county
Benefis Health System — Developmental Pediatrics
Benefis Health in Great Falls provides developmental evaluations for Pondera County families. Conrad is approximately 65 miles from Great Falls; telehealth available for many appointments.
Great Falls · multi-county
Benefis Health System — Developmental Pediatrics
Benefis Health in Great Falls is the primary evaluation hub for Judith Basin County families. Stanford is approximately 65 miles from Great Falls; telehealth appointments available for follow-up care.
Great Falls · multi-county
Benefis Health System — Developmental Pediatrics
Benefis Health in Great Falls is the primary evaluation hub for Liberty County families. Chester is approximately 85 miles from Great Falls; telehealth available for many appointments.
Great Falls · multi-county
Benefis Health System — Developmental Pediatrics
Benefis Health in Great Falls is the primary evaluation hub for Toole County families. Shelby is approximately 75 miles from Great Falls; telehealth available for consultations and follow-up care.
White Sulphur Springs · multi-county
Meagher County Health Center — Developmental Referrals
Meagher County Health Center in White Sulphur Springs connects families to Great Falls and Helena specialists for autism evaluations. Telehealth widely used in this sparsely populated mountain county.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Great Falls
Montana Infants and Toddlers Program — Cascade County
Free IDEA Part C early intervention services for children under 3 in Cascade County. Evaluation, speech therapy, OT, developmental services, and family training provided at home or in community settings. Montana Medicaid covers eligible services.
FREE under IDEA Part C. Call your local county developmental disabilities office to begin the referral process.
Speech therapy
Speech-language pathology, AAC, pragmatic language, and feeding.
Great Falls · multi-county
Great Falls Therapy Associates
Speech-language pathology services in Great Falls serving children and adults with autism, AAC needs, feeding disorders, and pragmatic language delays. One of the few locally based options for north-central Montana families.
Montana Medicaid and most major insurers accepted. Telehealth sessions available.
Mental health
Therapists and psychiatrists experienced with autistic children and adults.
Great Falls
Telehealth Note for Cascade County
Cascade County has limited local autism mental-health providers. Many families access therapists via telehealth platforms such as Rethink Behavioral Health or national ABA providers offering Montana Medicaid billing. The Behavioral Health Alliance of Montana (BHAM) maintains a statewide therapist finder at bhamontana.org.
Montana Medicaid reimburses telehealth mental-health sessions statewide.
Respite care
Respite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
Statewide · multi-county
Montana Lifespan Respite Coalition — voucher program
The Coalition exists to build a statewide system of accessible, affordable respite for Montana caregivers regardless of the person's needs, and runs a respite voucher program. In a state where Montana states plainly that waiver services are limited and not entitled — with roughly 2,095 people waiting about seven years — a voucher that does not depend on the waiver is the practical route.
Area Agencies on Aging handle caregiver resources locally, including for families of children — do not be put off by the name.
~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.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Missoula · multi-county
UM Rural Institute on Disabilities
University of Montana's federally designated University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, with a unique focus on rural and frontier disability services. Offers consultation, training, and connection to resources across Montana's vast rural landscape.
Montana's UCEDD — nationally recognized for rural and frontier disability service models.
Activities, clubs & recreation
Clubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
Missoula · multi-county
Montana Disability and Health Program - recreation resources
The University of Montana Rural Institute maintains recreation and exercise resources for disabled Montanans - the most useful statewide index in a state where organized provision is extremely sparse outside Bozeman, Missoula and Billings.
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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School districts & government services
Public programs and school district contacts for Cascade County.
School & special education
- Great Falls Public Schools — Special Education
Great Falls is the county seat and largest city in Cascade County.
Services & benefits
- MT DPHHS — Cascade County DD Services
Contact MT DPHHS's Cascade County/Great Falls office for waiver enrollment and DD services.
Adult services
- MT DPHHS — Cascade County DD Services
Contact MT DPHHS's Cascade County/Great Falls office for waiver enrollment and DD services.
Respite & support
- MT DPHHS — Cascade County DD Services
Contact MT DPHHS's Cascade County/Great Falls office for waiver enrollment and DD services.
Helpful guides
Guides for Cascade 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 Cascade County
Serving families across Cascade County including Great Falls, Black Eagle, Malmstrom AFB, Belt, Ulm, Cascade, Raynesford, Monarch, Neihart and Stockett and more.
See all Montana resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Montana.
Montana state guide →Common questions
Answered from the providers currently listed for this county — these update as the directory does.
How many autism providers serve Cascade County, Montana?
We list 14 providers serving Cascade County, covering diagnostic clinics, speech therapy, activities, clubs & recreation, early intervention (0–3) and respite care, 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.
Which autism providers in Cascade County accept Medicaid?
1 of the providers we list for Cascade County state that they accept Medicaid, including Great Falls Therapy Associates. Coverage and plan participation change often, so confirm directly with the provider before your first appointment.
Are there telehealth autism services for Cascade County families?
Yes — 8 providers serving Cascade County offer telehealth or virtual sessions. This is often the fastest route to support for families in rural areas or on long local waitlists.
Does Medicaid pay for autism services in Montana?
Montana families can apply to the 0208 Comprehensive Waiver, a Medicaid waiver that can fund respite, therapies and in-home support. The typical wait is About seven years, with roughly 2,095 waiting, 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 Cascade County?
If none of the Cascade County providers is the right fit, these Montana counties currently have the most listed providers: Yellowstone County (19), Custer County (16), Dawson County (16), Lewis and Clark 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 Montana
You know things we don’t
Still missing from Cascade County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Cascade 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?
- Where do parents here actually talk to each other?
- Is there a group here where your child has made a friend?
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 Cascade County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Cascade 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 Cascade 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 Cascade County?
Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
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