County resource guide
Autism Resources in Powell, Montana
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Powell. Montana statewide resources also apply.
Local providers
15 listedDiagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Anaconda · multi-county
Community Hospital of Anaconda — Pediatrics
Anaconda's Community Hospital provides basic pediatric care and referrals. Deer Lodge County families almost universally travel to Butte (28 miles) or Missoula (1.5 hours) for autism evaluations. This hospital is the first step in getting a referral and starting the process.
Ask for developmental referral to Missoula (Providence St. Patrick) or Butte (St. James). Both are more accessible than Billings.
Philipsburg · multi-county
Community Medical Center — Developmental Referrals (Missoula)
Granite County families in Philipsburg access autism evaluations through Missoula (~70 miles north). Community Medical Center and Providence St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula are the primary evaluation hubs for Granite County families.
Deer Lodge · multi-county
Powell County Medical Center — Developmental Referrals
Powell County Medical Center in Deer Lodge connects families to Missoula and Helena specialists for autism evaluations. Deer Lodge is centrally located between both cities along I-90.
Helena · multi-county
Shodair Children's Hospital — Autism & Developmental Services
Helena's Shodair Children's Hospital is one of Montana's most important resources for autism evaluation and genetic testing. Offers comprehensive developmental evaluations, neuropsychological testing, and Montana's only inpatient psychiatric program for children and teens.
Priority resource for Helena families — genetic testing and comprehensive autism evaluations. Telehealth available.
Helena · multi-county
Shodair Children's Hospital — Autism Evaluation
Shodair Children's Hospital in Helena provides comprehensive autism evaluations for Powell County families. Deer Lodge is approximately 45 miles from Helena along I-90.
Butte · multi-county
St. James Healthcare — Pediatrics
Butte's St. James Healthcare provides pediatric care and can refer families for developmental evaluations. Silver Bow County families typically travel to Missoula (1.5 hours) or Billings for full autism diagnostic evaluations, as specialized developmental pediatricians are not locally based.
Ask for developmental referral to Missoula or Billings specialists. Telehealth evaluations increasingly available for rural Montana.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Deer Lodge
Montana Infants and Toddlers Program — Powell County
Montana's early intervention program provides free in-home services for Powell County children birth to 3 with developmental delays or autism concerns in Deer Lodge and surrounding areas.
Speech therapy
Speech-language pathology, AAC, pragmatic language, and feeding.
Butte · multi-county
Butte Speech and Language Services
Speech-language pathology services in Butte for children and adults with communication differences including autism. Butte has a small but established therapy community that serves Silver Bow and neighboring counties.
Montana Medicaid accepted. Telehealth available. Confirm autism-specific experience when calling.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Deer Lodge · multi-county
Autism Society Montana
Autism Society Montana supports Powell County families with peer connection. Helena events (~45 min) and Missoula events (~60 min from Deer Lodge) are both accessible along I-90.
Philipsburg · multi-county
Autism Society Montana
Autism Society Montana supports Granite County families through peer support and the statewide resource network. Missoula events (~70 miles north) and Butte events (~50 miles southeast) are both accessible from Philipsburg.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Butte · multi-county
Parents Let's Unite for Kids (PLUK) — Southwest MT
PLUK provides free IEP advocacy and family support to Silver Bow County families. Montana's federally funded PTI is the most reliable first call for Butte families navigating school services or looking for statewide resource connections.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. No local Butte office — contact main Billings number.
Anaconda · multi-county
Parents Let's Unite for Kids (PLUK) — Southwest MT
PLUK is Montana's federally funded PTI and the most reliable statewide advocacy resource for Deer Lodge County families. Free IEP support, family training, and resource navigation available by phone and virtually.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Phone and virtual support — no local Anaconda office.
Deer Lodge · multi-county
PLUK — Parents Let's Unite for Kids
PLUK provides free IEP advocacy and special education rights training for Powell County families in Deer Lodge. Statewide hotline and Helena office support families along the I-90 corridor.
Philipsburg · multi-county
PLUK — Parents Let's Unite for Kids
PLUK provides free IEP advocacy for Granite County families in Philipsburg. Phone and virtual consultations serve families in this small mountain county between Missoula and Butte.
Missoula · multi-county
UM Rural Institute on Disabilities
University of Montana's Rural Institute on Disabilities provides consultation and referrals for Granite County families through its Missoula base. The Rural Institute specializes in rural and frontier disability service models relevant to Granite County's situation.
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