County resource guide
Autism Resources in Kent County, Rhode Island
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Kent County. Rhode Island statewide resources also apply.
Kent County (Warwick, Coventry, West Warwick) is Rhode Island's second most populous county and part of the greater Providence metro, giving families access to Hasbro Children's Hospital and Meeting Street. Kent Hospital provides local healthcare. RIPIN provides free IEP advocacy statewide. Rhode Island's DD waiver, Early Intervention through RIDE, and ABA insurance mandate all apply to Kent County residents.
Provider directory
Local Providers25 providers in Kent 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 Kent 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.
Rhode Island · multi-county
ABA Centers of Rhode Island
Autism diagnosis and ABA therapy in Rhode Island with reduced wait times. Free consultations. Call (844) 444-7496.
Source: https://www.abacentersri.com
Warwick
Kent Hospital — Pediatric Development Program
Developmental pediatric services at Kent Hospital in Warwick, the primary hospital serving Kent County. Offers initial developmental screenings and referrals to comprehensive autism evaluation teams.
Central Rhode Island's primary hospital. Call for current developmental pediatric referral process.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Providence · multi-county
Meeting Street
One of Rhode Island's most respected disability service organizations. Meeting Street provides early intervention, special education, ABA therapy, and adult day services for individuals with autism and developmental disabilities. A cornerstone of RI's autism service ecosystem.
Rhode Island's most recognized disability organization. Serves from birth through adulthood.
Warwick
RI Early Intervention — Kent County
Rhode Island's IDEA Part C Early Intervention program serving Kent County. Free evaluations and services for children birth to age 3 with developmental delays or disabilities. Coordinated through the RI Department of Health.
FREE under federal IDEA law. Referrals accepted from anyone — doctor, parent, or teacher.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Warwick · multi-county
Autism Care Partners — Warwick
ABA therapy, diagnostic evaluations, speech therapy, and OT in Warwick serving Kent and Providence counties in Rhode Island.
Source: https://autismcarepartners.com/locations/rhode-island/warwick/
Cranston · multi-county
Bierman Autism Centers — Rhode Island
ABA therapy at Cranston, Lincoln, and Warwick locations. Serves Providence, Kent, and Washington counties with swift diagnostic evaluations.
Source: https://www.biermanautism.com/location/rhode-island/
Warwick
New England ABA — Warwick
Center-based and in-home ABA therapy serving Kent County from their Warwick location. BCBA-supervised programs for children and adolescents. Accepts major commercial insurance under RI's ABA mandate.
Rhode Island requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Speech therapy
Speech-language pathology, AAC, pragmatic language, and feeding.
Warwick
Speech-Language Associates — Warwick
Speech-language therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder in Kent County. AAC evaluation and implementation, pragmatic language, and feeding therapy available.
Occupational therapy & sensory
Occupational therapy, sensory integration, and sensory diets.
Warwick
Pediatric Therapeutic Services — Warwick
Occupational therapy and sensory integration services for children in Kent County. Sensory diets, handwriting, daily living skills, and sensory processing evaluations.
Respite care
Respite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
Statewide · multi-county
Rhode Island family-directed respite — up to 200 hours a year
One of the strongest respite arrangements in the country for a small state. Eligible families can receive up to 200 hours a year of respite for a child or young adult with disabilities, and the program is family-directed: parents choose their own respite workers, with support from certified agencies to do so. Choosing the person yourself is often what makes respite workable at all for an autistic child. The Autism Project also runs its own respite program.
The Autism Project runs a separate respite program worth asking about alongside the state one.
~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.
Providence · multi-county
RI Parent Information Network (RIPIN)
Rhode Island's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center. Free IEP advocacy, one-on-one family support, and resource navigation for RI families. Knows Rhode Island's special education regulations and due process procedures.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Essential before any IEP meeting or dispute in Rhode Island.
Activities, clubs & recreation
Clubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
Providence · multi-county
Rhode Island Medical Home Portal - camps for children with special needs
A maintained statewide listing of camps for children with additional needs, produced by the Rhode Island Medical Home Portal.
Johnston · multi-county
The Autism Project - Camp WANNAGOAGAIN!
A two-week summer camp for autistic children, teenagers and young adults, and for those with related social-emotional or communication challenges. Run by a collaboration of parents, professionals and community members that has been going since 1997, and covering young adults as well as children.
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 Kent County.
School & special education
- Warwick Public Schools — Special Education
Warwick is the largest city in Kent County and Rhode Island's second-largest city.
Services & benefits
- RI BHDDH — Kent County DD Services
Contact RI BHDDH for Kent County waiver enrollment and DD services.
Adult services
- RI BHDDH — Kent County DD Services
Contact RI BHDDH for Kent County waiver enrollment and DD services.
Respite & support
- RI BHDDH — Kent County DD Services
Contact RI BHDDH for Kent County waiver enrollment and DD services.
Helpful guides
Guides for Kent 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 Kent County
Serving families across Kent County including Warwick, West Warwick, Coventry, East Greenwich, West Greenwich, Exeter, Scituate, Foster and Hopkinton and more.
See all Rhode Island resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island state guide →Common questions
Answered from the providers currently listed for this county — these update as the directory does.
How many autism providers serve Kent County, Rhode Island?
We list 13 providers serving Kent County, covering diagnostic clinics, ABA therapy, early intervention (0–3), occupational therapy & sensory and respite care, plus 3 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.
Where can I find ABA therapy in Kent County?
ABA providers serving Kent County are listed in the ABA therapy section of this page, with phone numbers and websites. Many deliver services in the family's home or at school as well as in a clinic. Ask about waitlists when you call — they vary widely and change month to month.
Can autism therapy happen at home in Kent County?
1 provider serving Kent County delivers services in the family's home. Many children do better in a familiar setting than in an unfamiliar clinic room, and in-home visits remove the travel burden.
Does Medicaid pay for autism services in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island families can apply to the BHDDH Division of Developmental Disabilities services, a Medicaid waiver that can fund respite, therapies and in-home support. The typical wait is No waitlist reported, 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 Kent County?
If none of the Kent County providers is the right fit, these Rhode Island counties currently have the most listed providers: Providence County (13), Washington County (11), Bristol County (10), Newport County (10). 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 Rhode Island
You know things we don’t
Still missing from Kent County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Kent 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 Kent County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Kent 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 Kent 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 Kent County?
Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
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