Autism Resources in Orleans County, Vermont
9 providers in Newport and nearby, plus 12 national programs. Waitlists change often, so it’s worth calling a few.
0 providers in Orleans County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
Based in Orleans County
Diagnostic clinics
1 providerFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
North Country Hospital — Developmental Referral to UVM Children's Hospital
Newport, VT
North Country Hospital in Newport is the primary medical facility for Orleans County, a border region with Quebec. For autism and developmental evaluations, families are referred to UVM Children's Hospital in Burlington (approximately 75 miles) or may explore Dartmouth-Hitchcock in New Hampshire. Some Quebec border families have explored cross-border options, though insurance coordination is complex.
UVM Children's Hospital (~75 min south) is the primary evaluation destination. Note: Quebec cross-border care requires complex insurance coordination and is not covered by Vermont Medicaid.
Early Intervention (0–3)
1 providerFree services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Vermont Early Intervention — Northeast Kingdom District
Newport, VT
Vermont Early Intervention's Northeast Kingdom district serves Orleans County children birth to age 3 with free, in-home early intervention services. Services including evaluations, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and family support are delivered at no cost in the home — eliminating travel burdens for families in this remote border county.
FREE under IDEA Part C. In-home services provided across Orleans County. Bilingual support may be available for French-speaking families — ask when enrolling.
Parent & family support
1 providerParent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Autism Society of Vermont — Orleans County Families
Newport, VT
The Autism Society of Vermont connects Orleans County families to statewide and online support groups, resource navigation, and family events. In this geographically remote border county, online support groups and the statewide peer network provide the primary community for many families raising autistic children.
Online support groups are the primary connection point for Orleans County families. Statewide events may require a trip to Burlington.
Advocacy & legal
1 providerLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Vermont Family Network — Orleans County Support
Newport, VT
Vermont's federally funded PTI provides free IEP advocacy, training, and remote support for Orleans County families. In this Northeast Kingdom border county — where local autism expertise is limited and Burlington is more than an hour away — the Vermont Family Network's remote advocacy services help parents effectively navigate the IEP process.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Remote support available. Note: Vermont special education law applies regardless of proximity to Quebec.
Also serving Orleans County
These 17 are based elsewhere, or operate nationally, and list Orleans County in the area they cover. Worth calling to confirm how far they actually travel, and whether telehealth or in-home visits are an option.
Diagnostic clinics
2 providersFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital — Developmental Pediatrics Referral
St. Johnsbury, VT · serves several counties
Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital in St. Johnsbury provides primary care and developmental screening for Caledonia County. Full autism evaluations are typically coordinated as referrals to UVM Children's Hospital. NVRHC's pediatric team can initiate the referral process and provide interim support.
Rural northeastern VT. Full evaluations require referral to Burlington or specialized centers. Long travel distances are common in this region.
UVM Medical Center — Children's Hospital Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics
Burlington, VT · serves several counties
Vermont's only academic medical center offers autism and developmental evaluations through UVM Children's Hospital. The sole comprehensive evaluation program in the state — virtually all Vermont families requiring specialist evaluation come here. The wait can be long; Maine Parent Federation and Vermont Family Network can help families navigate while waiting.
Vermont's only comprehensive pediatric evaluation center. Plan for long waitlists.
Early Intervention (0–3)
1 providerFree services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Children's Integrated Services — Caledonia/Essex District
St. Johnsbury, VT · serves several counties
Vermont Part C Early Intervention services for children under 3 in Caledonia and Essex counties. One of the most rural service regions in Vermont — CIS travels to families when needed. Free under IDEA Part C.
FREE under IDEA Part C. This region is very rural — in-home services are especially important here.
Respite care
3 providersRespite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
Flexible Family Funding — the family decides what it buys
Statewide, VT · serves several counties
Vermont gives eligible families money to spend on any legal good or activity they choose — respite, assistive technology, home modification, household needs or recreation — at the family's own discretion, on an income-based sliding scale. Family-directed funding of that breadth is rare, and it means respite does not have to be justified against a service definition. Children's services separately include respite alongside service coordination, community supports and in-home family supports.
Vermont's intake route changed in August 2025 — apply through PCG's Intake and Eligibility Team rather than your local Designated Agency.
ARCH National Respite Locator
Searchable by state, VT
A free national directory of respite providers and programs, run by ARCH, the National Respite Network and Resource Center. ARCH says it is not a complete list, so it works best alongside…
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
ARCH's advice is to contact your State Respite Coalition or Lifespan Respite program first. Before you pay out of pocket, also check what your state's Medicaid waiver funds.
Your state's Lifespan Respite program
39 states and DC have been funded, VT
Lifespan Respite programs are federally funded, state-run programs that help family caregivers of children or adults, regardless of special need, find and pay for respite.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
ARCH lists every state's Lifespan Respite contact and respite coalition on this page. Ask specifically about voucher or stipend programs — that is the part families most often miss.
Advocacy & legal
1 providerLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Vermont Family Network
Burlington, VT · serves several counties
Vermont's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center. Free IEP advocacy, training, and one-on-one support for Vermont families. Knows Vermont's special education system — an essential lifeline in a small state with limited provider capacity.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Vermont's most important advocacy resource — call before any IEP meeting.
Activities, clubs & recreation
10 providersClubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
ACEing Autism
227 programs in 32 states, VT
Tennis clinics for kids, teens and, in some locations, adults on the autism spectrum.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Cost varies by location and scholarships are available. Use the Find a Program search on their site with your zip code.
American Camp Association — camp finder
About 3,900 camps, VT
A free searchable directory of about 3,900 camps, with a filter for disabilities and other special needs alongside distance, activities, session length and cost. A good single starting…
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Choose day or overnight, then use the "Disabilities and Other Special Needs" filter. Specialized camps can fill early, so start looking in the winter before.
Best Buddies
All 50 states — find your local program, VT
One-to-one friendship matching between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, with programs from elementary school through college and adulthood, plus…
A national program 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 1-800-89-BUDDY, to locate your nearest program.
Easterseals — camps and recreation
Local Easterseals across the country, VT
Day and residential camps for children and adults with disabilities, plus sports, social activities and community outings run by local Easterseals.
A national program 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 locations — use the Find your Easterseals search on the page and check what yours actually runs.
iCan Shine (iCan Bike)
Camps hosted in different towns each year, VT
Teaches people with disabilities to ride a conventional two-wheeled bicycle over a five-day camp, 75 minutes a day. iCan Shine says about 80% of participants ride independently by the end…
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Check their Camp Locations page for dates — camps run in different towns each year, so somewhere near you may host this year and not next.
KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now)
Six cities only: Chicago, DC–Baltimore, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, St. Louis, VT
Free, non-competitive, one-to-one recreation for youth ages 5 to 21 with physical or developmental disabilities, led by trained volunteer coaches.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Free to families. KEEN runs in six cities plus two university campus chapters (Vanderbilt and the University of Virginia) — outside those, it is not available yet.
See all 10 activities, clubs & recreation providersShow fewer
Little League Challenger Division
Through local Little Leagues — use the League Finder, VT
Little League's adaptive baseball program for anyone with a physical or intellectual challenge.
A national program 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. Little League's rule is that a player who can take part in regular Little League with reasonable accommodations should do so.
Miracle League
300 leagues — check for one near you, VT
Baseball for children and adults with physical or mental disabilities, played on custom-designed rubberized turf fields that accommodate wheelchairs and other assistive devices.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Use the Find a Miracle League page on their site — there are 300 leagues, so coverage is good but not universal.
Special Olympics
Nationwide — find your local program, VT
Year-round sports training and competition for children and adults.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Eligibility requires an intellectual disability, a cognitive delay measured by formal assessment, or significant learning or vocational problems due to cognitive delay, identified by an agency or professional. If your child is autistic without a cognitive delay, have a direct conversation about fit before signing up rather than after. Ask your local program about any costs.
TOPSoccer (US Youth Soccer)
Through local soccer clubs, VT
The Outreach Program for Soccer — recreational soccer for children and adults with intellectual, emotional or physical disabilities, offered through local US Youth Soccer clubs.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Find your state association's TOPSoccer clubs through the link on their page, or ask your state association office directly — it is often not advertised on the club's own website.
Not sure which kind of therapy you need?
Start with our plain-language guide to ABA, speech and OT — what each one is, and questions to ask on the first call.
Read the guideFor providers
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About autism services in Orleans County
Orleans County (Newport, Derby, Barton) is Vermont's Northeast Kingdom border county adjacent to Quebec, served by North Country Hospital for local healthcare. Families requiring specialized autism evaluations travel to UVM Medical Center in Burlington — about 2 hours. Orleans County school districts provide special education. Vermont Family Network provides free IEP advocacy statewide. Telehealth is important for families in this remote northern county.
Helpful guides
Guides for Orleans 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.
See all Vermont resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Vermont.
Vermont state guide →Common questions
Answered from the providers currently listed for this county — these update as the directory does.
How many autism providers serve Orleans County, Vermont?
We list 9 providers serving Orleans County, covering parent & family support, early intervention (0–3), respite care, diagnostic clinics and advocacy & legal. Some are based in the county and others serve it from nearby areas. Every listing is reviewed by a person before it is published.
Can autism therapy happen at home in Orleans County?
2 providers serving Orleans County deliver 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 Vermont?
Vermont families can apply to the Developmental Disabilities Services waiver programs, 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 Orleans County?
If none of the Orleans County providers is the right fit, these Vermont counties currently have the most listed providers: Bennington County (14), Orange County (13), Addison County (12), Lamoille County (12). 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 Vermont
You know things we don’t
Still missing from Orleans County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Orleans 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?
- Is there a group here where your child has made a friend?
- Which pediatrician here actually listens, and doesn't rush the appointment?
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 Orleans County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Orleans 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 Orleans 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 Orleans County?
Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
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