Autism Resources in Richmond City, Virginia
12 providers in Richmond, Statewide and nearby, plus 12 national programs. Waitlists change often, so it’s worth calling a few.
0 providers in Richmond City. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
Based in Richmond City
ABA therapy
1 providerApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Central Virginia ABA Therapy
Richmond, VA · serves several counties
Home- and community-based ABA for Richmond City and surrounding areas. BCBA-supervised services focusing on naturalistic teaching, communication, and adaptive skills. Accepts Virginia Medicaid EPSDT and commercial insurance.
Virginia's ABA insurance mandate applies. Medicaid EPSDT also accepted.
Respite care
1 providerRespite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
Virginia respite — waiver services plus a separate voucher
Statewide, VA · serves several counties
Two routes, and the second is the one families miss. Respite is a covered service under the Community Living, Family and Individual Supports and CCC Plus waivers, coordinated through your Community Services Board or managed care organization. Separately, the Lifespan Respite Voucher Program run by the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services reimburses eligible caregivers for respite — and does not require you to hold a waiver at all.
If you are on a waiver waiting list, the DARS Lifespan Respite Voucher is the thing to ask about — it exists precisely for families who are waiting.
Advocacy & legal
1 providerLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
PEATC — Richmond Family Support
Richmond, VA · serves several counties
Virginia's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center assists Richmond City families with IEP advocacy, special education rights, and navigating Virginia's disability services system. Particularly helpful for families in Richmond's public schools.
FREE federally funded PTI. Available statewide by phone and in-person.
Autism-friendly dentists
1 providerDentists experienced with autistic patients — desensitisation visits, sensory accommodations, and staff who take the time it takes.
VCU Dr. Roger Wood Special Care Clinic
Richmond, VA · serves several counties
520 N. 12th St., 4th floor, Richmond, VA 23298
A dental clinic built specifically for adults with developmental and acquired disabilities, opened by VCU School of Dentistry in 2025. It was designed around the physical and emotional needs of patients with autism, developmental delays and physical disabilities, and around making the visit bearable for the caregiver too. Adult dental care is one of the hardest things to find once a child ages out of pediatric dentistry, and this exists precisely for that gap.
Ask about the sensory-adapted dental environment - VCU received state funding in 2026 to expand that approach across Virginia.
Activities, clubs & recreation
1 providerClubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
Camp Free2BMe - Richmond Autism Integration Network
Richmond, VA · serves several counties
A summer day camp for autistic young people aged 13 and up, combining social skills with recreation - each week focused on a specific skill taught through community outings, art, music and themed activities. Teenage-and-up provision is scarce, so this fills a real gap in central Virginia.
Also serving Richmond City
These 19 are based elsewhere, or operate nationally, and list Richmond City 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.
Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU
Richmond, VA · serves several counties
Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU — Henrico
Richmond, VA · serves several counties
ABA therapy
1 providerApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
BlueSprig Autism — Hanover/Ashland
Ashland, VA · serves several counties
Center-based ABA therapy serving Hanover County families. BCBA-supervised programming for communication, social skills, and adaptive behavior across the lifespan. Accepts most commercial insurance under Virginia's ABA mandate and Virginia Medicaid EPSDT.
Virginia requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Respite care
2 providersRespite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
ARCH National Respite Locator
Searchable by state, VA
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, VA
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
4 providersLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC)
Alexandria, VA · serves several counties
Virginia's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center. Free IEP advocacy, training, and one-on-one support for Virginia families. Knows Virginia's special education regulations inside out.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. The most important call before any IEP dispute in Virginia.
PEATC — Hanover County Families
Ashland, VA · serves several counties
Virginia's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center provides free IEP advocacy and special education rights support to Hanover County families navigating Hanover County Public Schools. PEATC is available statewide by phone and in-person.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Call before any IEP meeting or evaluation dispute.
PEATC — Virginia Parent Training & Information Center
Alexandria, VA · serves several counties
PEATC — Virginia Parent Training & Information Center
Alexandria, VA · serves several counties
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, VA
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, VA
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, VA
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, VA
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, VA
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, VA
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, VA
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, VA
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, VA
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, VA
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 Richmond City
Richmond City is Virginia's capital and a major regional center for healthcare and education. VCU Health's children's services and Bon Secours provide developmental evaluations. The Faison Center in Richmond is a notable specialized provider for individuals with autism. PEATC provides free statewide IEP advocacy. Virginia's Infant and Toddler Connection provides EI for children under 3, and DBHDS administers DD waiver programs.
Helpful guides
Guides for Richmond City 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 Virginia resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Virginia.
Virginia state guide →Common questions
Answered from the providers currently listed for this county — these update as the directory does.
How many autism providers serve Richmond City, Virginia?
We list 12 providers serving Richmond City, covering ABA therapy, activities, clubs & recreation, diagnostic clinics, advocacy & legal and autism-friendly dentists, plus 1 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 Richmond City accept Medicaid?
2 of the providers we list for Richmond City state that they accept Medicaid, including BlueSprig Autism — Hanover/Ashland and Central Virginia ABA Therapy. Coverage and plan participation change often, so confirm directly with the provider before your first appointment.
Where can I find ABA therapy in Richmond City?
ABA providers serving Richmond City 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.
Does Medicaid pay for autism services in Virginia?
Virginia families can apply to the DD Waivers — Community Living, Family & Individual Supports, Building Independence, a Medicaid waiver that can fund respite, therapies and in-home support. The typical wait is By urgency, not by date — Priority 1 is served within about a year, 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 Richmond City?
If none of the Richmond City providers is the right fit, these Virginia counties currently have the most listed providers: Fairfax County (35), Prince William County (27), Arlington County (26), York County (23). 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 Virginia
You know things we don’t
Still missing from Richmond City
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Richmond Citygets 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.
- 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?
- 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 Richmond City? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Richmond City — 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 Richmond City?
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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Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
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