County resource guide
Autism Resources in Whatcom County, Washington
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Whatcom County. Washington statewide resources also apply.
Whatcom County (Bellingham, Ferndale) is in northwest Washington near the Canadian border and home to Western Washington University. PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center provides evaluation services. Bellingham School District provides special education. Washington PAVE provides free statewide IEP advocacy.
Provider directory
Local Providers6 providers in Whatcom County
About our listings
Provider listings on Autism Parent Club are submitted by practices or researched from public sources. All listings are reviewed for accuracy before publication. To suggest a correction, use the “Suggest a correction” link below.
Diagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Bellingham
PeaceHealth Medical Group — Developmental Pediatrics
PeaceHealth's Bellingham developmental pediatrics team provides autism evaluations and ongoing developmental support for children in northwest Washington. Referral from a primary care provider is typically needed. Accepts Apple Health and most commercial insurers.
For complex or older adolescent cases, a referral to Seattle Children's Autism Center can be requested.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Bellingham
Whatcom County Birth to Three
IDEA Part C Early Intervention services for Whatcom County children under 3. Free developmental evaluations and services in natural settings — no diagnosis required. Coordinated through the county health department.
FREE under federal law. Services can begin before age 3 and transition to school district at age 3.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Bellingham · multi-county
Northwest Behavioral Consulting — Bellingham
ABA therapy and behavioral consultation serving Whatcom and Skagit County families. Home- and community-based services with BCBA supervision. Washington's insurance mandate covers ABA under all commercial plans.
Washington requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Burlington · multi-county
Northwest Behavioral Consulting — Skagit County
ABA therapy serving Skagit County with home- and community-based services. BCBA-supervised with individualized programs. This provider also serves Whatcom County to the north. Washington's ABA insurance mandate applies to all commercial plans.
Washington requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Bellingham
Western Washington University — Autism Resource Program
Western Washington University's programs include student-led support and social groups for autistic individuals and family education events. The university also provides practicum placements that expand local therapy capacity.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Bellingham
Washington PAVE — Whatcom County Support
Free IEP advocacy, training, and special education navigation from Washington's federally funded PTI center. Covers all Washington families, including those near the Canadian border with questions about cross-border service coordination.
FREE. Serves all Washington counties.
For providers
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Helpful guides
Guides for Whatcom 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 Whatcom County
Serving families across Whatcom County including Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden, Blaine, Birch Bay, Sumas, Nooksack, Everson, Sudden Valley and Birchwood and more.
See all Washington resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Washington.
Washington state guide →Nearby counties in Washington
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.
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