Autism Resources in Whatcom County, Washington
9 providers in Bellingham and nearby, plus 12 national programs. Waitlists change often, so it’s worth calling a few.
0 providers in Whatcom County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
Based in Whatcom County
Diagnostic clinics
1 providerFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
PeaceHealth Medical Group — Developmental Pediatrics
Bellingham, WA
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)
1 providerFree services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Whatcom County Birth to Three
Bellingham, WA
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
1 providerApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Northwest Behavioral Consulting — Bellingham
Bellingham, WA · serves several counties
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.
Parent & family support
1 providerParent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Western Washington University — Autism Resource Program
Bellingham, WA
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
1 providerLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Washington PAVE — Whatcom County Support
Bellingham, WA
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.
Also serving Whatcom County
These 16 are based elsewhere, or operate nationally, and list Whatcom 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.
ABA therapy
1 providerApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Northwest Behavioral Consulting — Skagit County
Burlington, WA · serves several counties
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.
Respite care
3 providersRespite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
Lifespan Respite Washington — voucher program
Statewide, WA · serves several counties
Unpaid family caregivers in Washington can receive up to $1,000 toward respite through contracted agencies across the state, covering in-home respite and adult day services among other options. Lifespan Respite Washington, run through PAVE, helps caregivers through the application rather than leaving them to work it out.
Funded by a federal grant, so availability moves with the funding cycle — apply rather than assume it has run out.
ARCH National Respite Locator
Searchable by state, WA
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, WA
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.
Activities, clubs & recreation
12 providersClubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
Blue Compass Camps
Puget Sound, WA · serves several counties
Outdoor overnight camps around Puget Sound for young people aged 10 to 18 with Asperger's, autism without an intellectual disability, ADHD, or anyone who would benefit from guided adventure - horse riding, backpacking, kayaking. Aimed precisely at the group that finds disability-specific provision a poor social fit and mainstream camp unsupportive.
Washington Autism Alliance - recreation resources
Redmond, WA · serves several counties
A statewide autism organization maintaining recreation listings alongside advocacy and insurance navigation - useful outside the Puget Sound metro where organized provision is sparse.
ACEing Autism
227 programs in 32 states, WA
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, WA
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, WA
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, WA
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.
See all 12 activities, clubs & recreation providersShow fewer
iCan Shine (iCan Bike)
Camps hosted in different towns each year, WA
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, WA
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.
Little League Challenger Division
Through local Little Leagues — use the League Finder, WA
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, WA
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, WA
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, WA
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 Whatcom County
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.
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 →Common questions
Answered from the providers currently listed for this county — these update as the directory does.
How many autism providers serve Whatcom County, Washington?
We list 9 providers serving Whatcom County, covering activities, clubs & recreation, respite care, ABA therapy, diagnostic clinics and advocacy & legal, plus 2 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 Whatcom County?
ABA providers serving Whatcom 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.
Does Medicaid pay for autism services in Washington?
Washington families can apply to the DDA waivers — Basic Plus, Core, CIIBS, IFS, Community Protection, a Medicaid waiver that can fund respite, therapies and in-home support. The typical wait is Usually none — but enrolling in DDA is not the same as getting services, 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 Whatcom County?
If none of the Whatcom County providers is the right fit, these Washington counties currently have the most listed providers: King County (20), Thurston County (16), Pierce County (13), Skagit County (13). 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 Washington
You know things we don’t
Still missing from Whatcom County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Whatcom 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 Whatcom County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Whatcom 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 Whatcom 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 Whatcom County?
Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
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