Find resources by age
General
- A Parent’s Guide to Autism is a great resource if your child has been recently diagnosed.
- The Autism Speaks 100-Day Kit for Young Children to help families with young children who have been recently diagnosed.
- Autism Speaks offers digital toolkits you can download about sleep, nutrition, early learning and more.
Early Intervention
- Alliance for Infants and Toddlers (0-3 years, County wide)
- Allegheny Intermediate Unit, Preschool Early Intervention (3-5 years, excludes City of Pittsburgh)
- Pittsburgh Board of Education, Early Intervention Office (3-5 years, City of Pittsburgh)
Medical Insurance
- Apply for Medicaid for a child diagnosed with a disability. The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment benefit that is part of Medicaid provides healthcare for all kids under 21.
- If you have Medical Assistance (Called HealthChoices in Allegheny County), your managed care organization has dedicated phone numbers for special needs. Call Community Care Behavioral Health at 1-800-553-7499. Find a COMPASS Community Partner to assist you.
- Connect with other Parents/Caregivers
- Search PA Autism Parent and Caregivers resources by keyword.
- Connect with other parents across the state and in Allegheny County.
- Advocate alongside other parents for investments in disability services.
General
- A Parent’s Guide to Autism is a great resource if your child has been recently diagnosed.
- The Autism Speaks 100-Day Kit for Young Children to help families with young children who have been recently diagnosed.
- Search Autism Speaks by topic—sleep, safety, nutrition—or by age.
- Local Task Forces on the Right to Education are available for each intermediate unit and are great supports to families whose students have special education services, including Individualized Education Plans (IEPS). To get help with IEPs call the Allegheny Link at 1-866-730-2368.
Medical Insurance
- Apply for Medicaid for a child diagnosed with a disability. The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment benefit that is part of Medicaid provides healthcare for all kids under 21.
- If you have Medical Assistance (Called HealthChoices in Allegheny County), your managed care organization has dedicated phone numbers for special needs. Call Community Care Behavioral Health at 1-800-553-7499. Find a COMPASS Community Partner to assist you.
- Connect with other Parents/Caregivers
- Search PA Autism Parent and Caregivers resources by keyword.
- Connect with other parents across the state and in Allegheny County.
- Advocate alongside other parents for investments in disability services.
General
- A Parent’s Guide to Autism is a great resource if your child has been recently diagnosed.
- Search Autism Speaks by topic—sleep, safety, nutrition—or by age.
Education and Social Life
- Deciding what to do after high school? Download the Transition to Adult Life and Employment and Day Activities fact sheets for ideas and information.
- The Autism Speaks Postsecondary Education Toolkit can help families plan for college, a tech school or a life skills program.
- For free and low-cost ideas for family outings, friend hangouts and dates check out: Opportunities for social, recreation and lifelong learning.
Medical Insurance
- Apply for Medicaid for a child diagnosed with a disability. The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment benefit that is part of Medicaid provides healthcare for all kids under 21.
- If you have Medical Assistance (Called HealthChoices in Allegheny County), your managed care organization has dedicated phone numbers for special needs. Call Community Care Behavioral Health at 1-800-553-7499. Find a COMPASS Community Partner to assist you.
- Connect with other Parents/Caregivers
- Search PA Autism Parent and Caregivers resources by keyword.
- Connect with other parents across the state and in Allegheny County.
Education and Social Life
- Deciding what to do after high school? Download the Transition to Adult Life and Employment and Day Activities fact sheets for ideas and information.
- The Autism Speaks Postsecondary Education Toolkit can help families plan for college, a tech school or a life skills program.
- For free and low-cost ideas for family outings, friend hangouts and dates check out: Opportunities for social, recreation and lifelong learning.
- Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Bureau of Supports for Autism and Special Populations (BSASP) develops autism-specific programs for adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Housing
- Contact AlleghenyLink at 1-866-730-2368 for help finding housing.
- The Autism Speaks Housing and Residential Supports Toolkit can help families search for housing and residential supports.
- Life Sharing pairs a supportive and caring household with a life sharing participant.
Medical Insurance
- Apply for Medicaid for a child diagnosed with a disability. The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment benefit that is part of Medicaid provides healthcare for all kids under 21.
- If you have Medical Assistance (Called HealthChoices in Allegheny County), your managed care organization has dedicated phone numbers for special needs. Call Community Care Behavioral Health at 1-800-553-7499. Find a COMPASS Community Partner to assist you.
- Connect with other Parents/Caregivers
- Search PA Autism Parent and Caregivers resources by keyword.
- Connect with other parents across the state and in Allegheny County.
Employment and Social Life
- Download the Employment and Day Activities fact sheets for ideas and information.
- For free and low-cost ideas for family outings, friend hangouts and dates check out: Opportunities for social, recreation and lifelong learning.
- Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Bureau of Supports for Autism and Special Populations (BSASP) develops autism-specific programs for adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Housing
- Contact AlleghenyLink at 1-866-730-2368 for help finding housing.
- The Autism Speaks Housing and Residential Supports Toolkit can help families search for housing and residential supports.
- Life Sharing pairs a supportive and caring household with a life sharing participant.
Medical Insurance
- If you have Medical Assistance (Called HealthChoices in Allegheny County), your managed care organization has dedicated phone numbers for special needs. Call Community Care Behavioral Health at 1-800-553-7499. Find a COMPASS Community Partner to assist you.
Some supports are only available to specific individuals. If you’re a young or older adult, a veteran, an immigrant or identify as LGBTQIA+, look for these lightbulbs throughout the site.
ADDITIONAL HELPFUL INFORMATION
ADDITIONAL HELPFUL INFORMATION
Immigrants & Internationals
Turtle Creek Valley MH/MR
Delivers a variety of services that focus on outreach and case management, mental health service coordination, drug and alcohol abuse, intellectual developmental disabilities, supported housing and employment, and more.
Call 412-351-0222
Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center, Inc. COTRAIC
Multiple early childhood education programs that offer inclusive settings for children with disabilities and are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
Head Start offers free preschool programming to qualifying children ages 3-5
Located at 201 Rochelle Street Pittsburgh, PA 15210
Call 412-488-2750
Early Head Start offers free early developmental programming in either a home-based or childcare setting, to qualifying children, 3 years of age and younger.
Located at 2201 Salisbury Street Pittsburgh, PA 15210 or 4910 Second Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15207
Call 412-431-4339 or send an email