Autism Family and Caregiver Support

Families deserve supportthat feels practical, connected, and within reach.

Explore autism family and caregiver support resources for peer connection, respite care, family navigation, disability services, education, and practical next steps.

Explore Family Support Connect With AFA

Support for the Whole Family

Support is about more than finding another list of resources.

Families may find themselves navigating health care, therapy, education, insurance, public benefits, community services, and daily responsibilities at the same time.

The right support may look different from one family to another. Sometimes the next useful step is information. Sometimes it is peer connection, respite, financial guidance, or simply finding the right local organization to contact.

Guidance and Connection

Family and caregiver resources worth knowing about

These national networks and programs can help families identify information, local resources, respite options, and disability support systems.

Family

Connecting with people who understand complex disability systems can make the next step easier to identify.

Family Guidance

Family to Family Health Information Centers

Support Available Now

Family to Family Health Information Centers help families of children and youth with special health care needs navigate health care, insurance, community resources, education, and related systems.

Centers are staffed by people with firsthand family experience.
Families can receive help understanding health coverage and community resources.
Centers can connect families with peer and emotional support.
Family to Family centers serve families throughout the United States and participating territories and tribal communities.

HRSA Family to Family Health Information Centers

Respite

Caregivers sometimes need reliable time to rest, handle responsibilities, or simply step away from caregiving for a while.

Respite Guidance

Respite Care and Caregiver Support

Support Available Now

Respite care provides temporary relief for family caregivers. Services may be planned or emergency based and can be delivered through different programs depending on the state and individual situation.

Respite can support caregivers of children and adults with disabilities.
Programs and eligibility requirements vary by state.
Respite may be available through disability, Medicaid, community, or state funded programs.
The Lifespan Respite Care Program helps states strengthen access to respite resources and services.

ACL Lifespan Respite Care Program

Local

Some of the most useful support is local, but knowing which agency or organization to contact can be difficult.

Local Guidance

State and Community Disability Resources

Support Available Now

Federal and state disability networks can help individuals and families find information, advocacy, community services, training, and other resources closer to home.

Developmental Disabilities Councils operate in every state and U.S. territory.
Councils work on advocacy, systems change, inclusion, and improving disability services.
Families can also explore Centers for Independent Living and other disability network organizations.
Available programs and services vary substantially by location.

ACL Disability Information and Access Line

Support

Learning how disability systems work can make it easier to ask questions, advocate effectively, and make informed decisions.

Support Guidance

Parent Education and Family Support

Support Available Now

Parent education and support resources can help families understand disability services, early intervention, education, financial assistance, and other systems that may affect their child or family.

Parent Training and Information Centers serve families throughout the United States.
Families can locate developmental and disability services available within their state.
Support resources can help parents prepare for school, health care, and service related conversations.
Different organizations focus on different ages, needs, and areas of support.

Federal Resources for Families of Children With Disabilities

A Practical Path

Start with what would make life easier right now.

You do not need to solve every future need before finding useful support today.

Identify what would help most right now

The immediate need may be information, respite, financial help, school support, peer connection, transportation, therapy access, or simply knowing which system to contact next.

Separate urgent needs from long term planning

Handling the most immediate concern first can make larger questions about services, education, finances, or adulthood easier to organize.

Build a small support network

Useful support may include family, friends, other caregivers, professionals, community organizations, schools, disability agencies, or peer support groups.

Keep important information together

Save useful contacts, eligibility information, evaluations, school records, benefit documents, insurance correspondence, and notes about programs you have contacted.

Family Support FAQ

Common questions about autism family and caregiver support

Where can families find autism caregiver support?

Support may be available through Family to Family Health Information Centers, disability organizations, parent information centers, respite programs, state developmental disability agencies, community organizations, and peer support networks.

What is respite care?

Respite care provides temporary relief from caregiving responsibilities. It may be planned or available for specific situations depending on the program. Eligibility, funding, provider availability, and services differ by state and program.

How do I find autism resources in my state?

State developmental disability agencies, Developmental Disabilities Councils, Medicaid agencies, Parent Training and Information Centers, Centers for Independent Living, and other disability networks can be useful starting points.

Are there organizations that help families navigate health care and insurance?

Yes. HRSA funded Family to Family Health Information Centers help families of children and youth with special health care needs understand health care, insurance, community resources, and related systems.

Where can families look for financial assistance?

AFA’s financial assistance guide covers starting points including SSI, Medicaid, home and community based services, ABLE accounts, and other financial resource pathways.

Where can parents find help with school services?

AFA’s School and IEP Support guide covers IDEA, IEPs, parent participation, Section 504, and official education resources.

Keep Exploring

The right resource depends on what your family needs next.

Parent Resources Financial Assistance School and IEP Support All Resources

Important: This page provides general informational resources. Available caregiver programs, respite services, disability resources, eligibility requirements, and local services vary by state, organization, funding, and individual circumstances. Verify current information directly with the responsible program or agency.

Autism Foundation of America

Autism Family and Caregiver Support

Families deserve supportthat feels practical, connected, and within reach.

Explore autism family and caregiver support resources for peer connection, respite care, family navigation, disability services, education, and practical next steps.

Explore Family Support Connect With AFA

Support for the Whole Family

Support is about more than finding another list of resources.

Families may find themselves navigating health care, therapy, education, insurance, public benefits, community services, and daily responsibilities at the same time.

Guidance and Connection

Family and caregiver resources worth knowing about

These national networks and programs can help families identify information, local resources, respite options, and disability support systems.

Family

Connecting with people who understand complex disability systems can make the next step easier to identify.

Family Guidance

Family to Family Health Information Centers

Support Available Now

Family to Family Health Information Centers help families of children and youth with special health care needs navigate health care, insurance, community resources, education, and related systems.

Centers are staffed by people with firsthand family experience.
Families can receive help understanding health coverage and community resources.
Centers can connect families with peer and emotional support.
Family to Family centers serve families throughout the United States and participating territories and tribal communities.

HRSA Family to Family Health Information Centers

Respite

Caregivers sometimes need reliable time to rest, handle responsibilities, or simply step away from caregiving for a while.

Respite Guidance

Respite Care and Caregiver Support

Support Available Now

Respite can support caregivers of children and adults with disabilities.
Programs and eligibility requirements vary by state.
Respite may be available through disability, Medicaid, community, or state funded programs.
The Lifespan Respite Care Program helps states strengthen access to respite resources and services.

ACL Lifespan Respite Care Program

Local

Some of the most useful support is local, but knowing which agency or organization to contact can be difficult.

Local Guidance

State and Community Disability Resources

Support Available Now

Federal and state disability networks can help individuals and families find information, advocacy, community services, training, and other resources closer to home.

Developmental Disabilities Councils operate in every state and U.S. territory.
Councils work on advocacy, systems change, inclusion, and improving disability services.
Families can also explore Centers for Independent Living and other disability network organizations.
Available programs and services vary substantially by location.

ACL Disability Information and Access Line

Support

Learning how disability systems work can make it easier to ask questions, advocate effectively, and make informed decisions.

Support Guidance

Parent Education and Family Support

Support Available Now

Parent education and support resources can help families understand disability services, early intervention, education, financial assistance, and other systems that may affect their child or family.

Parent Training and Information Centers serve families throughout the United States.
Families can locate developmental and disability services available within their state.
Support resources can help parents prepare for school, health care, and service related conversations.
Different organizations focus on different ages, needs, and areas of support.

Federal Resources for Families of Children With Disabilities

A Practical Path

Start with what would make life easier right now.

You do not need to solve every future need before finding useful support today.

Identify what would help most right now

The immediate need may be information, respite, financial help, school support, peer connection, transportation, therapy access, or simply knowing which system to contact next.

Separate urgent needs from long term planning

Handling the most immediate concern first can make larger questions about services, education, finances, or adulthood easier to organize.

Build a small support network

Useful support may include family, friends, other caregivers, professionals, community organizations, schools, disability agencies, or peer support groups.

Keep important information together

Save useful contacts, eligibility information, evaluations, school records, benefit documents, insurance correspondence, and notes about programs you have contacted.

Family Support FAQ

Common questions about autism family and caregiver support

Where can families find autism caregiver support?

What is respite care?

How do I find autism resources in my state?

Are there organizations that help families navigate health care and insurance?

Where can families look for financial assistance?

AFA’s financial assistance guide covers starting points including SSI, Medicaid, home and community based services, ABLE accounts, and other financial resource pathways.

Where can parents find help with school services?

AFA’s School and IEP Support guide covers IDEA, IEPs, parent participation, Section 504, and official education resources.

Keep Exploring

The right resource depends on what your family needs next.

Parent Resources Financial Assistance School and IEP Support All Resources