CalAsh can help you understand the first steps, find services, work with your child’s school, plan for safety and find support for everyday family life.
You know your child. Build support around their needs.
Ask any childcare or preschool about your child’s communication, sensory and support needs; a nearby program is not automatically an appropriate fit.
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LEARNING & DAILY LIFE
School age
Bring your child’s needs into their school day and home life.
Contact the district special-education team—CSE in NY, the Child Study Team / IEP team in NJ. Ask about evaluations and supports based on educational needs.
A diagnosis and school eligibility are separate decisions. Share the evaluation and ask which assessments, goals and accommodations are appropriate.
UNDERSTAND THE DIAGNOSIS
The evaluation is a starting point. It is not the whole story of your child.
Autism is a developmental disability that can affect communication, interaction, sensory experiences and daily life. Strengths and support needs vary from person to person.
Ask the evaluator to explain the findings in plain language. Request a written report and discuss recommendations with your child’s healthcare and school teams.
Ask about youth behavioral-health and developmental-disability supports: 1-877-652-7624. Under-18 I/DD eligibility applications go through PerformCare.
Official starting-point guidance reviewed September 30, 2026. Eligibility, availability and funding differ by program; NY and NJ enrollment does not transfer automatically.
Start with the system where you live
School services, developmental-disability supports and insurance are separate routes. You can ask about them in parallel.
New York City
Under 3: contact NYC Early Intervention to request an evaluation. For preschool special education, refer to your district CPSE. For school-age needs, contact your child’s public school or the appropriate CSE. If your child attends a private school, ask the CSE which office handles that school.
Nassau and Suffolk families: contact your county Early Intervention program for children under 3. Contact your local school district’s CPSE for preschool or CSE for school-age evaluations. NYC school offices do not manage these districts.
Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and Orange families: start with your county’s Early Intervention program under 3, then your local school district’s CPSE or CSE. OPWDD is a separate New York eligibility process; a diagnosis or IEP does not automatically enroll your child.
Under 3: call NJ Early Intervention at 888-653-4463. For preschool and school-age evaluations, make a written referral to your local district’s Child Study Team. New Jersey uses its own systems—not New York’s CPSE, CSE or OPWDD.
Official sources checked October 8, 2026. Confirm current eligibility and access directly.
THERAPIES & INSURANCE
Choose supports around your child’s needs.
Speech therapy can support communication and AAC. Occupational therapy can support daily activities and sensory access. Physical therapy can support movement. Ask about feeding support when eating is a concern. Discuss any recommended behavioral therapy’s goals, methods, your child’s comfort and how progress will be measured.
Ask the clinician or school team what each therapy is meant to help with. School services, Early Intervention and insurance-funded therapy have separate eligibility and payment rules.
Call both the provider and your insurance plan. Confirm the exact plan, network status, referrals, prior authorization, visit limits and your expected cost before booking.
Ask the provider about waitlists, cancellation openings, age limits, AAC experience, sensory accommodations and language access.
If coverage is denied, ask for the written reason, appeal instructions and deadline. Keep copies of the request, clinical recommendation and insurer response.
LOCAL PROVIDERS & PARENT SUPPORT
Find a practical next connection.
Open CalAsh’s resource finder, choose your county or region, then choose a category or search for the support you need. Confirm that the provider serves your location; distance alone does not establish eligibility. New Jersey school listings currently focus on Bergen, Hudson, Passaic and Essex.
Ask parent groups about meeting language, online access, caregiver training and respite information. You can read public resources and use public checklists without an account. Sign in only when you want to save private information or progress.
CARE THAT FITS YOUR CHILD
Ask about experience before you book.
Use CalAsh’s autism / special-needs listings, then confirm your child’s age, communication and care needs directly. Ask about AAC, sensory and behavioral accommodations, caregiver involvement, referrals and current insurance coverage. Only rely on an accommodation when the provider confirms it.
A developmental disability. Communication, sensory experiences, learning and support needs vary widely.
IEP
Individualized Education Program: the written school plan for an eligible student’s special education, goals and supports.
CSE
New York’s Committee on Special Education: the team that addresses school-age special-education eligibility and an IEP.
CPSE
New York’s Committee on Preschool Special Education: the team for preschool special-education evaluations and services.
Early Intervention
Your state’s services for eligible infants and toddlers under 3 with developmental delays or disabilities.
ABA
Applied Behavior Analysis: an approach using learning and behavior principles. Ask about individualized goals, methods and your child’s comfort.
OT
Occupational therapy: support for everyday activities, such as play, self-care and school tasks.
PT
Physical therapy: support for movement, strength, balance and mobility.
Speech Therapy
Support for communication and language; it can include AAC, not only spoken words.
AAC
Augmentative and alternative communication: tools and methods such as pictures, gestures or a communication device.
OPWDD
New York’s Office for People With Developmental Disabilities. Access to services requires an eligibility process.
DDD
New Jersey’s Division of Developmental Disabilities, primarily the adult service system. Applications can generally start at 18; services generally start at 21.
PerformCare
The access point for New Jersey’s Children’s System of Care, including youth behavioral-health and eligible developmental-disability supports.
Respite
Planned care or support that gives a caregiver a break. Eligibility, staffing and availability vary.
Medicaid
A public health-coverage program. Eligibility and covered services depend on the state and individual circumstances.
Sensory accommodations
Adjustments to light, sound, touch or the environment that help a person participate more comfortably.
