Family education guides and fact sheets
- ASD and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
- Early Intervention for Children ages (0-3) and Transition to Pre-K in Massachusetts
- Transition Guide for Parents of Young Adults ages 14 and up
Parent/caregiver support
Taking care of yourself allows you to take better care of your child. We encourage you to do activities to help you relax and make you feel good, like joining support groups, exercising, reading, or taking part in a relaxation or meditation program. Check out these resources offered at Boston Children’s and in the community:
- Autism 101 Parent Workshop
- The Arc of Massachusetts
- Hale Family Center for Families Integrative Therapies program
- Mass Family Ties
- Massachusetts Autism Support Centers
- Online meditation and mindfulness exercises
Insurance resources
Children with autism are eligible for MassHealth insurance plans, either as primary insurance or in addition to their current private insurance plan. We recommend you learn more.
- Autism Insurance Resource Center
- Exceptional Lives Website Guide to Health Insurance
- Mass.gov MassHealth Information
Bullying prevention
Because children with autism have more social and communication challenges, they are at a higher risk of being bullied. Kids who are bullied and those who bully others may have serious, lasting problems. While bullying can happen at any age, bullying during adolescent years can be really hard. Boston Children’s has a clinic to address bullying (the Bullying and Cyberbullying Prevention and Advocacy Collaborative [BACPAC]). Here are some other links to help you learn more about bullying and advocating for your child.
Sibling support
If you have more than one child, you know that all your children need your attention. But when you have a child with autism, it can be hard to balance your time. These resources can help.