Teach Autistic Children Today

Maryland Autism Waiver services are available to children with autism that meet certain specific criteria of therapeutic need. For example, to receive services under the waiver, children must be at what is called an “institutional level of care.” In other words, the child’s symptoms have to be so severe that the child would be eligible to be placed in an institution.

To receive waiver services, the family must “waive” their right to institutionalize the child and accept services from the Autism Waiver instead. Those services can be substantial and include many hours of therapy, some respite care and other benefits to the child and family.

As of this writing, there are only 900 slots budgeted in Maryland under the waiver and they are all filled. The waiting list for the waiver is over 2,000. And you cannot know whether your child is eligible until your child’s name comes up on the list. An evaluation of the child’s therapeutic need is then done to determine if he or she is eligible.

To be taken to a Maryland State link about the Autism Waiver, click here.