One of the most useful things you can do after an autism diagnosis has nothing to do with therapy schedules — it is finding other people who get it. Parents who have already navigated CDS, IEPs, MaineCare, and the emotional weight of it all can save you months of guesswork.
Support in Maine comes in a few flavors: peer connection and community, hands-on help navigating systems, and legal advocacy when you hit a wall. You will likely want some of each over time.
This page points you to the established organizations serving the Portland area and the wider state, and how to plug in.
ASM runs free support groups, open to anyone affected by autism, both online and in person. The Parent/Caregiver group meets online on the last Friday of each month from 12:00 to 1:00 pm, with an in-person meeting the same day at the ASM office in Winthrop from 6:00 to 7:00 pm. If there is no group near you, ASM asks you to call 1-800-273-5200.
Visit siteMaine's parent training and information organization, offering family support and help navigating services for children with disabilities.
Visit siteA University of Maine hub collecting advocacy and information resources for Maine families, useful for finding groups and knowing your rights in school meetings.
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